IRISH GARDENING 



Some Reliable Garden Roses. 



By Henry E. Richardson. 



When I undertook these notes on bedding 

 Roses I fear it was the flattery implied in the 

 Editor's request which overcame my ordinary 

 prudence, hence my excursion into the thorny 

 path of doubt and differences of opinion always 

 raised by the laying down of any selection for 

 any purpose. However, I limit my suggestions 

 to varieties only, the most of which I have 

 grown for five or six years, and I include only 

 Roses for garden and decorative purposes, there- 

 fore I count out all " Exhibition " — as such — 

 which require special treatment or that coddling 

 necessary to produce blooms of that perfection 

 which, unfortunately for them, dooms them to 

 an existence under torture and to an untimely 

 end in an exhibitor's box. 



As different climatic conditions and different 

 soils naturally affect individual Roses, I may 

 say my climate (Co. Antrim) is very damp and 

 my soil rather heavier than is desirable — hence 

 yon will find very few " Teas " in my list. 



The es ential qualities of a reliable bedding 

 Rose are, to my mind, a good constitution — 

 free and perpetual flowering, good foliage, a 

 suitable habit and height of growth, with 

 immunity (so-called) from mildew and other 

 diseases. 1 must therefore rule out most of the 

 fine old Hybrid Perpetuals as not being suffi- 

 ciently perpetual, and their growth, in mosl 

 cases, is quite unsuitable. 



Further, I select Roses which have a tendency 

 to make their new summer wood from the base, 

 not from a higher point on the old wood. These 

 plants, of course, turn out, after some years, 

 compact dwarf bushes. I find all the following 

 varieties are possessed of, to a great extent, all 

 the above qualities, but some qualifying remarks 

 are made under some particular names. The 

 approximate height may be considered as about 

 2\ to 3 feet, reckoning from the autumn height, 

 after a fairly severe spring pruning, but some 

 particular varieties are specially noted as being 

 taller or dwarfer in habit. 



The question on which everyone differs the 

 correct description of colour— is difficult : but 

 to shorten these notes I must attempt some 

 rough classification of colour. 



White (ob some shade of White) 



A s-'ond pun- white beddmg variety has still to 



be raised, as most <>f the new, much -vaunted 



whites are magnificent as " maidens," but leave 



a lot to be desired in t lie m as " cut- back " plants. 



/■'ran Karl Druschki. — The best white, but is 



not very perpetual, and quite unsuitable; tint 



when pegged down in a large bed is very effectual. 



Molly Sharman Crawford {Ten). -Almost pure 



white, but has a tinge of blue green, which changes 

 to " Eau de nil " ; a good variety, but may 

 require some protection. 



Mrs. Herbert Stevens [Tea). — Generally white, 

 but occasionally shaded with peach ; of a perfect 

 shape, but rather thin : fragrant ; one of the 

 best decorative Roses, and exceptionally good 

 in autumn. The foliage is sparse. I find it 

 quite hardy. 



Reds. 



Triumph. — Dark carmine red, shaded darker 

 on reverse of petals ; very large ; does not turn 

 purple blue in sun ; growth free and erect ; quite 

 the best of the taller reds ; very fragrant. 



General Mac Arthur. — Dark scarlet crimson ; a 

 fine Rose, but in hot sun the colour turns into 

 an ugly purple : in my soil the points of the 

 petals often have a " flea-bitten " appearance. 

 1 much prefer " Triumph," which stands longer 

 as a cut flower. 



Cardinal. — Bright cardinal red; free growth, 

 but seldom exceeds 2 feet ; an ideal bedding 

 Rose ; fragrant. The blooms are fuller than 

 " Richmond," and petals a little shorter. 



I cannot grow " Richmond," so I must leave it 

 out of my list, though I do keep the " Rich- 

 mond " Cripples. 



Hugh Dickson. — The best of all red Roses, but 

 too tall for garden purposes. I grow it with 

 success half pegged along a low trellis. When 

 the early bloom is over I cut out, at the base, all 

 wood of the previous year, allow the new wood 

 to grow erect, flower in autumn, and peg down 

 in following spring. It is not wise to peg down 

 more than three growths, and even then the 

 plant will require special feeding. 



Mrs. A. E. Coxhead. — Bright claret red ; 

 rather an acquired taste in colour, but a fine 

 grower, and specially good in autumn; opens 

 well in wet weather ; very fragrant. 



Pink. 



Caroline Testout. — A warm shade of pink : 

 excellent habit ; large full flowers ; quite one of 

 the best Roses for any purpose. 



Mate. Maurice de Luze. — Deep rose pink; an 

 unusual shade of colour : free habit ; fragrant : 

 I think requires root pruning alter three or four 

 sears, even more than all other varieties. 



Lady Ashtovm. — Rose pink in the bud, but 

 opens to a light pink : a very good bedding 

 variety. If grown quite naturally the blooms 

 are erect, but when disbudded for size she has a 

 tendency to hang her head : liable to mildew and 

 black spot. 



Freiherr eon Marechal {Tea). Dark carmine 

 Rose ; the guard petals lighter : very full for a 

 Tea: free habit; when cut the blooms stand 

 very well in water. 



Miss Cynthia Forde. Very brilliant rose pink ; 

 a good grower, and flowers all through t he season : 

 one of the best pinks, and an excellent cut- 

 llouer variety. 



Mine. Segond-Weber. Vivid salmon pink, with 

 silver> tinge; very long pointed petals: rather 

 dwarf: does not open up well in wet weather, 



bui beautiful at other t imes. 



Flesh Shades. 



I, a Tosca. Rather tall ; silvery pink, opening 



out to rosy white : never out of bloom : especially 

 good in autumn, at which season some disbudding 

 should be done ; makes quite a good hedge or 



