OLD AND NEW ROSES. 225 



homage to La France, the sweetest of fragrant 

 roses. To be sure, it is rather tender, but it 

 is easily protected so as to winter safely. It 

 does not always open well, but it is a simple 

 matter to assist it, an operation not practica- 

 ble with most varieties that open imperfectly. 

 If the buds of La France show a tendency to 

 remain closed, by gently pressing the point 

 of the bloom with the fingers, and then blow- 

 ing into the centre, the flower will almost 

 invariably expand, and the pent-up fragrance 

 escape. 



Not enough attention is given to the Bour- 

 bon and Tea roses. The Hybrid Remontants 

 justly claim first attention, when they are in 

 perfection ; but after the first blossoming is 

 over, throughout July, August, and Septem- 

 ber they are much less attractive than many 

 of the monthly roses. Varieties like Bougere, 

 Homer, Madame de Vatry, and Marie Van 

 Houtte, will give a continuous supply of 

 flowers when the so-called hardy roses are al- 

 most or altogether out of bloom. How faith- 

 fully the various varieties of Tea roses 

 reproduce the beautiful tints often painted in 

 the sky at sunset and at sunrise ! The many 

 shades of rose, pink, lilac, white, salmon, 

 yellow, etc., are found in both alike, and it 

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