4C8 



JOURNAL OF HORTICDLTDRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



( Jane 17, 1875. 



have frequently remoTed plants when in fall bloom, and planted 

 them under a north wall, where they have ripened seed per- 

 fectly. — A SnEREV Gardener. 



ANOTHER REQUIREMENT OF THE ROSE. 



At a time when so much ig said in favour of the Rose and 

 its manifold points of beauty it may appear presumptuous in 

 one who, like myself, has taken no share in the discussion to 

 mention one further requirement in at least one class of Roses 

 that does not seem to have struck the minds of those who have 

 given us so much information on the other good qualities of 

 the respective varieties. This may arise from the fact that 

 they may disavow the object which I and others have in view, 

 or it is possible condemn it altogether. But I am unwilling 

 to believe that they will do the latter; and being also aware 

 that my case is one of a great many, possibly outnumbering 

 all the exhibitors put together, I at once put forth my notion 

 of what a Rose ought to be to meet such requirements as is 

 expected of it here and in a great many other private places 

 where this popular flower is grown. 



To come to the point, I may say that we are in the habit of 

 cutting Roses to send away by the bushel, and most other 

 private places where the family are not at home at the time of 

 the Rose season expect this to be done, and who can say they 

 have not a perfect right to do so? and who can begrudge a 

 bunch of Roses being sent anywhere rather than allowed to 

 waste on the tree? Bat there is one thing above all others I 

 do begrudge, and that is the necessity there is sometimes of 

 cutting several backward buds along with the bud that is just 

 advanced to the required stage for cutting. It is this needless 

 waste that I would like to see avoided, and some Roses have 

 the good property of furnishing good long stalks to each in- 

 diviJual flower, whereby they can be cut and bunched without 

 any loss. Now, it is not, perhaps, asking too much if it were 

 said that theie are many who would be glad to have a list of 

 the kinds that produce fairly good flowers in this way, and 

 especially if they also are "abundant bearers." It is all very 

 well to describe a good Rose by seeing it in a winning stand at 

 some show, as its appearance there is improved by having a 

 number of buds on the same shoot, but the stern economist 

 would like all and each of these buds to do their duty by them- 

 selves ; hence the advantage of having Roses on single foot- 

 stalks. Of course where two or more are all advanced alike it 

 is even better than when singly ; but as this is so seldom the 

 case, either the one is allowed to expand too much, or the 

 others are cut too soon, and a waste takes place which is 

 always a source of regret. As the respective merits of Roses 

 eeem now very closely canvassed, might not a class meeting 

 the requirements of a vast number of growers have a share of 

 consideration ? 



Roses for bouquets, stands, and the like form a more exten- 

 sive class than for mere exhibition purposes ; and though, 

 doubtless, many kinds will serve both, the favour shown to 

 the one so far transcends what the other has received that it is 

 not without some shadow of justice on my side that I plead 

 the cause of the one that does all the hard work, and would 

 ask censors in passing an adverse opinion on a new or old 

 variety to pause and inquire if it wOl suit the grower who has 

 his flowers all to cut. Moreover, it would also be well to ask 

 if it produces its buds in good quantities, and each one of fair 

 average quality. A solitary grand bloom now and then will 

 not do for the grower for market, neither for the private 

 grower whose flowers have to be sent to London or elsewhere, 

 however much they may suit the exhibitor. 



It will be seen by the above that I am by no means insensible 

 to the merits of a Rose for exhibition purposes ; but I would 

 certainly not admit that to be the only use this queen of flowers 

 is intended for : on the contrary, judged by the all-important 

 standard of utility, exhibition is only a secondary purpose it 

 is applied to. If growers, or rather vendors of new varieties, 

 would now and then put in a remark or two bearing on the 

 qualities of the kind recommended for the everyday purpose it 

 is expected to assume, much good service would be done. I 

 am not sure but another standard of excellence differing widely 

 from that put forth by florists in general might be required by 

 those who cut their flowers by basketfuls. Most of us would 

 like a stiffer stem than many of the Teas possess — say, for 

 instance, Marechal Niel, which carries his head in anything 

 but military fashion, implying a rebuke on the raiser selecting 

 such a name. A Rose of less imposing importance, supported 

 by a Arm stiff stalk that would retain its position when stuck 



by some dainty hand in a drawing-room vase or stand, would 



suit the wants of everyday requirements much better, lovely 

 as the Marshal is pronounced to be. 



