THE FLORAL WORLD 



AKD 



GARDEN GUIDE. 



AUOUST, 18G6. 



EOSES IN 18G6. 



E propose to follow our established custom of offering our 

 readers a review of the rose season. The season may- 

 be said to be over, though we shall have roses until 

 severe frost makes an end of them. On several occa- 

 sions we have cut good blooms of hybrid perpetuals on. 

 Christmas and New Year's Days ; but considering the matter from 

 a critical point of view, it must be said that the rose season con- 

 tinues only during the raontlis of June and July, lasting in all from 

 six to seven weeks. The autumnal bloom is oftentimes abundant 

 and beautiful, but it is never general, and very much of the praise 

 bestowed upon the " perpetuals," on account of their long-con- 

 tinued bloom, is undeserved, because none of them are really per- 

 petual, and only a few bloom freely in the autumn. However, we 

 have not taken up the pen to deal with a favourite theme, and at the 

 same time find fault with a class of flowers the cultivation of 

 which we have encouraged with zeal. Indeed, we are bound still to 

 praise the " perpetuals," though very few of them are of much 

 account for autumnal flowers, but because amongst them we find 

 the best of all roses. It has not, so far as we remember, been 

 noticed that the schedules of the great rose shows are admirably 

 adapted in one respect to bring forward the best flowers, without 

 respect to class or fashion. We ask for the best ninety-six or 

 seventy-two varieties, and lay no restrictions on the exhibitor. He 

 may place on his stands as many Teas, Gallicas, Chinas, Bourbons, 

 and Hybrid Perpetuals as he pleases. There is simply no rule, and 

 wherever and however he can cut a first-rate rose, he may do it, and 

 take his chance. As a matter of course, the date of the show has much 

 to do with the selection of the varieties. If the date is early, we may 

 expect to see many teas in winning stands ; if late, we may expect 

 fewer teas and more Bourbons. The latter part of June and the 

 early part of July are the times chosen for exhibitions of roses ; 

 and from the 15th of June to the 25th of July there are more roses 

 and more sorts of roses in bloom than at any other time in the year. 

 Yet with all the sections and classes to choose from, and with a 

 schedule which permits free choice, exhibitors find their stronghold 



TOL. I. — NO. Tin. 15 



