HYBRID PERPETUALS 23 



grow strongly and bear large flowers on strong stems. 

 The blooms are generally self-coloured (that is of one 

 distinct colour), and characterised by clear and often 

 intense shades. The most fragrant and the best dark 

 crimson roses are still found among the Hybrid Per- 

 petuals. Because they are hardy, thrifty, and produce 

 big blooms (often of splendid form) that are of distinct 

 colouring and generally fragrant, a first selection ought 

 to include some of them, but not too many, because 

 none can be classed as " good autumnals," although 

 certain varieties produce a second display of flowers. 

 It is not, however, for their autumn bloom that we 

 grow Hybrid Perpetuals nowadays^-we grow Teas and 

 Hybrid Teas with that object in view — but for their 

 intensely rich colouring and delicious rose fragrance. 



I know, from inquiries that have reached me, the 

 difficulty that beginners find in appreciating the differ- 

 ence between the various classes of roses, but this usually 

 vanishes when they have grown roses for a season or 

 two, and have compared plants of the different classes. 

 Even if they are not always able to discover the distin- 

 guishing features, they may take comfort in the fact 

 that skilled rosarians are sometimes equally puzzled. 

 During the past ten years, cross-breeding has been 

 carried out on an extensive scale, and some modem 

 varieties have characteristics so ill defined that they have 

 been placed first in one group then in another. Even 

 the old favourite. La France, when first it appeared, in 

 1867, was classed as a Hybrid Perpetual ; now, it is 

 catalogued as a Hybrid Tea. Conversely, there are now 



