^^. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. fl ^ 



PERPETUAL ROSES. 



The classes of Roses denominated Perpetuals on account of their blooming at intervals 

 several times during the season, are fast superceding those that bloom but once, unless 

 it be hardy climbers and pillar roses, whose merits are not solely their flowers. 

 Amateurs, who turn to the nurserymens' catalogues and find Remontants, Bourbons, 

 Noisettes, Teas, &o., enumerated, find themselves at a loss in regard to the particular 

 characters and peculiarities (of appearance) of each. We have often been solicited t^- 

 point out the distinctions, and intended to do so, as well as we could, when '"- '^^und 

 the following in a French journal and immediately translated it into s ""^^^ '^^ English. 

 We must say for it that we have not found in all the Ro^^ ^^'^^^ "^^'e have read, an 

 explanation so concise and satisfactory. We bexr *''^^e of our readers who cultivate 

 Roses, to note it well uud c.vtcua tii«n- comparisons on the indications given. It is 

 always satisfactory for one to know what they have, and if we have but one Rose in our 

 garden, it will augment its interest, if not its value, to know what class it belongs to. 



CHARACTER OF TIIE REMONTAIS^T OR PERPETUAL ROSES.* 



The greater number of the catalogues of nurerymen who devote themselves to Rose culture, do not 

 offer to amateurs any means of judging whetlier the varieties wliich they sell belong to the sections 

 in which they are classed. A simple name designates these sections and the varieties Avhich naturally 

 approach each other the nearest are often found the furthest apart, on account of the alphabetical 

 order in Avhich they are inscribed in the merchant's catalogue. 



Having been frequently consulted by amateurs to point to them the precise character of each of 

 the sections of Roses, I have endeavored to abridge them in a few words, following the method of 

 botanists, who assemble under a generic name all the species most alike in their common characters. 



The seven principal sections are. The Portlands, called Perpetuals ; the Hybrid Remontants of 

 Portland; the Hybrid Remontants of the Isle Bourbon ; the Bourbon Roses; the Is oisctte Roses ; the 

 Bengals ; and the Teas. 



Each of the characters which serve to distinguish these sections should be taken in a general sense 

 — separately their value diminishes to a point where it disappeai-s completely. Take for example, 

 that of flowers united in corymbs or panicles (clusters) ; in certain cases it is insufncient, for the 

 Noisette and Bengals, which generally and under good treatment produce clusters, may produce 

 only feeble shoots terminating in a solitary flower, on account of bad soil or treatment. The same 

 thing, or the reverse, may manifest itself in other selections,! and the great similarity existing between 

 certain subjects in different sections confoimds the one with the other. It is then only by much 

 practice, and the aid of the assemblage of many characters, that we are able to distinguish Koiscttcs 

 from Bengals, and these last from the Teas. 



Section 1. Perpetuals, or Portlands. — Tlie Roses of this section have the thorns very fine, short, 

 and so numerous as to cover almost entirely the branches, to which they give a brownish tint. 

 Tliey have erect shoots, the flower stalks short and stiff, the flowei-s generally solitary and o\ary ; 

 seed capsule somewhat long. 



Examples. — Hose dii Hoi, Duchesse de Rohan, Julie, Krudner, Bernard, La Favorite, ttc. 



Sec. 2. Hybrid Remontants of Portland. — ^These have thorns, hard and sharp, variable in strength 

 and length ; the shoots erect, and tiieir habit similar to that of the Portlands. They have also a 

 lengthened capsule, and give often one to five or seven flowers which form a bouquet erect and stift" at 

 the summit of the branches. The Four Seasons Rose gives a correct idea of tlieir liabit and flowering. 



Examples. — La Heine, Baron Prcvost, Jacques Lafitte, Madain Laffay, Bnchcsse de Sutherland, 

 Amandine, Louis Bonaparte, Clementine Seringe, Glorie d' Angers, Conite de Montalivct, d'c. 



Sec. 3. Hybrid Remontants of the Isle of Bourbon. — The Roses which compose this section 

 appear to hold a middle or intermediate place between the Portland Remontants and the Bourbons, 

 but more frequently present the aspect of the latter. The leaflets are in gcnci'al strongly dcntatod 

 (toothed,) but tlie round form of the seed capsule distinguishes them from the Portland Hybrids. The dis- 

 position of the branches — extended in a confused, irregular manner — give them also a particular aspect. 



Examples. — Cleme7itine Duval, Comte Bobrinski, Ernestine de Barante, Colonel Foissg, Geant dcs 

 Balailles, Vicenntesse de Belleval, 6:c., dec. 



Sec. 4. Bourbon Roses (Rosiers Isle Bom-bon). — ^Tliis section comprises the Roses which have the 

 wood very smooth and glossy, the side shoots often short and then terminated bv a sLngle flower; 



* CiEErBRE, formerly Chief Florist at the Museum, Paris, in tho Jie^e^ie IToriicole. 



t It is .1 vory common tiling for inexperienced cultivators to form opinions anil conclusions from the first feeble growth 

 of a sicldy plant. Under such circumstances it is impossibio for their true characters to develop thcmsclres, and an 

 T N opinion based upon such conditions scarcely ever fails to be wrong. — Ed. 



