220 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



generally come well, of globular shape, and a beautiful 

 pink colour. They are very large, and come again well 

 in the autumn, but are quite scentless. A party of 

 villagers came to see my Roses one day, and one good 

 dame who was behind all the others stooped to catch 

 the perfume of a fine specimen of the Baroness which 

 had attracted much notice. She was disappointed, but 

 saw the reason at once. "Oh, they've sniffed all the 

 scent out of this 'ere one " ! It is rather wanting in 

 fulness of centre, apt to open quickly in hot weather > 

 and must be cut small for exhibition. Although 

 thoroughly hardy in constitution, this fine Rose has 

 either deteriorated in the last few years, or has simply 

 had to take a lower place through the introduction 

 of so many new fine sorts. At all events, " Rose 

 elections " show plainly that it is not nearly so highly 

 esteemed now as it was ten or fifteen years ago. 



It is much inclined to sport to white. Mabel Morri- 

 son and White Baroness were comparative failures, but 

 Merveille de Lyon has achieved a great success. Mabel 

 Morrison has however atoned for personal failure by its 

 wonderful progeny, Her Majesty. "The Baroness," as 

 we used to call it, as if there could be no rival, may 

 fall still further in popularity, but will live in its 

 descendants, among which we may probably reckon 

 Spenser, which seems to be simply a fuller Baroness 

 Rothschild. 



Beauty of Waltham (W. Paul and Son, 1862).— Fair 

 in growth and foliage, and not much liable to injury from 

 fungoid pests or rain. The blooms come true and well, 

 being seldom divided or malformed. The shape varies 

 according to situation and cultivation. The N.R.S. 

 Catalogue calls it "imbricated," and the raiser "cup- 

 ped " : my specimens do not come in either of these 



