f 



CHAPTER IX 



Roses of American Origin 



America has contributed comparatively 

 few roses to the great list of varieties popularly 

 known to-day. Yet two important groups 

 are credited to us. About the year 1814 the 

 first of the Noisette class was raised — a class 

 that has in it some of the most pleasing of 

 all cluster roses. John Champney of Charles- 

 ton, South Carolina, fertilised the White 

 Musk with pollen from the Blush China, 

 which was named Champney's Pink Cluster. 

 A Charleston florist raised a seedling from 

 this which he sent to his brother in France — 

 Louis Noisette — about 181 7. From this be- 

 ginning the charming class of Noisettes 

 (which properly, however, should have been 

 called Champney Roses) was raised and 

 distributed. The modern members of this 

 group having a large admixture of Tea in 

 them are not quite hardy. Some of the 

 greatest of the yellow roses are of this section, 



165 



