56 THE AUSTKIAN BRIAK. 



Raising Varieties from Seed. 



No family of roses offers such an interesting 

 field for experiments in raising new varieties from 

 seed as this. First we have the Copper Austrian, 

 from which, although it is one of the oldest roses 

 in our gardens, a double flowering variety has 

 never yet been obtained. This rose is always 

 defective in pollen ; and consequently it will not 

 bear seed unless its flowers are fertilised : as it 

 will be interesting to retain the traits of the 

 species, it should be planted with and fertilised 

 by the Double Yellow; it will then in warm, dry 

 seasons produce seed, not abundantly ; but the 

 amateur must rest satisfied if he can procure 

 even one hip full of perfect seed. 



The beautiful and brilliant Rosa Harrisonii, 

 however, gives the brightest hopes. This should 

 be planted with the Double Yellow Briar : it will 

 then bear seed abundantly : no rose will perhaps 

 show the effects of fertilising its flowers more 

 plainly than this ; and consequently to the amateur 

 it is the pleasing triumph of art over nature. 

 Every flower on my experimental plants, not fer- 

 tilised, proved abortive ; while, on the contrary, 

 all those that were so, produced large black sphe- 

 rical hips full of perfect seed. The Persian 

 Yellow does not seem inclined to bear seed ; but 

 it may be crossed with Rosa Harrisonii, and I 

 trust with some good effect. 



