THE FLORIST. 203 



Alba odouata. — A sweet-scented, compact-blooming white 

 flower; short tube, erect habit, attenuated foliage, distinct, and pretty. 



Impeessa rubra. — Dark rosy short-tubed flower ; erect robust 

 habit; profuse bloomer. This, as well as the former, are imported species. 



Impressa alba. — In all respects but colour like Impressa rubra. 



Splendida. — An orange -scarlet tube, of medium length, with 

 an open well-reflexing tip, of somewhat paler colour ; good habit, 

 and profuse bloomer ; distinct. 



Taunconiknsis. — Not very unlike Ardentissima; a pretty va- 

 riety, but not sufficiently distinct ; a free bloomer. 



MY ROSE-JOURNAL. 



June 8th. — The Ayrshire Roses, which, with the Crimson Boursault, 

 are the earliest of our climbing Roses, are just coming into bloom. 

 They are late ; for last year they were gay with flowers even by the 

 end of May. How beautiful they are ! and how abundantly they 

 bloom ! If you have a wilderness near to the pleasure-ground, plant 

 it with Ayrshire Roses ; if a hard, clayey, sterile bank, plant it with 

 Ayrshire Roses ; if a rocky dell, plant some Ayrshire Roses in it. They 

 are so luxuriant in their growth, that they even overcome weeds. The 

 battle is often very stubborn, and lasts for a year or two ; but the Roses 

 will conquer, and then how they flaunt it over the grave of their ene- 

 mies ! I have been struck to-day with the beauty of a group, in the 

 nursery, of the Rose known as the Dundee Rambler, perhaps some 

 five or ten plants. They have not been pruned or touched with the 

 knife, and have formed an entangled dome-shaped mass of extreme 

 beauty. A group of this kind may be easily formed on the lawn. 

 Mark out a circle some rive or six feet in diameter, and plant in it 

 seven or nine Ayrshire Roses. Be particular in planting one exactly 

 in the centre. As they grow, incline their branches towards the 

 central plant, and pinch off now and then the top of a very robust 

 shoot. A good method is, to place a stout stake to the central plant, 

 and one of moderate size to each of the others, all inclined and 

 fastened to that in the centre. In two or three years these stakes 

 may be removed, and the shoots annually made may be thrust in 

 during the summer with a gloved hand. The hooked pruning scis- 

 sors will often be required when the plants are of mature growth, to 

 shorten the shoots, so that the mass, although dome-shaped, may not 

 be too compact and formal. The effect of a group of this kind is 

 admirable. The sorts most eligible are, the Dundee Rambler, Jes- 

 sica, Ruga, Splendens, and Bennet's seedling. 



June 10/ h The first hybrid Perpetual Roses of this season 



made their appearance yesterday ; and to-day, Geant des Batailles 

 and Baronne Prevost. Last year the latter was in bloom May 18th. 

 What a magnificent Rose is this 1 its colour is much deeper than I 

 have ever yet seen it ; and it is, I think, larger than ever. It is also 

 one of the earliest as well as one of the best of the autumnal Roses ; 



