Teas, Hybrid Teas, and Noisettes Outdoors. 45 



class and were to be henceforth known as Hybrid Teas. 

 Immediately, on both sides of the Channel, additions to the 

 class were announced, and so much was it in favour with 

 the foreign growers that more of them were raised than 

 of either the Teas or the Hybrid Perpetuals. It was probably 

 felt that perfection had been attained in the other two classes, 

 and therefore their energies were to be concentrated on this 

 new class. There is no doubt that the majority of them, 

 doubtful though they may be as regards correct classification, 

 are very beautiful Roses, and many of them retain the Tea 

 habit of autumn blooming, although we do not think that 

 any of them have equalled La France. 



Botanically, no doubt, it w^ould be difficult indeed to 

 defend the title of a very large number of the varieties now 

 classed as Hybrid Teas. Still, until there is a definite pro- 

 nouncement by the powers that be we shall have necessarily 

 to take things as they are rather than as they should be. 

 If we refer to the first enumeration of Hybrid Teas made 

 by the National Rose Society in 1884, we shall find but 3 

 trio of varieties included Reine Marie Henriette, Cheshunt 

 Hybrid, and Longworth Rambler. To-day we find in any 

 catalogue of Rose specialists the Hybrid Teas an extremely 

 numerous section, and very few less in number than the Teas 

 proper. Judged from a garden standpoint, the newly- 

 created class is deserving of all praise ; for collectively it is 

 little behind the Hybrid Perpetual one in respect of freedom 

 of flowering, hardiness of constitution, or general excellence ; 

 while as regards continuity of flower it surpasses it. 



As regards pruning there can necessarily be nothing 

 hard and fast, as individual Rose varieties differ materially 

 in constitution, apart altogether from class distinction. The 

 cultivator, therefore, \vhile going practically on the lines laid 

 down for pruning the Teas, will have to consider also the 

 actual variety " under the knife." To Messrs. Paul and 

 Son, to whom Rose-cultivators are indebted in most sections 



