268 THE BOOK OF THE Rr)SE chap. 



long in pruning and the buds not thinned too much, as 

 it is extra full and often fails to open properly. 



Sultan of Zanzibar (Paul and Son, 1876). — Similar 

 in wood and habit to Duke of Edinburgh and Reynolds 

 Hole, but a weaker grower with a very bad constitution. 

 This is one of the very few Roses I cannot keep alive at 

 all, and I do not think I have once succeeded in getting 

 even a decent bloom. A magnificent dark colour, and 

 a splendid flower as sometimes shown, but a Rose to be 

 avoided as more ihan likely to give absolutely no 

 return. 



Suzanne Marie Rodocamichi (Leveque, 1883). — Of 

 Victor Verdier race, and requinng therefore no descrip- 

 tion here of manners and customs. A noble Rose, 

 certainly one of the best, if not actually the best, of 

 this important family. The colour is not only bright, 

 glowing, and most attractive, but also lasting, a most 

 desii^able attribute for a show Rose. The growth is good, 

 it does well as a standard, is free-flowering and a 

 good autumnal, and the blooms are very large and well 

 formed, but nearly scentless. A Rose held in high and 

 increasing estimation by exhibitors, and worthy of a 

 name more suitable to British tongues and pencils. 



Thomas Mills (E. Verdier, 1873).— Of very strong 

 growth and good foliage, growing well on all stocks, not 

 much liable to mildew or to injury from rain. The 

 blooms come well in fine weather, but they are thin 

 and most deficient in lasting qualities. The colour is 

 very bright scarlet crimson, the shape beautifully 

 pointed and imbricated, and the size large : but it is a 

 veritable snare for the inexperienced exhibitor, who 

 finds it impossible to believe that those glorious half- 

 opened flowers are usually not worth taking. It does 

 better in cool weather, but the colour and shape are 



