310 



Gardening for Amateurs 



ROSES FOR PERGOLAS, ARCHES, AND 

 ARBOURS 



The number of Roses adapted to these 

 purposes has increased by leaps and bounds 

 of late years, more particularly since the 

 importation and development of the Wich- 

 uraiana Roses and their hybrids. 



Good as the Multiflora scandens (i.e. the 

 Crimson Rambler) class is for most of these 

 purposes, when rapid growth and great 

 length or height are required the Wichuraiana 

 type is easily first, to say nothing of the 

 generally greater elasticity or pliability of 

 their stems. In addition to these there are the 

 hardy Ayrshires, and Semperflorens, or Ever- 

 greens, the somewhat less hardy Noisettes 

 and Hybrid Musks, and the still more tender 

 Boursaults, of which Inermis Morlettii (or 

 Madame Sancy de Parabere, with which 

 it is synonymous) is practically the only 

 representative now grown. 



The Pergola. Before proceeding to men- 

 tion the names of a few Roses which are best 

 fitted for the various purposes already 

 alluded to, I should like to say a few words 

 with regard to pergolas and other structures 

 of the kind. These, if not built of some 

 permanent material, such as brick, which 

 seldom looks well, are best constructed of 

 rough stout beams or posts of Oak, Elm, or 

 Larch ; carefully avoid Poplar, Willow, and 

 the softer woods, they decay too rapidly. 

 Although the beams and posts look better at 

 first with the bark left on, it is really advisable 

 to remove this at once, as it always peels off 

 eventually, and whilst remaining on it gives 

 harbourage to any number of earwigs and 

 other harmful insects. When preparing the 

 posts or uprights the butt ends which are to 

 be fixed in the ground should, if possible, be 

 well charred by fire, and then tarred. Tarring 

 alone will suffice, but the tar should be 

 applied more than once, so that it may soak 

 well into the wood and then be allowed to 

 dry before the upright is fixed in position in 

 the soil. 



Creosote is generally best avoided for 

 this purpose ; it has a most deleterious effect 

 upon plant life in general, and the fumes 

 rise up through the soil for a long time. 

 Even when tar is used the roots of the Roses 

 should be kept as far from it as possible, as 

 tar is also an enemy to vegetable life. 



A pergola is, of course, nothing but a 

 covered way, and should lead to and from 

 somewhere or something, or it may partially 

 surround a lawn, as a cathedral cloister does, 

 for the purpose of providing shelter in wet 

 weather. 



Roses grow much better on wood than on 

 iron, whatever the structure may be. The 

 reason probably is that the iron gets too 

 hot in hot weather, whilst it becomes and 

 keeps too cold in severe weather. Therefore, 

 if it be desired to use iron in the construction 

 of pergolas, arbours, fences, etc., it is advisable 

 to attach bamboo canes, rods, or laths of 

 wood to the iron work so that the Rose 

 growths will come in contact with the metal 

 as little as possible. However, it is not 

 absolutely essential to do this, for Roses 

 are seen thriving on iron supports. 



For covering pergolas, arbours, and arch- 

 w r ays the following are some of the best 

 climbing Roses : all are of very free growth 

 and they may be relied upon to blossom 

 well each year. 



