358 



JOURNAL OF HOBTIOULTDBE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



[ Uay 14, 1868. 



cultural and Horticultural Society ; on November 18th by the 

 Cambridge Horticultural Society, and on November 26th by 

 the Eoyal Horticultural Society of Ireland. 



ROSES AND SPRING FLOWERS. 



MR. WILLIAM PAITL'S NUKSEKIES, WALTHAM CROSS. 



A TisiT to these nurseries at any season is sure to be found 

 interesting, especially so in the spring months, when the noble 

 array of early-flowering plants which Mr. Paul has for some 

 years past successfully cultivated and exhibited is in its 

 beauty. Spring gardening as it is called, or, more correctly, 

 floriculture for spring, is beginning to receive the share of 

 pubhe attention it naturally claims; for it is in the early 

 months that the hopes of the florist are most strongly excited, 

 and the first flowers of the year always receive the heartiest 

 welcome, if not the greatest share of admiration. True to the 

 high character which Mr. W. Paul has maintained for so many 

 years as a leader in horticulture, he is constantly drawing upon 

 resources hitherto neglected or left in abeyance, developing 

 new beauties for the decoration of the pleasure and flower 

 garden, pressing into service subjects generally left to the 

 nooks and comers of the humble cottage plot, and even found 

 wild in the hedges and fields. 



We should call nothing common, in a depreciatory sense, that 

 is beautiful, even if abundant. There is beauty in the wayside 

 plant trodden under foot. There is marvellous beauty in all 

 those pretty flowers blooming in the hedges and fields in the 

 early spring, could we but appreciate them aright. Our leading 

 horticulturists, then, are wisely moving in a proper direction 

 in snowing us how these things may add still further to our 

 gratification and enjoyment by introducing them with judgment 

 into the flower garden, and blending their delicate hues with 

 other flowers of more gorgeous colours. 



The common Bluebell, Hyacinthus non-scriptus ; Forget-me- 

 not, Myosotis ; Daisy, double crimson and white ; varieties of 

 Primulas, usually known as Polyanthuses ; Aubrietias, Pansies, 

 Wallflowers, and many other familiar favourites are all em- 

 ployed at Waltham with charming effect. If to these are added 

 the now-well-known Alyssnm saxatile, variegated Arabis, and 

 scarlet Anemone, it will be seen that a variety of and even 

 brilliant display of colours are brought together, offering an 

 almost unlimited field for the exercise of tasteful arrangement 

 and combination. Few travellers on the Great-Eastern Kail- 

 way can have passed the Waltham station within the last 

 fortnight, without having their attention arrested by the beau- 

 tiful circular beds near the railway, planted with the brilliant 

 Bex Rubrorum Tulip, edged with Bluebell and Alyssum saxatile, 

 and backed by other beds of plants above named. 



I should not have made more than a few passing notes on 

 these early hardy flowers, had not their intrinsic merits abso- 

 lutely required more. To single out from amongst them one 

 subject deserving especial notice, the Polyanthus tribe, or 

 those varieties of it cultivated at Waltham, are the most con- 

 spicuous. The kinds selected are all distinguished for the 

 mass of blooms produced by each plant ; the colours are pleasing 

 and distinct, equally suitable for massing or for single speci- 

 mens. The same admirable discrimination is also shown in 

 the selection of Pansies. All of these spring-flowering plants 

 being perfectly hardy and easy of culture, 1 was glad to find 

 that they are beiug propagated extensively, bo that in another 

 season no one need be without them. 



Nor is it with herbaceous and bulbous plants only that the 

 spring garden can be made completely attractive. With few 

 exceptions, by far the greater number of ornamental trees and 

 shrubs esteemed for their flowers produce them in tlie early 

 months of the year ; and in my opinion they should not be 

 regarded simply as an adjunct, but a principal feature in the 

 decoration of the spring garden ; and although notices of single 

 species and lists of selected kinds frequently appear in these 

 pages, the subject admits of further elucidation — much more 

 so the now numerous varieties of deciduous shrubs and trees 

 with variegated or coloured foliage that show their "quiet 

 beauty " later in the season. Easy of culture, growing in 

 almost any soil, the planting and arrangement of deciduous 

 trees and shrubs have nevertheless of late failed to receive the 

 share of attention they merit. The contrast and relief such 

 afford, in the summer and autumn months, to the masses of 

 gorgeous colour now sought for in these seasons, have yet to be 

 more fully developed. A more enlarged, and I think I may 

 add a more enhghtened, taste in ornamental gardening, is be- 



ginning to be manifested. We shall yet see them in theii 

 proper place and rightly appreciated. The choice and at 

 the same time extensive selection Mr. William Paul has at 

 Waltham will do much to bring them under general notice ; 

 and I trust that in time abler pens will direct attention to 

 them, to which I will venture to hope to join my mite in a 

 future paper. 



