60 THE BOOK OF ROSES 



Before hybrid Teas were recognised as a distinct class 

 M. Guillot had introduced the variety La France, 

 although this was classed as a hybrid Perpetual. It 

 seems likely that this variety is really a China hybrid. 

 In 1879 Mr Bennett exhibited several seedling Roses 

 produced by crossing various Tea Roses with hybrid 

 Perpetuals. Most of his earlier varieties have dropped out 

 of cultivation, but some, such as Viscountess Folkestone 

 and Grace Darling, are still among the most popular 

 varieties. 



One of the great gains which gardeners have obtained 

 from the introduction of the class of hybrid Teas is the 

 group of single-flowered varieties such as Beauty, a 

 pure white Rose with golden anthers , Irish Brightness, 

 a vivid crimson shading to pink ; Irish Elegance, bear- 

 ing trusses of brilliant scarlet bloom ; Irish Harmony, 

 with creamy yellow flowers ; Irish Glory, with very 

 fragrant silvery pink blooms, and Irish Modesty, with 

 large delicate pink flowers. 



Left almost unpruned these Roses bloom continuously 

 from June till October, in suitable situations. 



Another very useful class of hybrid teas is that of the 

 semi-doubles ; as bedding Roses these are unsurpassed. 

 Such kinds as Marquise de Salisbury, with its long buds 

 and bright velvety scarlet flowers ; Killarney, with 

 beautiful white flowers, suffused with pink ; and 

 Camoens, bearing abundance of rosy pink flowers some- 

 times striped with white. 



