Cass, I can definitely appreciate your concern for the survival of old rose nurseries, but--and I may be wrong, but I don't think any cutting exchange network can really compete with them. In an exchange, you are relying on the goodwill of other people, and the scarcity of some varieties will definitely come into play. For the vast majority of cuttings I added to my list, there are not only no others who have the cuttings, there are no other requests for cuttings, either. Also, when you exchange cuttings, I assume you have to have a variety the other person wishes to exchange for, especially if there are more people than just you who wish to have the cuttings. The biggest reason I see that an exchange couldn't compete with these wonderful old rose nurseries, is that when you buy from a nursery you are guaranteed many things--that the variety is true to name, that it has reached a certain stage of development (to improve the chances of a successful transfer to the garden)--and most importantly, all of the old rose rooted cuttings I have bought from a nursery have been guaranteed to be virus-free. You just get a certain guarantee by buying your roses from a nursery--this year among the roses I ordered were 2 Mme. Louis Leveques, and they both died. The nursery where I bought them immediately said they will refund them, since there are no more available to replace them. I don't think you can be nearly as sure of what you are getting with an exchange. Anyway, I guess I just wanted to reassure you. I definitely share the same concern that we might lose some of the old rose nurseries, but it would be due to the economy and big-business garden centers selling roses as loss-leaders, underselling the small businesses. I plan to do all I can to help keep them open, I think it would be a travesty of the worst kind to lose these nurseries who make rare historical plants available to us today. I don't want the only way to see these roses to be visiting a public garden--I want to grow them, too! But like everyone, I only have a limited amount of money available each season to purchase the roses I want, and it's not nearly enough! I don't think I could possibly fill my property in 30 years if I could only obtain roses by buying them. Where I think a good cutting exchange comes into the full picture is as a way for people to expand the number of roses that they can grow--as a supplemental thing, and I am so happy you decided to add the cutting exchange to this site--it definitely enriches the whole experience. Also, in some varieties that have declined (in health/vitality) in commerce, it does offer an opportunity for people to connect with someone who might have an old bush that has not lost the original vigor. (I'm thinking of the example of the person who found an old bush of 'Peace' that seemed intensely more healthy than the bushes now offered in commerce). I'm sorry this reply is so long, I guess in essence, I'm trying to tell you that I think that you have enriched the rose community, added to the possibilities, and NOT offered something that hurts or endangers the community. I really am loving this site and everything it offers to enrich my rose-life!