RAISING VARIETIES FROM SEED. 57 



Raising Varieties from Sead. 



No family of roses offer such an interesting 

 field for experiments in raising new varieties from 

 seed as tins. First we have the Copper Austrian, 

 from which, although it is one of the oldest roses 

 in our gardens, a double flowering variety has 

 never yet been obtained. This rose is always 

 defective in pollen ; and consequently it will not 

 bear seed unless its flowers are fertilised ; as it 

 will be interesting to retain the traits of the 

 species, it should be planted with and fertilised 

 by the Double Yellow ; it will then in warm, dry 

 seasons produce seed, not abundantly ; but the 

 amateur must rest satisfied if he can procure even 

 one hip full of perfect seed. 



The beautiful and brilliant Eosa Harrisonii, 

 however, gives the brightest hopes. This should 

 be planted with the Double Yellow Briar ; it will 

 then bear seed abundantly ; no rose will perhaps 

 show the effects of fertilising its flowers more 

 plainly than this ; and consequently to the 

 amateur it is the pleasing triumph of art over 

 nature. Every flower on my experimental plants, 

 not fertilised, proved abortive ; while, on the con- 

 trary, all those that were so, produced large black 

 spherical hips full of perfect seed. The Persian 

 Yellow does not seem inclined to bear seed ; but 

 it may be crossed with Rosa Harrisonii, and I 

 trust with some good effect. 



