November 2, 1&12 



835 



MESSRS. ALEX. DICKSON 



AND SONS' ROSES. 



As in the case of some otlier important 

 • Avns that might be montioiietl, th^ New- 

 wn of the Aids has enjoyed considerable 

 line during a material part of its long 

 hi eventful history. At one time, and 

 !iat somewhat renu)te, the town was note- 

 worthy as the centre of numerous religious 



it has become a household word wherever 

 roses are grown and apprtM?iated, or, in 

 other words, throughout the civilised 

 world. In thus briefly referring to a }K)int 

 that is not without interest, if must not 

 bo assumed that an attempt will be made 

 to give a sketch of the history of the town. 

 It would be a pleasant task, but at the 

 l)resent time the writer is more <'on<'erned 

 witli the many beautiful roses that wc» owi» 

 to the activities of the Mt»ssrs. Alex. Diek- 



in the catalogue of the National Rose 

 Society that were intrtnluced to cultivation 

 twenty -one years ago. The Royal Nur- 

 series Jiave a history extending over a <*<'n- 

 t ury or so, and were foundiHl by M r, 



Alexander Dickson, the father of Mr. 

 (ieorge Dieksou, the venerable and highly 

 resptK'te<l hea<l of the firm, an<l under his 

 skilful nuinagement the business assunuMl 

 large ])roportion8 long before he relin- 

 (juislunl his busine^ss life. Mr. A. I)i<*kson 



.- ' ■ - - 



H.T. ROSE MRS. MACKELLAR. 



The flowers soft yellow. Raised by Messrs. Alex. Dickson and Sons, and 



the R.H.S., on September 24, 1912. 



eived 



establishments, of whioli several were of 

 "i^ch importance, as indicated by the 

 ^^ms that remain to remind us of theii- 

 P"eatness. Later Newtownards, to give 



ne town its more modern designation, be- 

 *^anie famous as a centre of the linen in- 

 uustry, its manuta; tures of this fabric con- 



inumg to he j'ega riled ivith mucli favour, 



h-h ^'^^ i-esult thereof, maintain their 

 ">gh place in the markets. Now it has 



son and Sons, and contiibuti' m) liltfciliy 



to the charms and interc^,t ol many tiimi- 



sands of gardens. 



If a question wci c asked as to tho b'lmtli 

 of the time over which tlie firm has j^iv^ ii 

 special attention to tlu^ cross-ferlili.sat um 

 and the raising of seedling roses, a fairly 

 correct answer would he about a quarter 

 of a <e!itiiry. It may h*. a lew iiiore years 

 than t\\ eiitv-ii\ e .since thev <Miteie<l on tin 



attained to so liigh a position as a great work whicli has brought them so nnieh re- 

 ^■*"ntre of rose growing and rose raising that nown, for there are roM^s of their raising 



<lt'\(»tt'(! a <onsiderable share ^^f his atten- 

 tion tn nir hvhri<lisati<in aii'l * i-<iss-tei tih;sa- 

 tioii (<l |'l;irils. aii<i ehit^ animi^ hi-^ sn<'- 

 <(^>t> wt'U' niiniri(H!s (ape htalhs that 



>\ ci'e remarkahh.' for t hcii- great Itea uty. 

 Mr. (-eorg*' Dieksnn . iollowing on much ihe 

 isanie linc^ as lii^ lather. a<'hi«'\-<M| Mi;-h a 

 nif'a^ure (tl sue, rss as in iio-' «'^>u a i c a con- 

 sider a hh» o\t* Jl^inli of the houinhi \ ol 

 tho n III series t'roin t inie to time. Not - 

 withstanding tlio in<nMStMl demands that 

 were made iii)on hi.s time and at t*Mit ion 



