233 



A Rose Garden Planting Scheme 



BENJAMIN R. CANT AND SONS. 



The old firm of " Cant, of Colchester," founded 

 in 1765, was, in early years, mainly devoted to general 

 nursery stock, seeds, etc., with a few of the old Roses 

 then in vogue, such as " China, Austrian Briars, 

 Damask, Provence, Bourbon," and others of the same 

 period. The firm has been carried on by the " Cant " 

 family in direct line ever since. 



The late Benjamin R. Cant (father of the present 

 proprietors) became greatly interested in Roses about 

 the year 1850, and eventually gave up all other de- 

 partments of horticulture to devote his energies 

 entirely to the development of the Rose. 



In the plan of a Rose garden, as shown on page 235, 

 the smaller middle circle is devoted to nine stan- 

 dard Roses. The centre plant of all, naturally, 

 should be slightly taller than the rest. Here it will be 

 as well to have nine different varieties and different 

 colours, and for reliable sorts one cannot be wrong in 

 selecting such as " Hugh Dickson, Caroline Testout, 

 Golden Emblem, La Tosca, Ulrich Brunner, Marie Van 

 Houtte,. Snow Queen, Mme. Herriot, J. P. Clark." 

 These are all strong growers, forming fine heads, and 

 will soon make specimen plants. 



In the two larger circles, divided into eight parts 

 by the pathways, the four right-angle beds nearest 

 the inner circle will hold 30 plants each put in two feet 

 apart, with a margin of one foot at the sides, and the 

 four outer beds 36 plants each, put in the same dis- 

 tance apart. 



It is desirable that each bed should contain one 

 variety only, or two at the very most. This massing 

 of a sort gives by far the most pleasing effect. 



Here is given a list in variety of colours, all of 

 which, in their way, are reliable and effective for 

 massing : — 



