298 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE < hai>. 



stood, remember to take out a good deal of the old soil, 

 and replace with rich fresh stuff in which Roses have not 

 been grown. I know of no seedling or sports of Marechal 

 Niel, though weak blooms on a hot wall will sometimes 

 show red on the outer petals. 



Marie van Houttc (Ducher, 1871). — The strongest 

 and best in growth of any of the pure Teas, with line, 

 \/ nearly evergreen, foliage. A cooler time after hot 



weather, which is most favourable for all Roses, will 

 show Marie van Houtte at its best, and it is but little 

 injured by rain. In manners and customs and all round 

 good qualities it must take first prize among the Teas : 

 at all times a beautiful bloom, in perfection most lovely, 

 excellent in petal, fulness, shape, lasting qualities and 

 size, and delightful in colour, very free in bloom and a 

 first-class autumnal. It does perfectly well as a dwarf, 

 is not particular as to soil, and is undoubtedly the one 

 Tea Rose no one should be without. 



Medea (W. Paul and Son, 1891). — A new Rose, the 

 cut blooms looking like full specimens of Madame 

 Hoste : a good grower and free in flowering, but not 

 likely to open well in wet weather. 



Mrs. James Wilson (A. Dickson and Sons, 1889). — 

 Of good growth when established, and fair foliage. The 

 habit is peculiar, in that the centre or crown bud of a 

 shoot is quite overwhelmed and starved out by the growth 

 of the side flower buds unless these be thinned out at 

 once ; and even when this is done, the bud does not 

 grow proportionately to the thickness of the shoot, and 

 the blooms are rather undersized and disappointing. 

 The petals are good and the shape nicely pointed : it is 

 late in blooming, and not many flowers come to perfection 

 on one plant. A pretty colour, sometimes a little like 

 that of Marie van Houtte. 



