THE ILLUSTRATION HORTIC 



ROSE HEDGES IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE, ETC. 



from Marseilles to Genoa, we were 

 greatly struck, as any one seeing them for the first time would 

 be , with the magnificence of the Eoses all along the Medi- 

 terranean shores. The Rose Hedges, and the espalier Roses , 

 especially, offer an indescribably gorgeous sight. Under the 

 genial influence of the warm sun of Provence, from the Cor- 

 niche to the extremity of the Riviera di Ponente , that is as 

 far as the gulf of Genoa , and protected to the north by the 

 mountains, which gradually slope down to the sea coast, 

 Roses attain the size of Pceonies, and develop a depth and 

 brilliancy of colour and a richness of fragrance of unusual 

 intensity. 



But this is in part due to another cause, or rather two 

 other causes, which lead to the same result, the main point 

 being the choice of suitable subjects for stocks to graft upon. 



These stocks are , Rosa Banhsice and Rosa Jndica major. 



The Banksian Rose presents three varieties, namely, White 

 Banksian, producing a profusion of small white flowers, 

 scarcely so large as those of the double flowered Cherry, and 

 of a most delicious fragrance; Yellow Banksian, with still 

 larger clusters of small, nankeen-yellow, scentless flowers; 

 Chinese thorny Banksian , flowers less numerous and about 

 three times as large as in the two preceding, and of the 

 most grateful odour. These three forms attain an unsur- 

 passable vigour in this region. In two years , one plant will 

 cover an immense wall , the gable of a house , or climb to 

 the top of a tall tree, from which its branches hang like 

 flowery cascades, embalming the air around with a rich 

 perfume during the months of April and May. Now, if these 

 be taken for stocks upon which to bud some of the choicer 

 Teas, Noisettes and Bourbons, the growth of the latter will 

 be prodigious. The stock should be two years old, having 

 well ripened, though still smooth, wood. In this way such varie- 

 ties as Gloire de Dijon, Marechal Niel , Lamarque, Safrano , 

 Chromatella, Aime Vibert, le Pactole, and all the Teas, 

 attain such dimensions as to be no longer recognisable. 



Rosa Indica major is almost naturalised throughout the 

 whole of this region. It possesses the additional claim to 

 favour of flowering nearly all the winter, forming beautiful 

 hedges of dark green shining foliage , from which thousands 

 of clusters of lovely flowers rise , of a tender delicate trans- 

 parent pink , or almost pure white , with a brighter tinge in 

 the centre and at the tips of the petals. This Rose is an ever- 

 green and makes an excellent stock for grafting or budding. 



It is either planted in nursery beds, where it quickly 

 throws up a stem suitable for standards in the same way 



as we employ the Dc 



naturally luxuriant 



flowers in rich profu 



where it is intended t 



with some of the va 



named. 



We admired it mc 



indicated. In the gai 



residence of If. Caza 



reared in this way : a 



wa charming 

 entlv budded 



This is how 

 obtained such 



would and not cu 

 nearly close to the 

 they formed a h 

 ! wire stretched uj 

 | support the branc 

 j them in shape, ren 

 ! shoots. This Rose 

 | long branches or 

 : them asunder at tl 

 I as many plants a> 





Marshal Niel , So/Wmo mid Chnrr d<* Rnsm,unirs. A large 

 number of others grew and flowered equally as well as the 

 foregoing. In conclusion, we recommend R. Indica major 

 as a stock wherever the winters are not very severe, and 

 where earthing up or covering around the base is sufficient 

 protection to secure the advantages of this vigorous growing 

 species for this purpose. 



E. A. 



PROPAGATION OF OREOPANAX FROM CUTTINGS. 



to select only the lateral, or, as it were, adventitious shoots 

 which are formed on the main stem. These should be taken 

 off young and at once placed in heat, just as we should 

 treat ordinary soft-wooded subjects. This simple system 

 has been successfully employed by M. Cornells, head-gardener 

 to Viscount Vigier, at Nice, in the propagation of Oreopanax 

 dactylifolia and other difficult species. 



The Araliacese in general, with the exception of those 

 hardy species which are easely propagated from portions 

 of the stem, are difficult to increase from cuttings. Those 

 taken from the end of the main stem or branches, notably 

 the Mexican genus Oreopanax, are often a very long time 

 before they take root. Hence there is an unfortunate delay 

 in the spread of these splendid plants. There is, however, 

 an excellent method certain to lead to success. And this is 



E. A. 



