320 



JOUBNAL OF HOKTICULTUHE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ 8«pt«mlwr 16, 1800. 



ing llie flower I love so well. I Buspeot the reason wby ao few 

 contribute their expeiienoe— and the experience of others is 

 OBeful to the beat of us — is the same as that which keeps many 

 good cultivators from competing nt our shows^ — viz., the fear 

 lest what little they can do is sure to be excelled by the doings 

 of others who enter the lists. We all know the results — in the 

 one case a few bold exhibitors carrying off all the prizes from 

 want of a healthy competition ; in the other, an eager and 

 earnest seeking, week by week, after Rose articles, and the in- 

 evitable disappointment. 



What a fortunate rosarian is he whose habitation is upon 

 B Rose soil ! Nearly three years ago 1 came into Warwickshire, 

 and became the tenant of a newly-built house. The garden 

 had never been cultivated, save as a portion of a field ; it was 

 full of large and small atones, and so deveid of fertility that 

 hardly anything would grow therein ; sand and gravel could be 

 obtained, and can now, at a depth of 2 feet ; in fine, it was a 

 sandy waste, only fit for' the growth of Potatoes. During my 

 first summer, therefore, my Roses did no good, especially as 

 1 possesi-ed nothing but standards, which should be almost 

 entirely discarded from sandy soils. Last year I began with 

 Roses on their own roots and on the Manetti stock, which I 

 planted in well, though freshly, manured ground. A great 

 improvement was the result, even the standards showing their 

 gratitude for the better feeding. During the spring and sum- 

 mer I accumulated a couple of tons of horse manure, which I 

 used for Vegetable ilarrows, and in November last, when well 

 rotted, I dug it deeply into my Rose beds, and as I transplanted 

 nearly the whole of my stock I took particular care that the 

 manure should be under as well as around the roots. And 

 what a reward I have had ! Since the beginning of May, in 

 apite of the unfavourable weather of the spring, vigorous 

 growth, clean fidiage, fine buds, and noble blooms have been 

 the rule, and afforded pioof that the disadvantages of a wretch- 

 edlv poor soil and exposed site (for we are very bleak), may be 

 ameliorated. 



Although my standards have done well this season, the Ma- 

 netti-stocked Rosea have done so much better as to make me a 

 convert to the new faith — that the Briar must soon become a 

 thing of the past so far as the true rosarian is concerned. I 

 can understand the repngnance which many old cultivators 

 will have acainst changing their creed ; but I would respect- 

 fully submit that although they should not be 



" The first by whom the new is tried," 



neither should they be 



" Th3 last to cast the old aside," 

 for, depend upon it, the Briar is doomed. 



Luckily for me, I purchased in November last a lot of Roses 

 on the ^lanetli stock, and among them was Monsieur Noman. 

 It has delighted me as much as did Alfred Colomb last year at 

 our BiimiDgbara show. Was ever such a pink Rose seen ? 

 Your readers will remember the spell which Marie Eaumann 

 cast over the Rev. Mr. Radclyfie — how he returned to it time 

 after time with the ardour of a devoted lover ; and of such a 

 nature was the fascination which glorious Monsieur Noman 

 exercised over me. I was never tired of looking at its splendid 

 form, and colour, and size, and bringing others to drink of the 

 intoxicating cup. I am afraid, however, that its great beauty 

 departs in the early summer, for I have had no such blooms 

 since. And Alfred Colomb, too — where is its equal for bright- 

 ness, clearness, and form ? It is a class in itself, and, like 

 Charles Lefebvre, will live for ever. Talking about the latter, 

 I must not forget to say that it has done as well with me on 

 a standard as on the Manetti. Perhaps there is no belter 

 Rose than this is for all general purposes. Another of my 

 loves is Anna de Diesbacli, which was the universal favourite 

 at my house. Even my little children would arrest their 

 gambols to point it out to one another; and a reverend friend 

 of ours w>.=; so enchanted with it, that he could only be brought 

 back to his usual frame of mind by my promising that he 

 should possess a similar Rose before Father Christmas paid ua 

 another visit. 1 have been quite disappointed with Charlea 

 Rouillard, which does not open well with me, nor does it show 

 any distinct colour. I imagine it requires a stiff soil to bring 

 out the qualities which nttrnct one in the catalogues. 



Talking about catalogue?, X look in vain for two great fa- 

 -rouritea of mine — R)3ea not for exhibition, but to be tenderly 

 regarded in one's own garden. I allude to Qaeen of the City 

 and Armide. The former grows finelv, is compact, well built 

 ap, and of a pretty shade of pink. The latter, though rather 

 only rather— ilat, is a charming flower, a free bloomer, and 



of a rich salmon tint ; its foliage is aoiqae, and nearly always 

 keeps in good condition. 



