HYBRID TEAS. 



558 



evolution of the Hybrid Tons in a most extraordinarily marked degree. I 

 may say without egotism or fear of contradiction that no Rose ever 

 elicited the same unstinted admiration and praise as the variety ' Mildred 

 Grant.' It is a veritable giantess, possessing the most perfect form ; the 

 flowen are of immense size and substance;, with high -pointed centres and 

 massive petals, the colour white, with a delicate tint of pink or peach on 

 the edge of the petals. In 1000 it was unanimously awarded the Gold 

 Medal, that much coveted hall-mark of the National Kose Society, and was 

 distributed in 1001. In the; history of Hoses it must stand conspicuously 

 as the most phenomenal Hose of the century. I feel proud as a Briti h 

 subject that through the efforts of my brother and myself we, have boon 

 able to give to the world a Rose that must stand pre-eminent amongst the 

 many good Hoses of British origin disseminated through that long ;ind 

 gloriotlS period, the Victorian era. ' Lady Maura Roauclerk ' is a ropre 

 sentative of another type : tin; colour is bright madder-rose:, with silvery 

 reflexes; although not of such enormous dimensions as the preceding, 

 yet the flowers are very large, perfectly formed, with high-pointed centre, 



from which the petals reflex as in 1 La France.' Moderately pruned and 



not disbudded it is also a grand garden Hose, being possessed of a splendid 

 habit and free-flowering propensity. ' DacheSS of Portland ' is another 

 Gold Medal Hose;, pale yellow in colour, with large perfectly-shaped 

 flowers, which always open well. 1 Robert Scott,' raised by Mr. A. B. 

 Scott, and named after his father, the founder of the Penrose Nurseries, 

 Philadelphia, is the result of a cross between 'Mervoille de Lyon ' and 

 1 Mrs. W.J. Grant.' It is the most striking instance that has yet come 

 under my notice of a seedling bearing distinct traces of both parents. The 

 growth and substance are indicative of the female, and the colour and 

 freedom of bloom of the male parent. In the country of its birth it is called 

 an ever-blooming Hose;, and it is worthy of the term, especially when 

 grown under glass. J have had blooms of it rivalling 4 Her Majesty' in 

 size. 'Bessie Brown ' is another of our Gold Medal Roses of sterling 

 merit. In the Rose analysis of the past year this variety, though only dis- 

 tributed in 1800, occupied the proud position of being only just second to 

 that grand Rose, 1 Mrs. John Laing,' which has so long stood first. I 

 anticipate that another year will see these p jsitions reversed. In appear* 

 ance and general character it differs from any in the class. The blooms are 

 massive, elegantly formed, with large smooth and shell -shaped petals. 

 Altogether a truly magnificent free-flowering and sweetly perfumed Hose. 

 In addition to those described the following are good exhibition Ptoses : 

 ' La France,' ' Caroline Testout,' ' Madame Cadeau Ramey,' ' Madame 

 Jules Grolez,' 1 Kaiserin Augusta Victoria,' 'Mrs. W. -J. Grant,' and 

 • WMte Lady.' 



It was originally suggested that I should read a paper upon the subject 

 of hybridisation, but I felt that to do so would be almost useless, as I 

 should be utterly unable to lay down even approximate rules for the 

 production of any desired result. 



Few people have any real conception of the difficulties under which 

 a hybridist works. I have been often asked why I did not introduce a 

 Rose of particular form or colour. The answer is simple - because 1 

 could not raise it. I have hybridised for almost twenty-five years, and 



