XII 



MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 



279 



Devoniensis. If the bud remains hard and well-shaped 

 — a perfect smooth cone — and swells slowly even in 

 forcing weather, while the stem thickens and stiffens in 

 proportion, it is a good sign. On the other hand a thick 

 strong, tall, fleshy shoot may open its bud almost at 

 once and produce a comparatively poor bloom. It does 

 decidedly best in every way as a short standard, but will 

 also yield fairly fine flowers as a dwarf. The blooms 

 sometimes come divided, but when good they are first- 

 rate indeed, in petal, fulness, and shape, and wonderful in 

 size and lasting qualities. The colour is lovely, having 

 many shades, and like many other Teas, is variable. Mr. 

 Prince can show it as a yellow Rose, but this is generally 

 when it is too much expanded and the point is gone, pink 

 being much more predominant than yellow in my speci- 

 mens. The plants are of pretty good constitution, by 

 which I mean that they will live and not deteriorate 

 for years if well cultivated, and they will stand close 

 pruning, but are tender and must be well protected from 

 frost. Though they are so dwarf they should not be put 

 too close together, for the habit of growth is singularly 

 lateral, and the principal shoots of old plants will often 

 be nearly horizontal. It is a free-flowering sort for one 

 of such dwarf habit, but is not of much use in the late 

 autumn unless the weather be very fine and dry. Its 

 freedom of bloom is a nuisance to the propagator, as it 

 is often difficult to find a sufficiency of buds which have 

 not started. 



Comtesse Panisse (Nabonnand, 1877). — Of good growth, 

 with stout stiff wood, and fine foliage beautifully 

 coloured in the spring, doing well as a dwarf. A very full 

 Rose, which therefore will not stand rain and requires 

 a hot bright sun. It comes quite large with fine stout 

 petals where the growth is good, but the colour is very 



