ROSES 
PENSER writes of “ Roses reigning in the Pride of May,” Effect of 
S but, like many poets, I fear he allows his imagination to Rosebushes 
eclipse the facts, for it is not until June—certainly in this jn the 
country—that the undisputed reign of the Rose begins. Long Spring 
before May, however, there may be seen beauties among the Rose 
bushes which are by no means sufficiently appreciated and some- 
times overlooked altogether. I allude to the growth of the 
young shoots both of the climbers and the dwarf Tea Roses. 
As early as February, if you are fortunate enough to possess 
some well-grown Crimson Ramblers, you will see all along the 
arching branches, waving to and fro in the wind or severely tied 
up to poles and pergolas, an array of bright green leaves in their 
first effort of growth. Nothing at this time of year is so bright 
a green, and amidst the still bare branches of the neighbouring 
trees their fresh colour is a real promise of spring. Soon the 
Tea Roses will put forth their mahogany shoots in many shades 
of brown, and of a colour that differs from almost anything else 
growing at that particular time. I have seen beds and walks of 
Tea bushes with dwarf-growing plants under them—Aubretias 
and Arabis, Crocuses and Scillas, or the grey greens of certain 
Sedums, which in the March sunlight made a brilliant and a 
pleasing picture. And later, the grey leaves of a large bush of 
Aglaia have a beauty which amongst the fresher tints of spring 
is such, that were the Rose not to flower at all, it would still 
be worth growing for its young green alone. 
Another climbing Rose which is always a source of delight 
Ig 
