104 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



a little stronger as plants when grown as standards, 

 though it is hardly apparent without actual comparison 

 with dwarf forms of the same varieties. In deciding as 

 to standards the purchaser should therefore consider 

 whether he cares more for quality in the blooms them- 

 selves, or the general appearance and uniformity of his 

 beds. 



He should also take notice that there are several 

 disadvantages belonging to the standard stock. One 

 of the greatest of these is that every plant must be 

 staked, and with a large number this becomes a serious 

 item, as a gale of wind is sure to break some of the ties 

 and the stakes themselves if the} T be wooden ones. 

 Standards are also more expensive, and there is often 

 far less choice of t really good plants. A great deal of 

 care in graduating the height of the stems is also 

 necessary to make the Rose-bed " look nice," while a 

 good general appearance is much more easily arranged 

 with a bed of dwarfs. 



I advise then that the standard form be not chosen 

 for the H.P.s, for as a general rule quite as good blooms 

 and a better general appearance, with less cost and 

 trouble, can be obtained from dwarfs. La France, Lady 

 Mary Fitzwilliam and most of the H.T.s must be taken 

 as exceptions. Let the Tea Roses also be grown as 

 dwarfs, if a bed of beautiful Roses be desired rather 

 than extra fine blooms, or if the locality be liable to 

 severe frost ; but for exhibition purposes, or where the 

 quality of the flowers is the principal object, they should 

 be grown as standards, if it be found practicable to keep 

 them alive during the winter. 



The next question, and it has long been a keenly 

 debated one among Rosarians, is, which of the three 

 dwarf stocks, briar cutting, briar seedling, or manetti 



