154 



HOETICULTURE 



February 21, 1920 



RAMBLING OBSERVATIONS OF 

 A ROVING GARDENER 



Perhaps enough attention has al- 

 ready been given to the rose Columbia, 

 but in Horticulture it has been treated 

 mostly from the standpoint of tlie com- 

 mercial grower. Indeed, it is most 

 commonly looked upon as a greenhouse 

 rose. I am interested, for that reason, 

 to find that in the Henry A. Dreer 

 catalogue it is being featured as a 

 garden plant. The statement is made, 

 in fact, that Columbia has proven itself 

 one of the best bedding or garden 

 varieties. Mention is made of its 

 strong, vigorous growth and its free 

 flowering habit, as well as of its pleas- 

 ing color and sweet perfume. I wish 



I knew for certain that it was entirely 

 hardy in New England, for I expect 

 that question to be asked by many 

 people. With the new honors won by 

 Ciilunibia in the competition at Port- 

 land. Ore., it is likely to be in great 

 demand. I already feel that I shall 

 have to grow it the coming season, as 

 a matter of duty, if for no other 

 reason, for I must needs learn more 

 about its garden qualities. Curious, 

 by the way, how easy we find it to 

 make a duty of things we like to do. 



have had a hunch that Columbia was 

 to loom big in the eyes of rosarians, 

 lor the new catalogue comes out with a 

 wonderful full page picture of this 

 rose in colors, one of the handsomest 

 things I have seen in this season's 

 catalogues. It would sell the rose even 

 without a description. 



I do not suppose that there is any- 

 body in the Dreer establishment who 

 poses as a prophet, but it seems as 

 tliough somebody on the staff must 



I believe that Charles H. Totty is 

 also presenting an excellent plate of 

 this rose, along with many other 

 colored illustrations. Mr. Totty gives 

 some space to the loss occasioned here 

 by Quarantine 37 in the shutting out 

 of the beautiful Irish roses which for- 

 merly were imported. Mr. Totty was 

 American agent for the Dicksons of 

 Belfast, and had introduced some 

 splendid varieties from that source. 

 It is to be hoped that a stock has been 

 accumulated of such fine singles as 

 Ulster Gem and Ulster Volunteer. 

 People seem to be growing more fond 

 of the single roses, which is a good 



Silver Moon which Mr. Fish says is Entirely Hardy in New England 



