certainly one, and possibly two governors -- Sir William Reid and General Sir J.H. Lefroy -- helped plant roses here.

But it was not until 1954 that the Bermuda Rose Society was formed by a small group of interested and knowledgable people with Sir Jeffrey Astwood as its first chairman.

Forty years later, the Society's objectives remain the same: to encourage the cultivation and love of roses in Bermuda; to conserve the old-fashioned roses which have stood the test of time here, and to import other roses in classes which have proved suitable to our climate and soil conditions; and to investigate suitable understocks for budding and/or grafting roses, and other future developments in rose growing that may arise from time to time.

In fact, so successful has its mission been that today the Society's annual sale of its rose trees is a sure-fire sell-out, with people lining up hours before opening time to snap up the collection.

Sales, however, are just one aspect of the Society's work. All over the Island the fruits of its labours are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

Rose gardens flourish at the National Trust headquarters in Paget, in the grounds of Par-la-Ville and Victoria parks, and Somers Gardens in St.

George's.

"The Waterville project came into being because we became a founding member of the Heritage Rose Foundation of the US and they asked us to start a heritage rose garden. The National Trust gave us an area to use, which we look after,'' Society president, Mrs. Rosemary Collier, explained.

In addition, the Society has given rose trees to churches, schools, various National Trust properties, Government House and Montpelier, and the deputy Governor's official residence.

"We plant a lot more than we sell,'' Mrs. Collier noted.

Indeed, a peek inside the Society's misting tunnel at Government's Tulo Valley Nursery quickly reveals just how active Society members are in their quest to spread the beauty of garden roses Island-wide.

"We start in October setting out up to 1000 rose slips in special trays,'' Mrs. Collier explained. "When they are bigger, we set them out in pots ready for distribution or sale.'' Throughout the seven-month process, the slips are constantly misted, fertilised, and generally given tender loving care.

Naturally, rose sales make an important contribution to the Society's coffers so a recent series of unfortunate circumstances which befell the Tulo Valley propagation tunnel has been a source of great disappointment and concern.

"Due to problems beyond our control, we will only have 300 to 400 roses for our mid-May sale,'' Mrs. Collier warned. "Revenue from sales goes toward the upkeep of the tunnel and also assists us to bring in overseas guest speakers so that members can keep abreast of rose technology.'' Visitors to the annual Agricultural Exhibition have long enjoyed another facet of the Rose Society's efforts: a specimen bench featuring as many varieties of old garden roses as are available.

For a long time, too, the dining room of Camden, the premier's official residence, was redolent with the smell of rose arrangements created by Society members during agricultural exhibitions, but since this option was taken away, the displays are now housed in the side room of the Horticultural Hall.

"There has been a further change this year also,'' Mrs. Collier noted, "We will only be exhibiting for one-and-a-half days -- all day Thursday and until Friday at noon.'' Over the years the Society has done a great deal of work propagat ing some of the large number of "mystery'' roses growing throughout the Island. Since everyone is intrigued by mysteries, there is great interest in this aspect of the Society's work.

By far the highlight came in 1956 when Mr. Richard Thompson, then-chairman of the American Rose Society's old rose committee, positively identified r.

chinensis semperflorens (Slater's Crimson China), which he had found growing in the garden of Belfield in Somerset in 1953.

"Until then, this rose was thought to be extinct,'' Mrs. Collier said. "Mr.

Thompson couldn't believe his eyes, and was quoted as likening the experience to an art collector finding a Rembrandt.'' His confirmation topped three years of intensive research and resulted in Society members Mr. and Mrs. Harry Richardson sailing to England with five little plants which were shown at the Chelsea Flower Show the following year.

Much was also written internationally about Mr. Thompson's discovery, since which the interest of the Rose Society in mystery roses continues to generate interest abroad.

"When the Belfield rose was found rosarians around the world became very interested. Since then, societies around the world have really focussed on what we are doing,'' Mrs. Collier confirmed. "As a matter of fact, our roses have been sent to various botanical gardens in the United States and even to France and England, where they are doing extremely well.'' The Belfield rose also became the Society's official emblem.

Later, the mystery Spice Rose, as it was then known here, attracted the attention of expert Mr. Peter Harkness. As a result of his 1979 visit and subsequent research, this rose was thought to be Hume's Blush Tea-scented China and is so known today.

It seems the Island abounds in "mystery'' roses -- so called because no one has been able to identify them -- a fact which prompted garden historian Mrs.

Ann Leighton Smith to describe Bermuda as "a living museum of roses, to be cherished.'' "Among them are the Vincent Godsiff, which was found in the owner of the same name's garden, and the Smith's Parish, a variety found growing in that area,'' Mrs. Collier said. "In fact, we have devoted one of the gardens at Waterville to mystery roses.'' The Society is always happy to answer queries from individuals about mystery roses growing in their own gardens, and to this end the president would also like to hold one Society meeting per year in the parishes.

"My idea is to spread ourselves around the Island and encourage parishoners to come out. We would like to make sure they know what they have growing in their gardens. Meanwhile, if anyone needs identification they can call me or any of the members.'' The Society prepares rose arrangements for annual Conservation Sunday observances, and also provides books for public use in the Department of Agriculture's library in the Botanical Gardens.

In addition, it publishes Old Garden Roses in Bermuda. With its wealth of full colour photographs, detailed descriptions of each one's growth characteristics, and a host of other useful information, it has become a "bible'' for garden rose growers, particularly at sale time.

Now a member of the World Federation of Rose Societies, the Bermuda Rose Society proudly hosted the regional conference in 1987.

To mark its 40th anniversary, it has invited the president of the World Federation of Rose Societies, Mr. David Ruston, to Bermuda. He will give a public lecture at the Horticultural Hall in the Botanical Gardens on March 28 at 8 p.m. Admission is free.

Meanwhile, the Bermuda Rose Society welcomes as members anyone with an interest in old garden roses. For further information telephone Mrs. Collier at 236-3641.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY -- Bermuda Rose Society president, Mrs. Rosemary Collier (seated left), is joined by past presidents (standing, left to right) Mrs.

Peggy Nichol, Mrs. Liesbeth Cooper, Mrs. Iris Kempe, Mrs. Elizabeth Carswell and Mrs. Lorna Mercer. Seated are (centre and right) Mrs. Hazel Steele and Mrs. Margaret King. The Society is celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year.