196 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a Very decoratiYe effect as growing plants in the garden, namely, 

 in beds of dwarf plants ; as large isolated bushes or real tree 

 standards ; for the formation of rose-pillars ; and as climbers, 

 whether on walls or oyer arches, &c. 



In planting dwarf roses in beds for the purpose of making an 

 effective display, the great thing to avoid is the employment of 

 too many varieties. If a bed of seventy-two dwarf rose trees is to be 

 planted, half a dozen varieties is ample, the twelve plants of each 

 variety being grouped all together ; and these varieties should be 

 selected for their freedom of growth, abundance, and continuity 

 of flowering, handsome foliage, as little liable to mildew as may 

 be ; and, most important of all, their sturdy habit and ability to 

 carry their flowers erect, pendulous blooms being necessarily 

 ineffective on the plant. The flowers, moreover, should be sub- 

 stantial and of good quality, capable of enduring sunshine or 

 shower without either being burnt or getting all their petals 

 stuck together. 



It is also important that the plants of a particular rose should 

 be planted at the distance apart best suited to the habit of that 

 variety. In old days it was commonly recommended to plant 

 roses three feet apart each way ; and, no doubt, when the vigo- 

 rous hybrid Chinas were the vogue, this amount of space was 

 quite necessary. But there are now so many modern varieties, 

 such as the races sprung from Victor Yerdier and Baroness 

 Rothschild, which, although vigorous enough in the sense of 

 possessing abundant vitality, make such compact sturdy growth, 

 that to maLie ;he bes: display they should not be planted much 

 more than a foot apart. Of course, some of the modern roses 

 are as vigorous and strong in growth as many of the old sorts, 

 and these will need to be planted at greater distances apart ; 

 but if the distance be carefully proportioned to the habit of the 

 variety, and a dozen or more plants of each variety employed be 

 grouped together, there will be little fear of the display of bloom 

 being considered ineffective, or of rose-beds so planted not being 

 decorative. 



The cultivation for several years of almost every variety of 

 rose at all generally grown in this country has resulted in the 

 selection of the following kinds as the best suited for planting in 

 beds, in groups or masses, for the purpose of producing a 

 decorative display in the garden. 



