I98 THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



possessed by everyone, if only for its changeable nature. 

 Sometimes the flowers are crimson, and occasionally the 

 crimson centres give place to a light blush edged with 

 crimson, and vice versa. Ducher is the best white variety 

 at present obtained, but it is not quite the kind wanted, 

 not being so free-flowering as the foregoing varieties. 

 Marie Wolkoff is delightful, quite new, of a velvety 

 crimson colour, and always in flower. Belle de Florence 

 makes a good hedge Rose, as dainty in growth as Fellen- 

 berg, the popular Noisette variety. Its cherry-coloured 

 flowers are produced in dainty clusters. Little Pet is a 

 double little Rose, produced in immense clusters. When 

 cut one would take it for a spray of the Evergreen Rose, 

 Felicite-Perpetue. It seems to be a hybrid, and belongs 

 more to the Polyanthas than the Chinese, although 

 usually grouped here. It is a valuable kind for massing, 

 regular in growth, not too strong, but sturdy enough for 

 this purpose. A charming Rose for graves or similar 

 positions. Red Pet is a good companion to the latter, but 

 the colour is dull, rather inclined to maroon. It is almost 

 as profuse as the Little Pet. The above are the cream 

 of the Monthly Roses. All that is wanted now is a good 

 yellow as free as the Old Blush. 



The Fairy Roses should really be included with the 

 Chinese. They must not be confounded with the Poly- 

 anthas. The true Fairy Roses are also known as the 

 Lawrenceana Roses. They were used, years ago, in 

 great numbers for pots, rarely growing more than I ft. in 

 height, and the tiny blossoms are no larger than a six- 

 pence. There were formerly several varieties in cultiva- 

 tion, but the white, pink, and crimson only are now to 

 be obtained. They make pretty little rock plants if 

 planted in a dry and sheltered fissure. 

 DcUna.sk Roses {Rosa damascena). — This group is of 

 great antiquity, and was certainly introduced to this 

 country over 300 years ago. They are grown by 

 thousands in Bulgaria and elsewhere for the pro- 

 duction of Attar of Roses. The Damask Roses have 

 been largely utilised by raisers, first in the production of 

 the Damask Perpetual and later the Hybrid Perpetual. 

 Their growth is robust, and in this particular they differ 

 more especially from the rambling-growing French 

 Roses. The Damask Roses have beautiful bright green 

 foliage, downy and leathery, and make splendid shrubbery 

 plants, quickly spreading into large bushes, and their 

 foliage has a most refreshing look. They require rather 

 close pruning, and the centre of the plants must be well 

 thinned ; they are not of much use as Standards, except 

 Mmc. Hardy, but most of the kinds make noble 

 Pillar Roses. The best varieties are : La Yille de 

 Bruxelles, a very early kind, of a bright rosy pink colour, 

 the flowers very flat, but showy ; Leda, or Painted Lad)', 

 a beautiful Rose, crimpled, and edged with rosy carmine 

 on a flesh-coloured ground ; Mine. Hardy, an exqui- 

 site Rose, pure white, excellent for the garden decora- 

 tion, and should be grown in the smallest place — it is 

 of vigorous growth, and makes an excellent Standard 

 or Pillar Rose ; York and Lancaster, the true 

 variety of this not worth growing unless it be for its 

 historical associations — the variety more especially 

 known under this name is in reality Rosa Mundi, a very 

 large striped form of the old Red Damask ; old Red 

 Damask, very old-fashioned single Rose, with large petals 

 of a rosy crimson colour. 

 Evergreen Rose (R- sempervirens). — This group differs 

 from the Ayrshire, as it retains its foliage longer, hence the 

 name ; but it is misleading to call them Evergreen, for the 

 foliage is usually gone before Christmas. However, they 

 are delightful Roses, and bear their flowers in clusters, 

 not singly, a characteristic of so many of the Ayrshires. 

 The species is tender, a singular fact, for the varieties 

 here named are as hardy as most Roses, although in some 

 years frost cuts them down to the ground. If, however, 

 own root plants are obtained, they soon recover from the 

 check. Very little pruning is needed. Let them run 

 wild, but prevent them becoming a tangled mass of 

 growths, for then they are disappointing, and often fail to 

 flower, mainly owing to the unripened state of the wood. 



