268 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [December, 



Mr. Westland lias pointed out (p. 254) how admirably they may be introduced as 

 bedding plants, supplying as they do, a colour which is much needed. 



Our obligations are due to Mr. Jackman, not only for the opportunity of 

 figuring the magnificent variety represented in our plate, but also for the wood- 

 cut sketches which so admirably show the floriferous habit of the plants. 



M. 



AZALEA INDICA VITTATA. 



DO not think it is generally known that this plant will flower at the end of 

 October without forcing. It has, however, done so with me for the last sis 

 years, and I have now a fine plant of it in full bloom in the conservatory. 

 At this season of the year, it will last for at least two months in perfection . 

 The flowers are white, elegantly marked, with purple stripes. It is a strong grower, 

 and a free bloomer. The plant commenced blooming out-doors. 



The Gardens, Elmham Hall. Wm. Smythe. 



THE NEW ROSES OF 1869-70. 



^^N offering the subjoined list of New French Roses, I would beg of my 



ojS readers to bear in mind that the descriptions are a literal translation from 



vj® the raisers' lists. Although last summer, as usual, I travelled over all the 



'tj> ground from which these varieties are collected, I saw but few of them in 



flower. The desirability of bringing novelties rapidly into the market lest they 



should be superseded, necessitates quick multiplication, and hence the plants are 



so cut about that they have but small chance of flowering. A distinguished 



French horticulturist who travels much, and watches the development of the Rose 



in France, reports to me that he finds the same state of things, adding that, 



looking upon him as a fancied rival, and a good judge of a rose, the raisers will 



scarcely let him see their novelties when they are in bloom. The reason of this 



is obvious, and to which I have often before alluded — if a novelty is good, it 



will usually sell to any extent without being shown to the many ; if indifferent in 



quality, the less it is shown the better it will sell. 



A noticeable feature in the novelties of the present year is that we have two 

 batches of seedlings from that grand old rose Oloire de Dijon, some of which 

 will doubtless take a distinguished position in the future. There are also some 

 white roses, and whites with rosy centres, of which we have still much need ; 

 some scarlet and black according to the descriptions, and some new shades of 

 colour. It is to me gratifying to find that many of the raisers are getting away 

 from the "one idea" of looking at the form of the flower only, and are paying 

 a due share of attention to the foliage, habit, and general constitution of the 

 plant. "It rains new roses," wrote a French cultivator recently, and let us hope 

 that as usual there may be some pearly drops that can be referred to in the 

 future as having nourished the taste for this favourite flower. 



