66 PERPETUAL ROSES. [April 



PERPETUAL ROSES. 



This once admired division of the Rose is now nearly 

 superseded by the Hybrid Perpetual, a tribe that originated 

 between it and the Bourbon. It was not known in Europe 

 till about 1817, except in the red and white four seasons, 

 roses, which have, no doubt, contributed a large portion of 

 their "sweet assistance;" for in many of them the powerful 

 and agreeable fragrance of these two old roses is very evident. 

 Unfortunately, there are two-thirds of these roses received 

 both from France and England under the head of Per- 

 petuals, which only bloom once in our arid and hot climate; 

 of course, they will not make a second or third blooming, 

 unless they, at the same time, grow freely and make strong 

 shoots; consequently, they require very rich and deep soil, 

 strongly manured, and repeated manurings given every year; 

 also, very frequent waterings during the summer season, with 

 liquid manure. Without such nourishment, the best of per- 

 petual roses will only flower but once a year. It is a pecu- 

 liar feature in this tribe of roses, that they are nearly all 

 reluctant in rooting from layers ; therefore, it will be difficult 

 to procure them on their own bottoms. However, they grow 

 admirably, grafted on, or budded into, any of our strong- 

 growing native roses; although the French Eglantine and 

 Marietta are most generally preferred. When grown in a 

 luxuriant and well-cultivated state, they require twice pruning. 

 First, in November, when the beds are dressed, cut off ever}- 

 shoot of the preceding summer's growth about two-thirds, and 

 if they are crowded, displace some of them entirely. If 

 this autumnal pruning be properly attended to, they will, 

 early in the following June, throw out a great number of 

 luxuriant shoots, each having one or more flowers. When a 

 little sacrifice must be made to have a fine autumnal bloom, 

 therefore, leave only about half the number of shoots t j bring 

 forth flowers, the remainder shorten to less than half then 

 lengths. Each shortened branch will soon put forth buds, 

 and in July and August the plants will again be covered 

 with flowers. Our fine-growing fall months will greatly 

 assist the plants without farther aid in bringing forth their 

 third bloomiug, which will be in September and October; 

 ind Rose du Roi will even continue in mild seasons to bloom 



