^.'J iM ORAPES AND E0SE8. 



fully awakened in view of the plump, liealtliy Hose just at band, the partially-devel 

 oped bloom eitber refuses to go furtber or blasts; — not one really good lioso on 

 eigbt or ten standards. But later, wben June Koses are gone — wben tbo Prince baa 

 lost all bis plebian companions — be deigns to put on full costume. Tbrougb July, 

 imperfect specimens of tbis Rose bave been as diflicult to find as tbe perfect were in 

 June. In a season usually moist it bas continued to bloom faitbfully until severe 

 frosts. In tbe smallest collection of Roses it sbould be one. Tbe Madame Laffay 

 bas bloomed better early, but not so well late in tbe season as tbe Prince Albert. 

 La Peine, tbougb large and very sbowy, bas not been a reliable bloomer, A large, 

 brigbt, double, cberry-colored Rose, wbich I suppose to be Duchess of Sutherland, 

 is a great favorite witb us all. It is a free and continuous bloomer, and in most 

 respects better tban tbe Laffay. Tbe Marquis Boccclla is a good Rose of its color — 

 quite pale pink — and does very well to mlike variety of color witb tbe darker Roses, 

 say witb Prince Albert and Gcant des Batailles. I bave not bad uniformly well- 

 developed Roses of tbe Boccclla. Among tbe semi-bardy Perpetuals, I could poorly 

 dispense witb tbe Solfatare and Amie Vibert. Among all tbe Perpetuals, none bave 

 bloomed so profusely, during many years, as tbe latter. From tbe beginning of tbe 

 Rose season to cold weatber, it often bears as many as fifteen or twenty Roses at one 

 time, on its long, forked stems. Tbe Amie Vibert sbould bave a good background 

 of green, as it lacks leaves. Tbe Solfatare is somewbat more tender bere. It is tbe 

 best of tbe cream-colored family of Roses, and certainly one of tbe best of all Roses. 

 A tbick covering of evergreen boughs is all tbe winter protection it ordinarily requires. 

 Two years ago last winter, I nearly smotbered my best bush witb covering ; last win- 

 ter being more trying, I bad nearly lost it by following tbe opposite practice. 



With two or three exceptions, my Roses are budded. Several years' experience in 

 Rose-culture bas given me no inclination to resort to varieties on their own roots. 

 Nurserymen bave repeatedly warned me of tbe danger of budding, and especially of 

 its want of permanence. In a moderate amateur collection, like mine, budded Roses 

 bave many advantages. Usually tbe Rose roots sent out by nurserymen are rather 

 puny aftairs ; and, while some of them never get large enougb to make mucb display, 

 others are long enougb about it to quite weary one's patience. There is little diffi- 

 culty in finding stocks of tbe common Blush Rose to bud upon ; often quite strong 

 ones may be got. It is often quite an object to get a bloom tbe first year ; and if tbe 

 season is at all propitious, it may be attained by budding late in June, and beading 

 down so soon as tbe inserted bud shows signs of bursting. During tbe last ten years 

 I bave cultivated a variety of tbe best Perpetuals upon such stocks, and have not yet 

 found one to fail, eitber in health or vigor of growth. With slight attention in pro- 

 viding one good stake to support the bush, there is little danger of the top parting 

 from the stock. And this provision must be made, too, for the Rose on its own roots, 

 if the Roses are to show well. It is objected that the standards so got do not last 

 ■well. I can show budded standards, some of ten and some of twelve years from the 

 bud, apparently quite healthy yet ; and I hope to keep them so much longer 

 proper attention. 



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