ROSE-FORCING IN AMERICA. 



475 



andie Bernaix,' 'Beauty of Stapleford,' ' Duke of Connaught,' 1 Anne de 

 Diesbach,' ' Anna Alexieft',' 4 Comtesse de Brabantane,' ' Mine Charles,' 

 1 Mine. Falcot,' ' Ma Capucin,' ' Mme. Welche,' ' Charles Rovolli,' and 

 1 La Sylphide.' ' Anne de Diesbach ' took the place of of ' American 

 Beauty.' ' Mine. Falcot ' is now being grown in Philadelphia and the 

 Roses called " debutante buds." From the period beginning in 1880 pro- 

 gress was very marked in houses, methods of heating and culture, and in 

 varieties. The first Rose of this new time was ' General Jacqueminot.' 

 Together with this ' Ulrich Brunner,' ' Cornelia Cook,' and ' Souvenir 

 d'un Ami ' were grown. ' La France ' was one of the remarkable Roses 

 and was considered a great advance. It is grown now only to a very 

 limited extent, as its constitution has become so weakened that the stems 

 cannot support the heads. Soon after 1883 John Henderson introduced 

 ' Papa Gontier,' which was received with joy. In 1885 there came from 

 the gardens of George Bancroft that Rose which, under the care of 

 experts, has become the pride of American Rose-growers. It was 

 unwittingly renamed ' American Beauty ' ; it is ' Mine. Ferdinand Jamin.' 

 To-day some Rose-forcers claim that the Rose has varied so much under 

 cultivation that it is itself a distinct variety and is worthy a name of its 

 own. Introduced in 1885, it was not until 1890 that she was grown to 

 any extent, for she was coy and had to be petted and courted with all the 

 wiles that man could summon before she smiled and gave her wonderful 

 blooms on stems without end. So well does she grow that at the March 

 1902 Show of the American Rose Society a prize was offered for 

 ' American Beauty ' Roses with stems not less than 5 ft. ; the winning 

 Roses crowned stems over 9 ft. long, straight and covered with fine 

 foliage. Under the reign of ' American Beauty ' all other Hybrid 

 Perpetuals save ' General Jacqueminot ' and ' Ulrich Brunner ' gave 

 way ; ' American Beauty ' having the great advantage of blooming 

 constantly. 



' Catherine Mermet ' was grown very extensively until her daughter 

 1 Bridesmaid ' supplanted her in 1892. ' Bridesmaid ' was introduced by 

 Frank Moore of Chatham, New Jersey, on whose place it originated. It 

 has given such general satisfaction that new Roses are often advertised as 

 the pink or yellow 1 Bridesmaid.' It is a very satisfactory Rose, save that 

 occasionally the stems cannot support the heads, and a weak neck throws 

 a Rose into the second grade whatever may be the perfection of its bloom 

 and the length of its stem. 



American Rose-growers owe much to ' Catherine Mermet ' not only for 

 the best pink Rose but also for the best white, the ' Bride.' As all brides 

 precede their maids, so this one should come first, as it sported in 1885, 

 and was then introduced by John N. May, who bought it from its originator. 

 ' Bride ' was the first American sport to prove itself of any value as a 

 standard variety. There are other competitors for the two places men- 

 tioned above, but as yet these two stand supreme in their class. Unfor- 

 tunately, in the heat of summer the buds open before they are fully 

 matured and are very tiny. Contrasted with these are the unsuccessful 

 sports from ' Catherine Mermet.' In 1891, the Waban Rose Conserva- 

 tories, near Boston, introduced one which they called ' Waban.' Intro- 

 duced with blare of trumpets, this Rose took the course of the proverbial 



