Novelties Weighed in the Balance 



The Newer Roses from a Garden Viewpoint 



[Editors' Note. — The purpose of this series of reviews was definitely explained in 

 introducing the previous articles. Briefly we may state again that the purpose is to put before 

 the reader critical appraisals {by an approved expert) of the novelties that are about to be 

 offered to the public, or are of recent introduction — to give the reader a reasonable perspective 

 of the new claimants to his attention. No man living can predict, with absolute precision, the 

 public's ultimate decision on any new comer; but the opinion of expert florists and gardeners has some weight in assisting the opinion of 

 those less expert. Hence these "reviews." Remember also that conditions as well as treatment of soil, climate and locality have much to 

 do with success, and nothing but an actual trial can prove how a given new plant can respond to your environment.} 



AMONG the newer roses that are 

 essentially garden varieties, we 

 have an extensive assortment to 

 draw from; so extensive, in fact, 

 that it would be impossible to name all 

 the good varieties. But the present pur- 

 pose is rather to lay before the readers of 

 The Garden Magazine those varieties 

 that seem to merit further attention, 

 varieties that have intrinsic qualities and 

 that seem to be destined to fill a niche. 



Hybrid Teas 



Robin Hood. It seems that Mr. E. G. 

 Hill's Robin Hood must have the place 

 of honor. Not that it has any one pro- 

 nounced quality, but from a standpoint of 

 general outdoor usefulness. The color 

 is a soft rosy scarlet in the early part of 

 the season, improving as the season ad- 

 vances, and deepening into a bright scarlet 

 crimson. As to freedom and vigor, it is 

 a most exceptional variety. A trial, cover- 

 ing two seasons, records it as never with- 

 out flowers from June until frost, and it 

 takes a severe frost to discourage it. The 

 growth is most robust and disease resist- 

 ing; planted among badly mildewed Kil- 

 larneys, it failed to develop a single weak- 

 ness, resisting mildew, black spot, and rose 

 rust at all times. During the strenuous 

 mid-season, when roses are wont to de- 

 velop a contrary streak, Robin Hood 

 persists in sending up great heavy caned 

 growths clear from the bottom, each 

 terminating in a glorious, beautifully built 

 flower. This rose scored 89 points in the 

 American Rose Society's test garden at 

 Elizabeth Park, Hartford, Conn., last 

 June, the highest score attained by any 

 bedding variety. 



Hadley. (Shown in color on this month's 

 cover) is a remarkable introduction. Al- 

 though offered largely as a greenhouse rose, 

 it has all the characteristics of an excellent 

 variety for the garden. Under greenhouse 

 culture it has the habit of persistently throw- 

 ing up tremendous growths, not only from 

 the base, but at various points of its growth, 

 during even the mid- winter season, when 

 nature tends to keep growth in a semi- 

 dormant state under the best of artificial 

 conditions. The flower is unusually rich 

 in fragrance; the color, a deep velvety 

 crimson, is one that immediately attracts 

 and holds attention. Its robust habit of 

 growth will resist mildew and black spot 

 under good cultural care and, as a pro- 

 ducer, it proves decidedly free. In habit, 

 it is the persistent "always at it" kind, 

 showing no particular tendency to crop, 

 and this habit will add greatly to its use- 

 fulness as a garden rose. The varieties 



used in the development of Hadley are 

 familiar ones — Richmond, Liberty, and 

 General MacArthur. Apparently, it par- 

 takes mostly of the last two varieties, 

 having the color and fragrance of Liberty 

 with the vigorous growth of MacArthur, 

 although the free-flowering qualities were, 

 to some extent, inherited from Richmond. 

 Liberty and Richmond lack certain quali- 

 ties to become real good garden roses in 

 our climate, particularly that of vigor. 

 This quality we find more pronounced in 

 Hadley. This rose has the distinction of 

 being the first of its type to be awarded a 

 Gold Medal of the American Rose Society, 

 receiving this honor at New York this 

 spring. 



Killarney Brilliant. Here we have 

 another promising aspirant, a glorified 

 Killarney. Under greenhouse culture, it 

 develops flowers of greater petalage and 

 substance than its prototype, and, as its 

 name would imply, is of a greater depth of 

 color. In habit of growth and freedom 

 it is similar to its parent. 



