252 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



colour, a row of it in full bloom looking most charming- 

 just as the dusk of a July evening comes on. Water 

 appears to wash the colour off the petals and leave 

 them transparent, for they are of the most delicate 

 texture and will show the ravages of thrips verv 

 readily ; and as these are sure to come in some places 

 in hot dry weather, and wet is even more fatal, 

 Madame Lacharme has often a bad time of it. The 

 shape is good and lasting, globular with the centre well 

 tilled, but the size is not up to the average. It will 

 come again well in the autumn, if it should be par- 

 ticularly dry and fine, but as the best white H.P. it has 

 been completely eclipsed by Merveille de Lyon, and 

 must put up with the qualification " best under glass." 



Ma dame Xoman (Guillot, 1867). — Another pure white 

 H.P.. but a weak bad grower with small foliage. The 

 blooms also are quite small but of exquisite form and 

 the purest colour. This Eose and Boule de Xeige are 

 much better shaped than Madame Lacharme or Mer- 

 veille de Lyon, but are so very small in comparison as 

 to be completely out of it. 



Madame Prosper Laugier (Yerdier, 1875). — Of good 

 strong stiff growth with characteristic appearance and 

 habit. Distinct also in colour, but unreliable and not 

 to be recommended for ordinary purposes. 



Madame Victor Verdier (Yerdier. 1863). — A very 

 strong grower with fine foliage beautifully coloured in 

 the early spring. Not especially liable to injury from 

 mildew or rain. A well known crimson Rose, forming 

 large clusters of buds which should be careniUy thinnd. 

 The later blooms on the longest and strongest shoots 

 are the best, and occasionally these are very fine, full, 

 lasting and bright. Fairly free-rlowering and good 

 as an autumnal, but though it is a hardy good grower 



