124 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



mildew. We will add here that often we use flour of sulphur 

 blown on the leaves with a bellows with eood success. 



VARIETIES. 



Now we will give a selection of varieties that cover the most 

 desirable qualities of the rose, which are (i) beauty of form and 

 (2) color, (3) fine foliage, and (4) fragrance. 



As to color, let us say that we have found that in certain fami- 

 lies of plants particular colors prevail, and that in no instance 

 can we ever expect to see blue, yellow and scarlet colors in vari- 

 eties of the same species. This is one of nature's most undevi- 

 ating laws. In the rose we have scarlet and yellow, but no blue. 

 So in the dahlia, hollyhocks, etc. Again, in the verbenas, sal- 

 vias, etc., we have scarlet and blue, but no yellow. We must 

 never expect nature to step out of her fixed laws and give us a 

 blue rose or a blue dahlia or a yellow verbena. To keep our 

 rose bushes in bloom, cut back the most rampant growing shoots 

 and when the blooms are fully open cut them for the vase. To 

 let them fade on the bush exhausts the plant in the formation of 

 seed. Check the side shoots and give water freely, and mulch 

 the roots well. In a word, the whole secret of growing choice 

 roses is summed up in just three things, viz : Plant deep ; manure 

 well ; and water freely. 



The hardy perpetual roses are the most royal of all roses. 

 Their beauty is of a bold, brave type, — quite distinct from the 

 delicacy of color and odor which characterize the tender tea 

 roses. Once they embraced only the darker, richer tints in their 

 immense full flowers, but now include the purest whites and deli- 

 cate pinks. In the newest and best varieties we shall name, the 

 season of bloom has been extended more generally over the 

 growing season, although their grandest show of flowers is made 

 in June and July, also in September and October. This class is 

 the grandest of the whole family of roses, — vigorous in growth, 

 superb in bloom, and delicious in fragrance. Of nearly one 

 thousand varieties known to the Rosarians, the following vari- 

 eties are the very cream of the entire list, covering all the dis- 

 tinct colors, being the best in vigor, hardiness, foliage and in 

 flower. 



