66 



GARDENERS" MAGAZINE. 



January 29, ^ 



Some Roses of 1894. 



With a view of assisting those who may wish to add recent varieties 

 to their collection, I propose to jot down a few brief notes on some roses 

 of recent introduction, commencing with the year 1894. It would be 

 wearisome to deal with all the new roses that are annually offered, nor 

 would the remarks be of much value, seeing they would only be based 

 upon the highly-toned descriptions which appear in the trade catalogues, 

 especially of continental origin. Therefore, these remarks will chiefly 

 concern those roses which have been grown by us, adding a few varieties 

 that have been seen at the rose exhibitions, or that are well spoken of 

 by some of the trade growers. 



Clio, H. P. (William Paul and Son). — Although this rose was not 

 sent out with a great fanfare of trumpets, nor has it been awarded the 

 gold medal of the National Rose Society, yet I think it is one of the best 

 roses of the year. Clio is a robust, strong grower, and free blooming 

 rose. In a cool summer it will probably be found in the front rank, but 

 it is with us hardly lull enough to stand a very hot season. In form it is 

 pointed globular and its good shape, size, and depth of petal, make it a 

 handsome flower. It is quite distinct from any other exhibition variety. 

 The colour is white tinted wi*h pink deepening towards the centre. It is 

 useful for exhibition purposes, and the non-exhibitor will find it an 

 acquisition to the garden. 



Mrs. Sharman Crawford, H.P. (A. Dickson and Sons).— Colour a 



beautiful clear rosy pink, quite distinct in shade from any other H.P. It 

 is remarkable for its freedom in flowering and for giving a succession of 

 blooms right through the season. The flowers are of good size but a 

 trifle thin. If grown for exhibition the plant should be well thinned, and 

 the shoots that are left disbudded early, the young growth being care- 

 fully kept down, for it is very active, constantly throwing up fresh flower- 

 ing shoots. It is a somewhat difficult rose to stage by reason of the 

 blooms developing so quickly, especially if the weather is at all hot. It 

 is shown best in cool weather. It was awarded the gold medal of the 

 National Rose Society, probably because of its distinctness of colour. 

 Mr. R. B. Cant in his catalogue describes it as u one of the best roses of 

 recent years," but at present I am not quite prepared, from an exhibition 

 point of view, to wholly endorse this statement. It may be true of it as 

 a decorative rose. In our climate it is inclined to mildew, especially on 

 the second flowering shoots. 



Marchioness of Downshire, H.P. (A. Dickson and Sons).— 



Colour soft pink, shaded rose, cupped, but with too low a centre to be a 

 really good shape, and, like Baroness Rothschild, which it resembles in 

 habit and form, somewhat hollow. In 1896 we had some good flowers 

 of it, and we thought it promising ; but the season of 1897 was against it, 

 the early blooms being crippled by the May frosts, which did us much 

 mischief, and the later flowers were damaged by thrip. We only staged 

 one bloom of it during the whole of the exhibition season. From 

 personal experience, which is guided by situation and climate, I do not 

 think it can be termed a first-rate rose, although it won the gold medal 

 of the N.R.S. In some gardens, climates, and soils it may do well, but 

 not with us, and I cannot recommend it. 



Wat 



This is one of those 



roses which are so close to the border line which separates H.T. from 

 teas, that it is not at all clear why it is not classed as a tea. It is 

 decidedly tea-scented, the colour a pearly white with a pale salmon 

 centre, is suggestive of a tea ; moreover, it is also in constant flower and 

 has tea wood and foliage. I wonder why it is classed as a hybrid tea * 

 Although the blooms are hardly of sufficient size or substance for exhi- 

 bition purposes in the general classes against hybrid perpetuals ; yet if 

 special classes for hybrid teas were generally introduced in the exhibition 

 schedules, or if it had been sent out as a tea, Clara Watson would be 

 more frequently shown. As a decorative rose it will be found most use- 

 ful. It is, on the whole, a charming variety. Mr. David R. Williamson 

 states in the " Rosanans' Year Book for 1898" that Clara Watson "is 

 my supreme favourite among the many fine creations of the late Mr. 

 Bennett Surely this rose was sent out by the late Mr. George Prince, 

 and named after a lady, who with her great skill in setting up the roses 

 so ably assisted him in staging at the rose exhibitions. The rose Clara 

 Watson always brings back to my mind the pleasant memory of the 

 bright and cheerful Miss Watson. 