Climbing Devonieneia doea well ; its growth ia enrprieingly 

 vigorous, its flowers fairly good, and its perfume delicious. 

 Everyone should have this who likea a climber. Will the 

 Comtesse de Jaucourt turn out first or third-class ? It baa 

 grown and bloomed capitally, yet I cannot become enthusiastic 

 about it. I know those who think it perfection. Another 

 glorious Rose for a soil like mine is Dr. Andry, which baa 

 gratified me beyond measure. Do all your readers grow General 

 Washington ? If not, let those who wish to have the finest 

 and most brilliant of the autumn bloomers order it at once. 

 Even on a cutting struck last year it has given me a flower to 

 be proud of. Vicomtesse de Vizins ia a pink General Washing- 

 ton, and worth a place in every rosery. Elie Morel will turn 

 out a first-clasa Rose; it is large, has a perfect form, with a 

 charming disposition of its petals. A neighbour of mine has 

 grown such a prodigy on a plant of Hippolyte Flandrin aa I 

 never saw before. It is certainly a prime exhibition Rose, 

 though I am of opinion it will require very high feeding. 

 Duchesse de Caylus is a Rose of exquisite form and of fine 

 colour, and it also blooms abundantly ; the same remarks will 

 also apply to Abel Grand, a noble Rose. Duo de Wellington ia 

 superb in its colouring, and in the duration of its bloom ex- 

 traordinary ; its growth is only moderate. Duo de Rohan I 

 cannot get to bloom properly, yet it is such a fine Roae that I 

 cannot give it up without another trial. I suppose a strong 

 soil suits it best. One of those I could ill spare is the old 

 Duchess of Sutherland ; it does equally well on the Manetti, 

 Briar, and on its own roots, and blooms continually and in 

 profusion — in fact, for general good qualities it approaches 

 Charles Lefebvre. 



To those who are fond of purples, let me recommend Lady 

 SuflSeld, which has a luxuriant growth, fine foliage, and large, 

 well-shaped blooms. Madame Fillion, a salmon colour, is a 

 little gem. Marguerite Dombrain suits a light soil, and it ia, 

 moreover, a Rose which must be in every collection. Another 

 Margaret— her of St. Amand, I regret to say will not repay me 

 for the trouble which I take to obtain blooms. However, I will 

 give another trial before discarding a Rose which appears in 

 every exhibitor's box. Can anybody speak from experience 

 about Napoleon III. ? It grows well enough, though I do not 

 admire tlbe foliage, which is too much hke that of the Briar 

 itself; yet for two seasons I have been unable to obtain a single 

 bloom, or even a bud. William Grifliths, although very stiff 

 in its growth, and inclining to raggedness, always bears a first- 

 class flower, which endures for a longer time than any other in 

 my garden. It does well on the Briar. — 0. W. M., Wijlde Green. 



PROTECTING GRAPES FROM WASPS. 



I HAVE been for several years very much plagued with wasps 

 eating my Grapes. Netting over the ventilators ia of little or 

 no use, as my house is old, and consequently there are many 

 little crevices which the wasps soon find out. This year I 

 was recommended by a friend to tiy tissue paper, and I may 

 say with perfect success, as not a bunch has been touched since 

 it has been put on. It is simple and cheap, and the paper will 

 last for several years it care be taken of it. The way I use it 

 is to take a sheet, or half a sheet, according to the size of the 

 bunch, place it round the bunch, doubling the edges together, 

 and tie it at the top and bottom with a piece of bast. This forms 

 an effectual barrier, and if put on with care, the bloom is very 

 little injured. If the paper be put on when the Grapes are 

 only partly coloured, it does not prevent them from colonring 

 beautifully. I certainly prefer it to muslin. 



In a gentleman's garden I saw a more easily applied remedy, 

 but more costly, at first at any rate — namely, an oval, fine wire 

 gauze covering, with a hinge in the centre, a slight catch for 

 a fastening on the opposite side, and a small notch in the 

 top ; this was opened and the bunch clasped inside, the 

 shoulder of the bunch holding up the covering. This was of 

 French manufacture. Is it made in England ? I understand 

 that bunches kept thus are not liable to damp and mould. 

 Perhaps some of your correspondents have tried them, and can 

 tell if it is the case. — W. 



WELLINGTONIA GIGANTEA. 

 Having read Mr. Robson's remarks, in page lOS, on the 

 Wellingtonia, I feel pleasure in stating I have under my care 

 several specimens of this mapcificent tree in the most robust 



