)2 THE ROSE GARDEN. 



CLASS L-SUMMER ROSES, 



BLOOMING IK MAY, JUNE, AND JILY. 



Group I.— THE ALPINE OR BOURSAULT ROSE. 



The Boursault Roses are very distinct from all others. The shoots are long, 

 flexible, very smooth, in some instances entirely free from thorns ; the one side 

 often of a pale green, the other of a reddish tinge : the eyes are formed further 

 apart than in common. The flowers are produced in large clusters. By these 

 features are the varieties of this group readily distinguished. The Boursault 

 Roses, though of vigorous growth, are not of a sufficiently pendulous habit to 

 make perfect " Weeping Roses " without assistance from the cultivator. When 

 desired to be formed into such, the branches should be drawn to the ground with 

 tar-twine, or twisted bast ; when the immense trusses of flowers they bring forth 

 give to the tree an appearance truly gorgeous. One inducement to grow them 

 in this manner is, that most Roses of a pendulous growth producing pale-coloured 

 flowers, they introduce a charming variety among Weeping Roses ; for the Bour- 

 sault are mostly purple or crimson. Besides forming good Weeping Roses, they 

 are fine grown either on pillars or on fences with a northernly aspect, a situation 

 where few other kinds succeed well. It might be supposed that they are very 

 hardy, growing naturally, as they do, on the Alps of Austria and Switzerland. And 

 such is indeed the case : they will bloom well in situations where they scarcely 

 obtain a gleam of sunshine. The popular name of the group " Boursault" is due 

 to the first double Alpine Rose being so named in compliment to M. Boursault, 

 a French cultivator. The Blush and the Crimson have been recommended by 

 many as stocks for budding and grafting the Tea-scented Roses on. The Blush 

 has been used here, but is not approved of: it is the worst of all stocks ; and more 

 disposed to canker than any other with which we are acquainted. The Crimson, 

 which appears more suitable for the purpose, has not been tried extensively. 

 I believe, however, for general use no stock can be found better than the Dog- 

 rose ; certainly none can be hardier. 



For Pot Roses, however, there are others which, for one reason, seem to offer 

 advantages : they produce a greater quantity of fibrous roots in a smaller compass 

 than the Dog-rose ; a point of importance when a plant is confined for space. Of 

 such nature are the Boursaults and the Manettii Rose. But when a plant is not 

 confined for space, when the roots can dive into the free earth in search of food, 

 then I would prefer the Dog-rose to any other. 



Boursault Roses should be well thinned out in pruning ; but the shoots that are 

 left for flowering should be shortened-in very little. 



