ROSES 



SPENSER writes of " Roses reigning in the Pride of May," Effect of 

 but, like many poets, I fear he allows his imagination to Rosebushes 

 eclipse the facts, for it is not until June certainly in this j n 

 country that the undisputed reign of the Rose begins. Long 

 before May, however, there may be seen beauties among the Rose 

 bushes which are by no means sufficiently appreciated and some- 

 times overlooked altogether. I allude to the growth of the 

 young shoots both of the climbers and the dwarf Tea Roses. 

 As early as February, if you are fortunate enough to possess 

 some well-grown Crimson Ramblers, you will see all along the 

 arching branches, waving to and fro in the wind or severely tied 

 up to poles and pergolas, an array of bright green leaves in their 

 first effort of growth. Nothing at this time of year is so bright 

 a green, and amidst the still bare branches of the neighbouring 

 trees their fresh colour is a real promise of spring. Soon the 

 Tea Roses will put forth their mahogany shoots in many shades 

 of brown, and of a colour that differs from almost anything else 

 growing at that particular time. I have seen beds and walks of 

 Tea bushes with dwarf-growing plants under them Aubretias 

 and Arabis, Crocuses and Scillas, or the grey greens of certain 

 Sedums, which in the March sunlight made a brilliant and a 

 pleasing picture. And later, the grey leaves of a large bush of 

 Aglaia have a beauty which amongst the fresher tints of spring 

 is such, that were the Rose not to flower at all, it would still 

 be worth growing for its young green alone. 



Another climbing Rose which is always a source of delight 



