XII MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 309 



substantial when shown with other Teas. It is 

 pretty hardy, best as a standard and in cool weather : 

 capital, early and late, against a dwarf wall : very 

 free blooming and a good autumnal, thriving well 

 on lightish soil. 



Safrano (Beauregard, 1839). — Eliminated by the 

 editors of this edition. 



Souvenir de Catherine Guillot (Guillot, 1896). — 

 Eliminated by the editors of this edition. 



Souvenir d'Elise Vardon (Marest, 1854). — Not of 

 free growth or of good constitution, but there ought 

 to be at least one pretty strong shoot on each 

 plant : not liable to mildew, but easily injured by 

 rain. The blooms come generally well, though 

 sometimes divided, and when fine on a strong shoot 

 and taken at the right stage it used to stand easily 

 at the head of all Tea Show Roses. For some 

 strange reason or other this is not now the case, 

 and a fine perfect bloom is not now often seen. 

 The late Mr. B. E. Cant used at one time almost 

 every year to take the medal at the Crystal Palace 

 with a flower which simply had no rival for size, 

 purity, and faultless shape : and I have taken several 

 medals with it myself, but not for the last six or 

 seven years. This may be owing to some deteriora- 

 tion in the variety, but also we have not had seasons 

 suitable for it. It requires cool, weather in which it 

 can grow slowly, a burst of heat bringing it out too 

 soon. Being a weak grower, one would expect from 

 the analogy of Teas of a like character that it would 

 do best as a Standard, but it is not so in my experi- 

 ence, all my best blooms having come from established 

 dwarf plants. In freedom of bloom it is not good, 

 for the blooms come singly, and the weak shoots 