But the Roses, the chief and most attractive of all the flowers 

 at Waltham, I must beg pardon of the readers for my digres- 

 sion, especially of the very numerous ones who peruse " our 

 Journal " almost solely for Rose intelligence. I am conscious 

 of their impatience. Week after week have they had to look 

 through the pages, and have found of late Uttle or nothing 

 respecting their favourites ; and if we grant that the subject ia 

 well nigh inexhaustible, they should bear in mind that our 

 Editors have to take cognisance of the whole range of subjects 

 connected with horticulture, and each must have its turn. At 

 length they will allow a little gossip about our flower ; and the 

 season for out-of-door bloom and the shows being at hand, we 

 may anticipate our full share. 



The Roses at Waltham are, as they always are, in fine con- 

 dition. It is not my purpose here to raise any question pro 

 or contra respecting forced Roses, but to record what I saw, 

 and that which any reader may see and judge for himself 

 on any day. Forced Roses are a great luxury ; to prolong 

 the season of our glorious flower in either direction is a 

 great treat ; and when accompUshed, as Mr. W. Paul has for 

 years past done, and shown how to do, there is not much 

 room for argument in the matter. Roses if over-forced, 

 or too early, or unskilfully managed, are eyesores to the 

 rosarian ; they are miserably deficient in form and colour, and 

 too often their growth is " leggy." Not so with the splendid 

 specimens exhibited by Mr. Paul, and other eminent growers, 

 nor, indeed, with a single plant of the multitude now growing 

 in the various glass structures at Waltham. With respect to 

 colour, I may note an instance. If any Roses suffer in this 

 point they are the dark kinds. Now, on the day of my visit 

 (April 25th), a plant of Empureur de Slaroc, one of the darkest 

 Roses known, showed several blooms of its velvety maroon 

 flowers without a single hitch or fault. Many specimens of 

 other well-known kinds were similarly perfect. Hence, in 

 offering the following notes of new kinds for the information 

 of our Rose friends, I do so with something like confidence 

 that when proved in the open air they will be found as now 

 described. 



ROSES OF 1867. 

 Charles Verdier. — Pale rose in colour. Very globular and 

 full, not unlike the old Cabbage Rose, but better formed, and 

 with more substance in the petals. Remarkably good. 



Souvenir de Monsiinir Boll. — One of the largest of Roses, 

 carmine red, showing some resemblance to Madame Boll in 

 habit and foliage. Very vigorous. 



Antoine Ditcher fully maintains the character given of it last 

 autumn, bright red in colour, beautifully cupped, very remon- 

 tant. A noble flower. 



Comtesse de Jancourt. — Somewhat like Caroline de Sansal in 

 form and colour, but more regular and deeper, a kind of rosy 

 flesh, decidedly beautiful, freely remontant. This variety 

 promises to be a very useful garden Rose on account of its 

 distinct and delicate colour, combined with free blooming. Of 

 a large number of plants in Mr. W. Paul's houses nearly every 

 one had one or more expanded flowers, with others imme- 

 diately to follow. 



Eugene Scribe. — Like Jules Margottin, with nothing par- 

 ticular to distinguish it from, or to induce a preference to that 

 fine old Rose. 



Madame Pulliat promises to be one of the best of its year; 

 deep rose, full, globular, and vigorous ; not quite so large as 

 some of the preceding. 



Franrois Treyve is another addition to the host of scarlet 

 crimsons, or crimson scarlets ; of excellent shape. 



Madame A)ma Bufinet will prove a favourite; colour delicate 

 satin flesh approaching white ; of beautiful shape. 



Adrienne Mar.v. — Bright carmine red, large, not superior to 

 others of similar colour. 



Baronne Hausmann. — Bright cerise red, large, but not full ; 

 requires further trial. 



Monsieur Furtado. — Tea-scented. This promises to become 



one of the most admired of Tea Roses ; very large and full, 



perfect form, sulphur yellow, deeper than SoHaterre, and of 



much better shape ; superb. 



Madame Margottin. — Another Tea Rose of the same season 



