() ctober 8, 1887. ) 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGK GARDENER. 



259 



perfectly clear space between the posts for a person to pass 

 throngh. The fltiles are made of iron and wood as required, 

 and are found to answer well in other places besides this, as 

 the orders now rapidly coining in abundantly testify. It is 

 patented. 



I send you also an illustration ofanotber very ingenions stile 

 invented by ray brother, which is very suitable for gardens, as 

 a wheelbarrow can pass through. — -Godfuey Siylitks. 



THE NEW TtOSES. 



Is the autumn of IKfi.j fifty-six now Roses were announced 

 by the French growers — namely, two Tea-scented, five Bour- 

 bons, and forty-nine Reraontants (II.I'.'s). Most of these were 

 propagated and distributed from the English nurseries in the 

 spring of IKOf!. They are, therefore, known among Kose- 

 growers and amateurs as the 'G<! Hoses. The season of the 

 present year has proved to a great extent what they are ; at 

 least nearly enough of them is known to be able to note those 

 worth cultivation. 



As in previous years, many of them — I feel no hesitation in 

 saj'ing the majority of them — will not meet with great favour 

 for any length of time, and, like so many of their predecessors, 

 will soon cease to be propagated. This has invariably been the 

 case year after year, and will continue so till thofiimrr for Hose 

 noveltie.s is restrained within reasonable limits, and time allowed 

 to prove new kinds before they are uselessly and extensively pro- 

 pagated. 



The most obvious merits of the 'fiG Roses, on the whole, are 

 richness of colour and vigorous growth. In ore or two in- 

 stances to bo presently noticed a new shade of colour has been 

 obtained, but not of a very decisive character, nor coupled with 

 symmetry of form to such an extent as to give them a place 

 among fir.st-clas3 Rises. Several others are of a colour we 

 already possess in older varieties, without showing any marked 

 improvement in other qualities. The prevailing defects are 

 irregularity and roughness of form, which are now the more 

 objectionable, since the introduction of many fine Roses that 

 combine beauty in shape with brilliancy in colour and size. 



Opinions may. and do, differ upon the qualities of any par- 

 ticular tlower. Some would bestow upon it the highest praise, 

 while others would reject it altogether. Tliis is especially the 

 case with Roses. There is no established standard of excellence 

 set up 90 that all may be judged from it accordingly, nor is 

 any such likely to be. Hence the diversity of opinion con- 

 stantly met with, and not without advantage. No one denies 

 a first place to such Roses as Cllmrles Lefebvre, Senateur 

 Vaisse, Oloiro de Dijon, Leopold Premier, Chabrillant, and 

 others ; but a host of other kinds have had very opposite judg- 

 ment passed upon them. If, therefore, any one offers a cri- 

 tique upon any flowers on his own responsibility, the prin- 

 ciples upon which his or her judgment is founded should be 

 stated. 



What constitutes a good Rose ? has been to me an oft-re- 

 peated question. 



I deem the foil iwing points essential :^ 



1, Brilliancy (richness) or delicacy of colouring, or both. 



2, Symmetry ia form. 



3, Size in connection with the preceding. 



These three refer to the flower ; Lut to make the flow( r worth 

 the tronblo of ouliivation in our climate there are also re- 

 quisite 



4, Vigorous habit or strong conslitution. 

 r>, Free-bloomiug qualities. 



Colour as an essential point is too manifest. Any Rose with 

 a dull or unattractive colour would be rejected without regard 

 to any other quality. Instances of miserably-coloured Roses 

 being sent out are not unknown. For example, La Reine des 

 Violettes. 



By symmetry in form it is not intended to imply mathema- 

 tical accuracy in shape. The only approach to such must bo 

 the perfectly circular outline of the outer petals in cupped and 

 globular Roses. Flat ones ore now but slightly esteemed, and 

 where the two forms are combined, the true circular outline 

 should be readily recognised. The petals should have the edge 

 entire, whether erect (Charles Lefebvre), recurved (Comtesse 

 de Chabrillant), or incurved (Ciline Gonod). The very best, 

 however, generally show a slight indentation in the outside 

 petals. Notched and ragged petals are glaring defects. A Rose 

 with petals greatly incurved often fails to show its true colour, 

 and is frequently a bad opener (JosCphine Beauharnaie). One 



with petals excessively recurved has a rough and unpleasiog 

 appearance (William RoUisson). 



Size is too often attained at the expense of fullness IGinCial 

 Jacqueminot). A yellow " eye " in a Ilose is an eyesore ; " large 

 and full " is a common expression not always correct ; a thin 

 centre is a usual occurrence under the highest and strongest 

 culture. 



