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29 
TEA ROSE. 
This class may be taken as a synonym for all that is 
delicately beautiful. What refinement of color; what 
subdued, yet powerful fragrance do they possess! They 
are indeed the centre of loveliness; like fair maids at a 
reception, surrounded by admiring groups, they lend 
beauty to the others which may well strive to find a near 
approach to their sweet presence, that perchance they 
may receive a smile, and borrow beauty diffused from 
their chaste loveliness. Every one of this class is espec- 
jally adapted to the South. Many of them need protec- 
tion in this State. South of this line strong plants of 
nearly all this class will pass through our Winters un- 
protected without injury. The range of color is all that 
can be desired; the snowy white of Niphetos, the rich 
deep red of Duchess of Edinburgh, the pink of Catherine 
Mermet, and yellow of Perle des Jardin, are a range of 
color as beautiful as it is distinct. No other class of Roses 
has such a variety of color, and if we felt a desire to criti- 
cise, we could only say there is not enough of deep red 
eolor in proportion to the pinks, whites, yellows and 
creams; but this is no objection to the South, as Roses of 
the lighter shades are more popular in Dixie. Speaking 
to a prominent florist in Cincinnati in the Summer of 
1889, who grows Rose buds by the wholesale and ships 
them to florists and others all over the South and West, 
he said: ‘‘How is it I never ean sell any red Roses to 
your people in the South? All orders I send North er 
West, one-half at least is invariably dark ones, but orders 
from the Southern cities are almost without exception 
for white or yellow, and occasionally pink.’’ The culture 
of the Tea Rose in the South is most simple; they thrive 
with but little care. A slight pruning in Winter just 
before they commence to make their Spring growth is 