Wherever fast-growing climbers are desired, the Ever- 

 green Roses are welcome. The loveliest of all is Felicite- 

 Perpetue. Each flower forms an exquisite little flesh- 

 coloured rosette, and as the flowers are produced in 

 graceful trusses, they are effective when once a fine 

 specimen is secured. It is the best white companion to 

 Crimson Rambler, both varieties flowering simultaneously, 

 although the latter will last rather longer. Myrianthes 

 Renoncule is as vigorous and free as the latter, but differs 

 in colour, being of pale peach or rose shade. Leo- 

 poldine d'Orleans has large handsome clusters of creamy 

 white flowers, fairly double and globular in form. 

 Donna Maria is a pure white cup-formed flower of great 

 beauty. The flowers are produced in large trusses, but 

 the growth is not quite so vigorous as the first-named. 

 Flora is wonderfully vigorous, making very thick reddish 

 shoots, like a climbing Tea-scented Rose, which it seems 

 to resemble. The flowers are of fine Camellia-like form, 

 and bright rose in colour, with pale edges. Rampante 

 blooms profusely and is pure white. Rosea plena is rosy 

 flesh, changing to white. It has glossy green leaves and 

 very double flowers. 

 French Rose {Rosa gallica). — This race was formerly 

 extensively grown. The varieties seed abundantly, con- 

 sequently a numerous progeny was promoted. The 

 flowers are too flat, according to modern conceptions of a 

 Rose, but they, nevertheless, are delightful in the early 

 days of June, before the Hybrid Perpetuals and Tea- 

 scented commence to unfold. The French Roses will 

 grow almost anywhere, and they have a peculiar way of 

 spreading by underground suckers In this class there are 

 almost all colours except yellow, and it includes the 

 best striped Roses. The Hybrid Chinese (a useful class 

 for large towns) have descended from the French Roses. 

 Although they grow so freely, and almost anywhere, they 

 well repay for good cultivation, and this, in addition to 

 good soil, means also well thinning the plants. Do this 

 severely, and prune the remaining shoots to four or six 

 eyes, according to the vigour of the variety. They may 

 be freely increased by layering, and quite a mass may be 

 had in a few years, simply by layering the growths and 

 allowing these to remain The front of shrubberies is a 

 good place for these French Roses, and they would also 

 be at home in the wild garden, but the plants must be 

 from layers or cuttings. The best kinds are ■ Adele Prevost, 

 blush; Boule de Nanteuil, crimson-purple; Cynthie, 

 pale rose ; Duchess of Buccleugh, crimson, bordered 

 blush ; Kean, velvety purple ; Lcetitia, rose ; Ohl, violet- 

 purple ; Surpasse tout, cherry The best striped forms 

 are : Dometille Becar, a splendid Rose, and CEillet Parfait. 

 Gloire des Rosomanes. — This remarkable Rose is one 

 that greatly perplexes the rosarian as to its origin. The 

 almost single flowers are brilliant carmine, and it makes 

 long straggling growths that will quickly adorn pillar and 

 arch. Naturally raisers have fixed upon this Rose as 

 a seed parent, and many of the kinds are well worth 

 growing. Perhaps of these General Jacqueminot is 

 grown more extensively than any Rose in Great 

 Britain, and in its progeny a remarkable diversity is seen. 

 Abbe Bramerel is another rich Rose, reddish crimson in 

 colour, with velvety shading Empereur de Maroc, 

 perhaps nowadays too small, is in colour intense maroon, 

 shading almost to black. Geant des Batailles has 

 gone almost out of cultivation, but created quite a sensa- 

 tion fifty years ago, and was then one of the best crimson 

 Perpetual Roses. Gloire de Margottin is a great advance 

 upon Gloire des Rosomanes, and no Rose is more bril- 

 liant, although many kinds are of a deeper scarlet. It is a 

 handsome Pillar and Standard kind. Even for bedding 

 its long growths may be so trained that an effective glow 

 of colour can be produced. Eugene Appert is as scarlet 

 as any double Rose we at present possess. Even the 

 wood has a reddish hue. It is not so free as varieties 

 like Victor Hugo, Brilliant, and Cheshunt Scarlet, 

 to be found among the Hybrid Perpetuals ; but it is 

 certain the colour is as intense as that of any of the kinds 

 mentioned, and a useful race might be evolved from this 

 Rose were it taken in hand by hybridists. 



