266 



FLORA AND SYLVA. 



an account of them for Flora, which he 

 has kindly done as follows : — 



Mr. Alexander Dickson, with his 

 brother, Mr. George Dickson, have for 

 more than twenty years devoted them- 

 selves to the raising of seedling Roses at 

 Newtownards, Down, Ireland, and their 

 efforts have resulted in a distinct race of 

 Roses, hardy, free-flowering, and suit- 

 able for every purpose for which Roses 

 are grown. It has been my privilege to 

 follow the progress of their work dur- 

 ing many years and to mark the success 

 that has crowned their efforts. The en- 

 graving given of the beautiful single hy- 

 brid-tea Irish Beauty leads me to speak 

 first of their single Rose gains. Of these, 

 six have so far found their way to our 

 gardens, three of them being pure teas, 

 viz. : Irish Modesty, a sturdy grower, 

 flowering from June till October ; when 

 expanded the flowers are large, but in 

 the bud they are long and pointed, and 

 of a fine coral pink. Irish Star, with 

 large cup-shaped flowers of great beau- 

 ty, a Rose du Barii shade, with a star-like 

 lemon centre and rich dark golden sta- 

 mens. Irish Pride, a single Rose of finest 

 form, and blooming continuously upon 

 every shoot from early summer to late 

 autumn. Irish Beauty, 2l charming single 

 rose ; the flowers are large, of the purest 

 white, with centres filled with clear, gol- 

 den anthers in beautiful contrast with 

 the stout white petals. Irish Glory is of 

 more robust growth, with buds of great 

 length, the open flowers of a rich deep 

 pink toned with silver, borne upon stout 

 shoots clothed with large, handsome fo- 

 liage. Irish Brightness well deserves its 

 name, possessing a distinction and at- 



tractiveness all its own, from its glau- 

 cous growths, beautiful foliage, and the 

 way in which growth after growth pro- 

 duces large sprays of vivid crimson buds, 

 which on opening show a zone of sil- 

 very pink toning off to silvery white. 

 Engineer is a hybrid-tea of another type, 

 short and sturdy in growth and rich in 

 vivid carmine flowers coming freely on 

 every shoot ; in fact, just the kind to 

 produce a bright effect in a small space. 

 There are many other beautiful and dis- 

 tinct single Roses that in due time will 

 come from Newtownards to grace our 

 gardens — Roses varied in their form, 

 habit of growth and height, and with 

 every shade of colour. 



To give the most complete satisfac- 

 tion Roses must not only be fine in the 

 open garden, but good when cut, and 

 amongst such varieties none are better 

 than Duchess of Port land, Lady Moyra 

 Beauclerc, and the handsome Duchess of 

 W istminster, 2l hybrid-tea which may be 

 justly called a "great" Rose, with won- 

 drous depth of petal and perfect form, 

 combining the good qualities of Mrs. 

 W. y. Grant with those of Killarney, 

 its colour being a combination of these 

 two. As true artists with a love for natural 

 beauty, however, our Irish friends have 

 not confined their efforts to exhibition 

 flowers, but have given us a series of fine 

 kinds for gardens, commencing with 

 LadyHelenStewart,with bright crimson 

 flowers, sweetly scented,and abundantly 

 produced; this, followed by a long list of 

 such sorts as Mavourneen, with its colour 

 of silvery rose ; Marjorie, with blushing 

 flowers sometimes almost white, and 

 finely formed ; Meta and Beryl, dainty 



