The question has been so frequently put to me, "What are the names of the best new roses, or the best old varieties? " that I propose to answer some of the inquiries through the columns of your valuable journal, by your permission.

Before proceeding to reply, let me ask, What would you term the "best?" do you want the " best shape, or the best blooming, or the best growing rose?" I rather presume people want all three combined, which is certainly a rather difficult matter to obtain; for, as you well know, some of the best formed and most magnificent roses grown, bloom but once in the year, and are generally termed June Roses; others, again, of a class but little removed from the former, are called Autumnal Roses, or such as bloom twice in the season, June and September, or October; then we have the Hybrid Perpetuals, or those that (according to their name) should be constant bloomers, but I am sorry to say, that very many so called are any thing but constant; true, they are Hybrids, but the perpetual should be left out. Then there are Hybrid Chinas, and Hybrid Bourbons, and Hybrids without end, but a "rose by any other name will smell as sweet".

I shall only speak of such roses as I have, and have seen bloom; notes of such I made at the time they were in bloom, and it is truly astonishing the advance that has been made of late in the production of really fine roses; and yet there are many of the older varieties, known to nearly all lovers of the rose, (and who don't love a rose?) that I would not exchange for half the new ones sent out.

I received last winter some twenty or more of the newer roses of Europe, and not many of them have as yet been able to obtain sufficient strength to show their true qualities, either with regard to bloom or habit Another year will determine that point, provided we get rain enough to keep them alive in this locality, for roses and every thing else are at a complete standstill, and the leaves of roses are wilted and shrivelling for want of rain. Roses (with ns) planted out this spring, have not made any growth, and unless we get rain soon, hundreds of them must die unless water is convenient for irrigation.

Among the finest new roses that promise well is Altesse Tmperiale, a very dark, glowing, velvety crimson and purple, of a good Shape and size, and will be quite a favorite. Anna de Diesbach is a most beautifully formed, very large and distinct rose, of a brilliant rose-color. Ardois6e de Lyons is an extraordinarily large rose, of a very deep purple color, and will, I have no doubt, prove a splendid rose. My plants were very weak, consequently did not bloom very well. Comtesse Cecile de Chabrillant (what a name I) is a most beautiful satin rose, of exquisite shape, and large; a superb rose, without doubt. Virginale is of a pearly white, having the palest tint of flesh-color in the centre; it is not so double as some others, but it is beautiful in bud, and constant in bloom; it is now in bloom for the third time this season; it will be a great favorite, as its color is scarce among the Hybrid Perpetuals, Dr. Henon being the nearest approach to it. Reine de Cite is a very full and finely formed flower, of a clear rosy pink, and promises well. De la Mothe is a light and very brilliant crimson color, without that shade of purple that so many have; it is a good standing color, and quite a distinct and good rose.

Bouquet de Marie is another nearly white, with a light pink centre, a rose flowering in clusters; a nicely formed small rose. Armid, a brilliant rosy pink: the outer petals of this rose are a little paler; the foliage is very dense, and its habit is good; it is a very distinct and beautiful rose. These are the newest of the Hybrid Perpetuals that I can speak of at present knowingly. The following I will be able to speak of again: Eugene Appert, all my plants died; they were too weak to withstand the voyage. Lord Elgin promises well; the foliage is very fine. The following are highly spoken of as being very superior: Emperor de Maroc, a glowing velvety crimson; Eugene Alary, lilac rose; Anna Alexieff, bright rosy carmine; Joseph Vernet, pink; Le Mont Vesnve* is said to be the best of the dark-colored ones; L'Oriflamme de St. Louis, something after the style of General Jacqueminot, its parent: with many others of the same class, too numerous to mention, without being able to speak knowingly of them and their qualities.

Of the new Bourbons there are very few as yet very distinct: Docteur Berthet has bloomed with me; it is a deep reddish purple, of good size, and free; Edith de Murat is a very pretty white rose, rather small, with a slight flesh tint; Octavie Fontaine promises to be a pure white, of good form and substance. Of the new Teas, I like Madame Joseph Halphin, a cream, or rather blush white, with a beautiful carmine tint on the outer edge of the petals; it is a good grower, and of first-rate form, and double; Madame Damai-zin, buff, salmon tint; this is a distinct and beautiful new rose. Among the best of the newer Teas are the following: Madame Maurin, cream and fawn; Madame Barillet Deschamps, white cream, centre large and full, very fine; Louise de Savoie, pale sulphur yellow, good habit and large; but what can excel Gloire de Dijon among the Teas, grown upon its own roots? it is a most constant bloomer, and is every thing that is desirable in a rose. But there are many others that are really fine and desirable which I shall take occasion to speak of again.

Of the older varieties of the Hybrid Perpetuals, the following are as yet scarce and very fine, and should be found in every garden: of dark colors, Triomphe des Beaux-Arts, velvety purple, not double; Bacchus, crimson, rather dwarf habit; Thomas Rivers, rosy pink, brilliant; Prince Noir, very dark purple; Prince Leon, light crimson, splendid; Pauline Lansezeur, violet red, a charming rose, constant bloomer; Monsieur Ravel, velvety scarlet, a first-rate rose; Monsieur de Montigny, rose, very brilliant, large, a splendid new rose; Ornement des Jardins, deep crimson, good form, not large, but double; General Brea, bright rose, very large and full; Empereur Napoleon III., velvety scarlet and crimson, shape imperfect; Due de Malakofif, deep red; Ambroise Verschaffelt, deep rose and purple, petals thin; Triomphe de ^Exposition, rosy crimson; will always be a favorite, free bloomer; Triomphe de Montrouge, carmine, a superb color, not large, but well formed; Souvenir de la Reine d'Angleterre, bright rosy pink, a beautiful color, with very large petals - this is a noble rose; Reine de Denmark, pale rose and flesh - this is as large and fine a rose as blooms; Maria Portemer, plum, velvety, large and constant bloomer, fine; Louis Chaix, dark brilliant crimson, brighter than Geant des Batailles, fine form and good; Cardinal Patrizzi, velvety crimson, very dark - this, I think, is the best im-provement upon all of this color; Eveque de Nimes, a brilliant scarlet crimson, a superb color, flowers very large and full, of beautiful shape and splendid foliage - this is a very distinct and altogether beautiful new rose, and one of the best of the color.

But I fear I have exceeded the bounds of propriety, and shall occupy more space than you can allow in one number of your magazine, and yet there remains a vast number of really beautiful and choice roses, both of old and new varieties of Hybrid Perpetuals, Bourbons, Teas, and Noisettes, which I must reserve for another occasion; and should I find time I would like to offer some remarks with regard to budded roses and roses grown upon their own roots.

[We shall be glad to have you continue the list; and hope you may soon find time for the remarks on budded roses, though we do not hesitate to say in advance, that they have not found much favor with us of late years. - Ed].