Roses encased in a square or oblong box, and surrounded by 

 gazing crowds of sightseers, doubtless has its advantages ; but 

 there seems no reason why that should usurp the only purpose 

 to which the flowers are applicable, and as other uses offer 

 themselves let them be turned to the best account, and the 

 careful collector of cut Roses would be grateful to those who 

 would increase the number of varieties producing fair good 

 flowers in the half-expanded condition on single stalks suffi- 

 ciently long for the purpose wanted. We are often pained by 

 being obliged to cut others in a backward state with the one 

 flower wanted, and a waste is the consequence. This matter 

 is of more importance than may at first sight appear to be the 

 case, and I submit it to our Rose-growing friends as one de- 

 serving their attention not less than the fragrance of respective 

 kinds. — J. RoiisON. 



LATE APPLES. 



Good-keeping Apples are the most useful of fruits. A store 

 which lasts in good condition month after month in the spring 

 and summer period of the year is a store of great value. This 

 is the period of the year to test the relative value of varieties. 

 If they keep until now in a fresh crisp state they are worthy 

 of honourable mention, even as much so — dare I write it — as 

 are sweet-scented Roses. Which are really the best late sorts? 

 I mean those which bear well and keep well without any special 

 care. It would be interesting, and particularly useful, if those 

 having, or have had until recently, sound Apples, would let 

 us know their names and a sketch of the conditions under 

 which they have been preserved. Mere size is not BO much an 

 object, neither is a very high standard of quality to go for too 

 much at this season. Free-bearing, late-keeping, good, useful 

 Apples are the kinds of which I think information would be 

 acceptable. There is no difliculty in having Apples in the 

 winter, but we want them now, and until Apples come again. 

 What are the best for culinary purposes, and the best for 

 dessert ? I, for one, should be glad to know, and I feel sure 

 the information would be generally acceptable Three Apples 

 which I have for a number of years found the most valuable 

 are Sturmer Pippin, dessert, small, free bearer, and keeps 

 fresh in a dark and not too dry cellar throughout June; 

 Striped Beefing, large, sunny side red, a good bearer, and 

 sound until June; Gooseberry Apple, medium-sized, great 

 bearer, very firm throughout June, and often useable until 

 August. What is the experience of others with these and 

 other sorts ? — Pyeus Malus. 



PRIZES FOR AMERICAN POTATOES. 

 In consequence of our offering various silver cups and other 

 prizes for American Potatoes this season, an inquiry has 

 arisen amongst intending competitors as to which sorts of 

 the great number of varieties in cultivation were of American 

 origin. In order, therefore, that no confusion may exist upon 

 this point, and that no exhibitor may be disqualified by the 

 presentation of sorts not American, we ask you to publish for 

 us the undernoted list of Potatoes which have been introduced 

 to this country from America. 



Alpha, Extra Early Venuout, Bresee's Peerless, 



Eureka, Comptou's Surprise, Bresee's Prolific, 



Suowflake, Early Gem, Early Goodrich, 



BrowueU's Beauty, Late Eose, Garuet Chili, 



syn, Vermout King of the Earlies, Peachblow, 



Beauty, Chmax, Early Rose. 



The above list stands about in order of date of introduction, 

 the newest varieties being first. — Hooper & Co., Covent Garden. 



Messes. Veitch & Sons' Fruit Prizes.— These will be com- 

 peted for on the 2l8t of July next in the garden of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society. The schedule has already appeared in 

 our advertising columns, and amounts to the munificent sum 

 of £111 to be distributed in money. This liberal encourage- 

 ment of fruit-culture on the part of Messrs. Veitch at a time 

 when the national Society is so sadly crippled is very opportune ; 

 aud when we see this repeated year after year we hope that ihe 

 Messrs. Veitch will in return receive the support they deserve 

 by the extent and quality of the exhibition, to which many look 

 forward to now as one of the events in the horticultural year. 



