XII MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 257 
reputed parentage; for it is said, though it is 
generally supposed there must have been some 
mistake or accident, to be a seedling from the old 
Tea Canary, a yellow flimsy thing according to 
modern notions, and Mabel Morrison, a white 
sport from Baroness Rothschild, which is particularly 
open and deficient in the centre. If this is so, it 
should strictly be called a Hybrid Tea. Mr. 
Bennett was one of the first to practise hydridising 
in this country, and sent out his new issues as 
Pedigree Roses: but one would think that on 
beholding the illustrious progeny of this apparently 
ill-assorted pair he must have been inclined to con- 
sider chance quite as likely to be successful as the 
careful choosing of seed-parents. 
Horace Vernet (Guillot, 1886).—A typical show 
Rose: grand in the extreme in every way on the 
exhibition table, equalled by few, and surpassed by 
none ; but to be avoided by those who grow Roses 
for ordinary garden purposes. The plant is of a 
weak constitution; and often cannot be kept in 
health and strength beyond a year or two. Indeed 
it 1s in some places useless as a cutback; no other 
Rose is more worthy of the annual system of culture 
—budding anew on fresh strong stocks every year 
and cutting away the old plants to get the strongest 
buds—and for none is it more necessary. When 
thus treated, the growth and foliage are good enough, 
one would think, to keep the stock roots in health ; 
but the plant is almost sure to dwindle if preserved, 
lasting best, I am told, on the seedling briar. Not 
very liable to mildew or to be injured by rain. The 
blooms are large and generally come good; and 
good they are, with the stoutest of petals which shut 
S 
