THE ROSE 241 



The names of the parents used in an original 

 hybridizing experiment were always recorded. 



Later, as the cross became more complex, 

 large numbers of species being utilized, short 

 cuts were made by using numbers and letters on 

 my labels, the key to these being recorded in the 

 plan books. 



This worked very well for a few years more. 

 But there came a time when an experiment with 

 a single strain of roses had been carried through 

 so many generations that the traits of ten species 

 or more would be combined in an individual. 



At this stage the numbers and letters were 

 abandoned, and I have contented myself with a 

 general knowledge of the principal ancestors in 

 the pedigree of any new variety, distinguishing 

 the new variety itself by a temporary name for 

 purposes of further record. 



Thus I have, for example, grown upward of 

 two hundred thousand seedlings from the Crim- 

 son Rambler pollinated with all the ordinary 

 roses that are under cultivation in California. 

 Then it is possible to cross the hybrids with 

 numerous other hybridized roses, some of which 

 would not cross, or cross very unwillingly, with 

 the Crimson Rambler itself. 



The parents for the new crosses being them- 

 selves hybrids of complicated ancestry, it is 



