THE EOSE AND ITS CULTURE. 



203 



Roses are fastened as they grow, and the whole 

 frame- work is speedily liidden. Iron or wire can 

 also be used instead of wood where the latter is 

 scarce, and dwarf hedges may be got up without any 

 .special props. But few things are more offensive to 

 good taste than an ambitious-looking hedge of Eoses 

 swayed out of all form, or laid level with the ground, 

 by winds. 



Fix the Eoses to the supports at planting, some- 

 what loosely, and' so that they may subside with the 

 soil, and not be hung up to the stakes. And in 

 about two months afterwards prune out all the 

 weakest shoots, and shorten back the strong ones to 

 from a foot to a yard, according to the strength and 

 vigour of the j^lants. As this is the first, and maybe 

 iilmost the last pruning in the ordinary sense of the 

 term that the hedge of Eoses will require, it is best to 

 cut back rather severely, to insure a strong break at 

 bottom, so as to furnish a good permanent base for 

 the hedge. Another good plan is to tie the stronger 

 shoots down horizontally along the bottom rail or 

 base of the stake. Either way, a vigorous break 

 and free growth near to the giound-line must be 

 obtained. 



About the middle of June some of the more 

 vigorous growths might be stopped. They will 

 break afresh, in time to ripen their second growth 

 before the winter. The Eoses may be topped rather 

 than jjruned after their first season's growth, and, if 

 a uniform formal hedge is desired, this trimming 

 should be repeated annually. But for a real rustic, 

 picturesque, wildly luxuriant, and most effective 

 Eose hedge, leave them to nature above, and the 

 rich border for their roots below, after the first 

 season. 



Finally, choose Eoses on their own roots for Eose 

 hedges, as otherwise the plague of suckers will be 

 incessant ; and as the struggle for existence mostly 

 ends in the sui-vival of the fittest — that is, in the 

 fierce struggle of a Eose hedge, the strongest— the 

 Eoses will finally succumb to the briars, and leave the 

 astonished possessor a briar hedge in lieu of the Eose 

 one he so carefully planted and so liberally supported 

 above and below. On the other hand, there is no 

 speedier or better mode of getting up Eoses rapidly, 

 either in existing hedges, woods, or other out-of-the- 

 way places, than that of budding many Eoses on 

 existing briars, and taking some little pains to sup- 

 press the briars and encourage the Eoses ever after- 

 wards. 



Roses in Shrubberies and Woods. — These 

 are more effective when planted in considerable 

 masses. Some of the most striking effects may be 

 produced in both by draping a few prominent boles of 

 trees here and there with Eoses, as already shown. 



and forming a group of the same or other and 

 contrasting Eoses near to these, extending the one 

 wild Eose as it were into a small colony. In all 

 cases where Eoses are introduiced into shi-ubbeiies 

 and woods, they should be very much left to nature, 

 or if any art is employed, it should be so skilfully 

 concealed, and so hidden beneath the highest possible 

 examples of natural grace and beauty, as to wholly 

 hide the art. Almost any of the Eoses named or 

 specified in the foregoing lists will answer well for 

 these purposes. But whatever selections of Eoses 

 are made, the different varieties of the Sweet and 

 Austrian Briars and Scotch Eoses should not bo 

 forgotten. 



Of the Eoses best adapted for forming effective 

 groups in woods, the following Ayrshire, Evergreen, 

 Prairie, and Multifioi-a Eoses will be found suitable : 

 — Dundee Eambler, pure white ; Queen of the Bel- 

 gians, rich creamy-white ; Euga, flowers flesh-colour, 

 very fragrant ; Splendens, buds crimson, melting 

 into pale flesh with age : one of the best. The Ever- 

 green Eoses are not strictly so, though most of them 

 hold their leaves throughout the greater portion of 

 the winter: Adelaide d'Orleans, flowers creamy- 

 white, in large clusters ; Felicite Perpetuelle, flesh- 

 colour changing to white, large clusters ; Donna 

 Maria, pure white, very fine, not so robust as most 

 of the others ; Eampante, pure white ; Williams' 

 Evergreen, one of the freest and best. Among the 

 best of the Prairie Eoses are the following : Beauty 

 of the Prairies, pink ; Gem of the Prairies, crimson, 

 blotched v^^ith white, the only fragrant Eose among 

 these North American species ; Rosa ruhrifolia, Queen 

 of the Prairies, rosy-purple. Among the Multiflora 

 section of Eoses, De la Grifferaie, deep rose, 

 changing to blush; Laura Davoust, pink, flesh, and 

 white, in large trusses ; and litis seUiana, rich lake 

 and lilac, are the best. 



For shrubberies, any of the sorts recommended for 

 pillar or pyramidal Eoses may be introduced, either 

 single or in masses. Standaids and dwarf standards 

 also look well towering above dwarf shrubs. In 

 sheltered shrubberies, too, groups of Chinese, Tea, or 

 Noisette Eoses may be alternated with other shrubs 

 with the happiest effect ; such Noisettes as Triomphe 

 de Eennes, Celine Forestier, and Teas, as Gloire de 

 Dijon, Bougere, and Homere, being among the best 

 for use in quantity in such positions. 



Roses in Streets. — It is a far cry from the 

 wild woods to the crowded streets, and yet Eoses 

 may be grown in the latter. The smoothest-leaved 

 and stemmed species and varieties of Eoses, and 

 those of the most robust and vigorous constitution, 

 should be chosen for street culture. Smooth-leaved 

 Eoses would retain little or no dust or soot, and 



