FLOWERS OF THE FRENCH RIVIERA. 



9] 



sheltered spots on the Riviera, so that in such places the bloom- 

 ing tendency of the plant is sometimes reduced in winter, but 

 never entirely conquered. 



Riviera Safranos are very variable in size and beauty, ac- 

 cording to the age of the bushes and to the amount of care 

 exercised in pruning, manuring, Sec. The long conical buds, 

 unfolding so much freshness and beauty as they begin to expand, 

 are known everywhere as the " Nice Roses." The exterior petals 

 often show a deep crimson colour on the outside ; this is generally 

 the effect of cold weather experienced in the bud state. 



Young leaves and shoots of the Safrano Rose often exhibit a 

 beautiful brown colour, and they are then turned to good account 

 by the local florists as a contrast to pale blush Roses. 



The China Roses (common, blood-red, and Ducher), are also 

 perpetual bloomers on the Riviera ; they are planted extensively 

 in hedges. But they are of limited commercial importance, 

 especially as the stems are too slender to carry well the large 

 egg-shaped buds, and so make wiring a necessity. 



Only the beautiful, nearly single Rose, Gloire des Rosomanes, 

 is still hardier and more perpetually in bloom than Safrano. It 

 makes a charming and a striking feature of the country in 

 winter, but, although of great artistic beauty, it is too perishable 

 and too short-lived to be sought after as a flower for exporta- 

 tion. 



We may refer to open-air Roses, the climbing kinds which, 

 trained along walls on a southern aspect, bloom all through the 

 winter, as General Lamarque, Gloire de Dijon, Reine Olga de 

 Wurtemberg, and even Reine Marie Henriette and Marechal 

 Niel, but the two last named succeed better under glass. Even 

 the hardier kinds are much benefited by the use of a canvas 

 screen in front and on top of the wall. General Lamarque 

 treated in that way gives lots of buds of the purest white. 

 Gloire de Dijon is not a great success on the Riviera ; it is too 

 full, does not open well, and is often damaged on the outside. 



Very handsome Roses are produced on the Riviera from 

 several hybrid or Tea sorts by the help of glass with or without 

 artificial heat. Souvenir de la Malmaison, Marie Van Houtte, 

 and La France come first under that head, as also Perle de Lyon, 

 Souvenir d'un Ami, and especially several varieties originated 

 on the spot, and mostly raised by Nabonnand, such as Paul 