Nerissa. In a somewhat protracted 

 trial, the variety Nerissa made an excellent 

 impression. Its growth is light, almost deli- 

 cate, but yet extremely vigorous and per- 

 sistent. The flowers are of a creamy yellow 

 shade, intermingled with white and peach 

 tones that stand the hot sun well and are un- 

 usually large in build, in proportion to the 

 growth. This variety may be safely recom- 

 mended as an exhibition variety. 



British Queen does not appear to ad- 

 vantage in one season's trial; but in truth, 

 it is not altogether fair to judge any rose 

 by its first season's behavior. In the 

 latter part of the season it opened a few 

 very beautiful pure white flowers, re- 

 minding one somewhat of the White 

 Maman Cochet, although it is not so heavy 

 in growth. When better established, 

 British Queen may prove a desirable addi- 

 tion to our gardens. 



George Dickson, a prominent British 

 introduction of last season, comes to us 

 classified as a Hybrid Tea, but under the 

 conditions here it is essentially Hybrid 

 Remontant in character; that is, it flowers 

 in June and July, but lacks the later bloom- 

 ing habit of the true Hybrid Tea rose. In 

 color, however, it is a rich crimson, an 

 improvement on the majority of varieties 

 in this section. 



Madame Edmond Rostand. In this 

 introduction of Pernet-Ducher, we have 

 a novelty not unlike Mrs. Aaron Ward in 

 color — pale flesh, deeply shaded with 

 salmon and orange yellow. The flowers are 

 unusually large and particularly attrac- 



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tivein the bud stage, opening into handsome, 

 globular flowers. The growth is strong and 

 healthy in appearance. This variety may 

 be more briefly described as an improved 

 Prince de Bulgarie in color and habit of 

 growth. 



Ophelia, another salmon shaded variety, 

 has already proved an excellent garden 

 acquisition and promises to make good as 

 a forcing rose. In some respects it re- 

 sembles Antoine Rivoire, being erect in 

 habit of growth, very free in flowering, and 

 of easy culture. 



Mrs. David Baillie somewhat similar 

 to Richmond in color and in growth, but 

 distinct in form, although fairly free flower- 

 ing, did not appear to advantage in its 

 first year's trial. It may give better re- 

 sults when established. 



Mrs. Geo. Shawyer, now well thought 

 of as a forcing variety, does splendidly 

 in the garden. Its brilliant light rose color 

 stands out prominently among other pink 

 roses, and its general habit is desirable in 

 every way. This rose is going to be one 

 of our good acquisitions in the garden. 



Old Gold, sent out by McGredy, will 

 undoubtedly appeal to the connoisseur. 

 The bud is al! that is dainty and beautiful, 

 and as it remains in this condition for an 

 unusual period, it will be particularly 

 useful for decorative work. The flower, 

 when open, is semi-double and exquisitely 

 graceful, retaining its deep, golden bronzy 

 color until the end, reminding one of a well 

 formed Theresa of greater substance. The 

 growth appears to be of greater vigor and 

 better in habit. 



Leslie Holland, a deep scarlet crimson, 

 of excellent staying qualities, is one of our 

 very best Hybrid Tea roses. The color 

 is brilliant and always pleasing, never 

 shading off to undesirable tones as we 

 find the crimson roses often do. The 

 flower is very fragrant and well built, 

 of a handsome shell form. The growth is 

 vigorous and of erect habit. Altogether, 

 this is one of the few good red Hybrid 

 Teas, and should be planted extensively. 



Edward Mawley, similar to the pre- 

 ceding variety in a general way, in one 

 season's trial appeared to take on purplish 

 hues when exposed to the full sun of mid- 

 summer; but, nevertheless, it is a de- 

 sirable variety. Another season's trial 

 will be necessary to establish its real merit 

 in the garden. 



Mrs. Richard Draper, during its initial 

 season, failed to establish itself thoroughly, 

 lacking in vigor and freedom. Its color, 

 however, a reddish satiny pink, develops 



