CHAPTER XI 



TEA ROSES 



The Tea-scented roses are the offspring of the Chinese 

 Rosa indica odorata introduced to this country about 

 a century ago. Persistent cross-fertilisation and selec- 

 tion throughout several generations have given us a race 

 of Tea roses of increased hardiness. Fifty years ago 

 Tea roses, with few exceptions, were grown under glass, 

 but we may now enjoy many of them by giving them 

 ordinary out-of-door cultivation. They are still liable 

 to be damaged in severe weather, and some kind of 

 protection becomes necessary in all except warm and 

 sheltered gardens. But it is so easily provided by heap- 

 ing a small mound of soil over the base of those grown 

 in bush form, or by using bracken or straw to protect 

 the shoots of standards, that comparatively Uttle trouble 

 is entailed. Tea roses generally are of slender, almost 

 twiggy growth, forming spreading bushes of varjnng 

 height. The flowers are altogether dehghtful. When 

 given ordinary cultivation they are small in comparison 

 with those of Mrs. John Laing, for example, but they 

 are usually of perfect form, very dainty and neat, and 

 fragrant with their delicate characteristic scent. 



A type of Tea rose lacking in fine form, and little 

 more than semi-double, has lately come into prominence, 



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