Vigorous habit is essential, that the plant may withstand the 

 vicissitudes of our climate, without being rampant and of nn- 

 sightly growth, conditions not favourable to the production of 

 abundant bloom (La Tour de Crouy) : the foliage should be 

 full, the leaflets large. .\11 small-leaved kinds are of little use 

 (Alba mutabilis). Weak and uncertain kinds should no longer 

 bo offered for sale nor exhibited. 



Free-blooming quality is not less important than vigorous 

 habit. The value of a Rose bush is materially lessened if it 

 only fiirni.shes three or four blooms aycar, even if good (Cla- 

 mence Joigneaux). It should be literally remontant — that is, 

 sending up a succession of bloom during the season, from June 

 to November. 



Charles Lefebvre, Senateur Vaisse. Gloire de Dijon, William - 

 Griffiths, Alfred Colomb, Madame Victor Verdier, Lord Ma- 

 caulay, I'ierre Netting, .Tules Margottin, Comtesse Ci'cile de 

 Chabrillant, Duchosse de Caylus, Leopold I'remier, Prince 

 Camillo do Rohan, possess all these qualities in an eminent 

 degree. Close upon them follow Beauty of Waltham, John 

 Hopper, Maurice Bernardin, La Ville de St. Denis, Comto de 

 Nanteuil, Mari'chal Vaillant, Dr. Andry, Caroline de Sansal, 

 Acidttlie, Marguerite de St. Amand, Madame Caillat, Leopold 

 Hausburg, Adolphe Rothschild, and some few others. 



Essential as these points mu^t be deemed, because having 

 obtained them in the above-named varieties, it would be retro- 

 grade to estimate a Rose as being good with any of these 

 qualities deficient. Yet in judging Roses at the great Rose 

 shows, some of these important items have been occasionally 

 lost sight of or ignored, which has been a matter of surprise 

 to me. It has not been an uncommon occurrence that a stand 

 of really good Roses of the best kinds has been passed over for 

 one that had larger blooms, or, perhaps, in a trifle better con- 

 dition than the other, but at the same time had many inferior 

 kinds exhibited. 



It is quite possible that another season mny show some of 

 the following kinds to better ad%'antage. There are many 

 Roses which do better one year than another ; where good 



1 qualities are promising, further trial should be accorded. 



I Alfred ( 'nloiiib, the premier Rose of last year, of perfect form, 



I combined with brilliancy of colour. It equals Charles Lefebvre 

 in its free-blooming qualities and vigorous habit, and will he 

 indispensable in the rosery, and even in small collections. To 



I M. Lachiirme, the raiser of Charles i.efebvre, belongs the 



: honour of sending out this truly superb Rose. 



Jcaii Chrrpin is a valuable addition to our dark Roses. To 



' say that it is perfect would not. perhaps, be correct; being 



j large it requires high culture to make it full. 



Camilh' Bernardin. although one of the numerous progeny 



I of Gfinoral Jacqueminot, is far superior to its parent. Its 

 colour is somewhat common ; but the fine blooms of it here, 

 and those I have seeu in other places, were so round and full, 

 with a glowing red centre, surrounded by a cup of lighter- 

 tinted petals, that I do not hesitate to assign it a first place. 



Kxposition de lirie has a great resemblance to the last, differ- 

 ing by a shade or two in colour. Very beautiful. Camille Ber- 

 nardin and Exposition de Brie obtained medals of merit at the 

 great Ua.so Show at Brie in 18('w. 



Madame [■'illion, as a flower, must take a first place, although 

 the constitution of the plant has not ytt proved so strong a.s 

 could be wished. It is, undoubtedly, the finest suimon pink 

 Rose yet out ; beautifully cupped. Those who remember its 

 parent, Madame Domage, will readily oppreciate Madame Fil- 

 lion by its superior colour and form. 



Mdile. Marie Radij is another red Rose of great merit. I 

 have not as yet found in it anything very distinct from others 

 of the same colour to mark it otherwise than a good Rose. 



Charles RouiUard and Mdlle. Marguerite Uombrain I have 

 not seen on the living plant, the proper place, as Mr. Rivers 

 justly observes, " to see Roses aright." Both of them, espe- 

 cially the first, have received the approval of competent 

 authorities ; they should, therefore, be accepted. The cut 

 blooms at the Crystal Paloce Show were superb. Charles 

 RouiUard is the best of the ten Remontants sent out by M. 

 Eugene Verdier last year ; Mdlle. M. Dombrain is also his. 

 Not much can be yet said in praise of the others, which are — 



