286 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



Madame Chauvry and Madame Eugene Verdier, but 

 there are many others still in commerce. 



Horn^rc (Robert, 1859). — Of very strong growth, with 

 fair foliage, but more suited for a pillar than a wall, and 

 best as a big bush. I have never heard any doubts 

 about this being a pure Tea, but it is of unique habit 

 and manners, perfectly hardy, very vigorous and of 

 strong constitution, and I wonder we have had no 

 seedlings from it. It is not liable to mildew and but 

 little injured by rain, does well as a dwarf, is a free 

 bloomer and capital in the autumn, pretty in colour, 

 but small in size. It is hard to prove a negative, and I 

 will not say Homere never comes perfectly shaped, 

 because I have heard of one or two though I have not 

 seen them. Its bad manners in this respect are the 

 more aggravating, because each bloom has the promise 

 of a beautiful shape but marred by a malformation. 

 As often happens, the strongest blooms are the most 

 imperfect, and the buds should be cut small before 

 their promise is spoiled. The exhibitor will have none 

 of it, but for button-holes and bouquets he cannot deny 

 it the despised epithet of " pretty." A capital cottage 

 garden Rose, doing well anywhere. 



Hon. Edith Gifford (Guillot, 1882).— Of good stout 

 stiff but not long growth, with fine foliage, liable to mil- 

 dew in the autumn, and requiring protection from rain. 

 A very good Tea Rose indeed, an unusually large propor- 

 tion of the blooms coming good, of fine shape, petal, 

 centre and size. It is thoroughly reliable, an excellent 

 show Rose, one of the earliest, very free blooming, a 

 good autumnal and does excellently as a dwarf A 

 good Rose, and a " good doer," giving little trouble and 

 ample returns. 



Innocente Firola (Ducher, 1878). — Only fair in growth 



