HYBRID TEAS 35 



ranee, and they have the sturdier, hardier growths of 

 the former. 



In an ordinarily severe winter, in which short periods 

 of io° to 15 of frost and occasional falls of snow are 

 sandwiched between periods of wet weather, Hybrid 

 Teas do not appear to need protection in gardens in 

 the south. In those of the midlands and farther north 

 some protection may be advisable. It is easily and 

 cheaply afforded by heaping a small mound of soil over 

 the base of the plant, so that the lower parts of the 

 stems are covered. This may be done in early Decem- 

 ber, but the precaution ought to be taken to remove the 

 covering early in March, or the warmth and shelter of the 

 soil may induce the basal buds, which are all-important, 

 to start prematurely and to produce soft, attenuated 

 growths. Writing from a warm garden in Middlesex, 

 I find that protection is unnecessary even for the Tea 

 roses, let alone the Hybrid Teas. It is, of course, far 

 better to err on the side of safety, since the measures 

 that ensure this are so simple. The protection of stand- 

 ard roses is more important. Some Hybrid Teas are 

 less hardy than others, or, being of weaker growth, seem 

 more easily damaged by cold. It is as well, if one's 

 garden is exposed or in a cold district, to protect all 

 standards of Hybrid Teas ; the growths are naturally 

 more exposed than those of bush or dwarf roses. The 

 simplest method of protection is to place bracken between 

 the growths ; this precaution will ensure the safety of 

 the roses through severe cold. More complete protec- 

 tion still is given by bunching the growths together 



