224 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



Cheslmnt Hylrid (Paul and Son, 1873).— This was 

 the earliest Rose to be recognised as a Hybrid Tea. It 

 is of very vigorous growth, sufficient for a pillar or 

 a paling, hardy and strong with fine foliage, decidedly 

 liable to mildew. A free and early bloomer, but the 

 shape is open and the colour is wanting in brightness, 

 and a dull Rose is surely a poor thing however many 

 good qualities it may have. 



Gomtc de Paris (Leveque, 1886).— A large full red 

 Rose, of ordinary growth and habits, with flowers of 

 " reflexed " shape. 



Comte de Baimhcmd (Roland, 1867).— Of good average 

 growth and foliage, and clean handsome wood. Not 

 particularly subject to fungoid pests or to injury from 

 rain. A fairly reliable semi-imbricated crimson Rose, 

 which appears to be growing in favour, and seems to 

 be considerably more appreciated now than it was ten 

 years ago. This is unusual, but there is evidence that 

 some Roses do improve as they gi'ow older while others 



deteriorate. 



Countess of Oxford (Guillot, 1869).— One of a large 

 family of smooth-wooded Roses, all I believe descended 

 from Victor Yerdier (1859). Some of them, such as 

 the one under notice, Eugenie Verdier or Marie Finger, 

 S. M. Rodocanachi, and Pride of Waltham, are quite 

 first-class. All the different members of the family 

 have the same or similar manners and customs. They 

 have characteristic smooth wood and good foliage which 

 is most lovely in the early spring, and does not suffer 

 much from mildew but is especially liable to the 

 attacks of orange fungus or red rust, the early shoots 

 being often quite bare of leaves by the end of August. 

 They do not like light soil or the manetti stock, but the 

 flowers will stand rain fairly. Countess of Oxford is of 