Marquise de Litta, H.T. (Pernet et Ducher). - 



large, full cupped, and of perfect form. A useful addition to the exhibi- 



Carmine rose, 



Late Apples. 



Now that the glut is over, one has no difficulty in noticing which a 

 most useful apples to cultivate, for culinary purposes or dessert fo 

 from Christmas onward. Of late years it has been rather too much? 

 custom to plant large early show varieties rather than those for re «! 

 or late use. But where are these fine specimens now ? On looking- 

 the fruit-room shelves we find their places vacant, not even one 

 fruit of the much-lauded Peasgood's Nonsuch is to be found, which \ 

 many, is considered indispensable. A few trees of these fine showy variet 

 should be planted in every collection where there is room, but plant 

 should be careful not to plant too many of them. A tree or two of each 

 will be quite sufficient, unless they are grown specially for market. As 

 rule, mid-season apples are almost worthless, while very early and lat* 

 kinds usually command a good price. During September and October 

 there are so many windfalls that good fruit has to be sacrificed 

 unless sent to the great centres of consumption ; for this reason it is 

 not wise to plant many trees of varieties that mature their fruit durint 

 the latter month. There is a great difference in the keeping qualities of 

 fruit grown on different soils and situations ; and on ground that is culti- 

 vated and fed, as against that grown in an orchard with grass beneath 

 The specimens from the rich cultivated ground may be larger, but thev 

 have not the same solidity as those from trees whose roots are growing 

 in the ordinary soil, hence they mature so much earlier. Most people 

 know that large specimen onions contain far more water in proportion to 

 their size than the small bulbs do, their flesh is coarser, and therefore holds 

 more moisture ; the same remark applies to apples that have been over-fed 

 From this we shall gather that both very early and mid-season 

 varieties should be grown on rich, fertile ground, and liberally supplied 

 with nourishment to induce them to grow as large as possible, and 

 mature early; while the late and long-keeping ones ought not to be fed 

 to any considerable extent, that their flesh may be firmer, and therefore 

 in a better condition to resist the peculiar conditions of the fruit room 

 That large fruit surcharged with moisture will keep sound longer in alow, 

 dry atmosphere than in a damp one, there can be no doubt, as the 

 moisture given off by the fruit is absorbed before it has time to do am 

 damage, while in the case of hard dry specimens there is but very little 

 to evaporate. Dumelow's Seedling (Wellington) is one of the best 

 cooking apples we have, and though this may be grown to a good size 

 young trees that are highly fed, such fruit will not keep good for a 

 length of time; in fact, that from trees so treated is not often in a usable 

 condition after Christmas, while that grown on standards in an orchar 

 will keep sound till the end of April if stored in a cool place where tie 

 temperature is even. There is not enough attention paid to the storing 

 of these late-keeping kinds, neither is there that care taken in gather^ 

 that there ought to be. Instead of throwing them about as one frc 

 (juently sees, they should be handled as carefully as though they were 

 eggs, and placed at once in the position they are to occupy till required 

 for use. 



The old Yorkshire Greening is by no means to be despised, and ma 

 be had in good condition till March. The tree is usually an abundai 

 bearer, the fruits both large and of good quality, but they keep far be 

 if grown on orchard trees than from those on cultivated ground. Tr 

 variety has never once failed here during the last twenty years, thougi 

 some seasons there are far more than others. Northern Greeninj 

 though an old variety, should find a place in every private garden ; the 

 fruit is not large, neither has it an attractive appearance, but there are 

 but few long-keeping kinds that cook so well or have a more agrecabk 

 flavour. Norfolk Beaufin has for a long time been considered one of of 

 leading late culinary varieties, and there are none of the newer ones that 

 I am acquainted with that will surpass it in this respect. It should, how- 

 ever, be liberally treated where the ground is poor, but by no means* 

 over-fed with a view to obtaining large fruit if it is desired to be kep 

 until late in the season, Royal Russet is another that ought to be gro»- 

 in every orchard; though not a large apple, its cooking qualities are to* 

 rate, and it will keep in prime condition till April. Schoolmaster shouiu 



being 



keep in prime condition till April 

 also find a space, as its all-round qualities are good 

 cropper, of pleasant flavour, and keeping well. 



Turning to dessert sorts, Adam's Pearmain wusi u« 

 overlooked ; the fruit is of medium size, handsome, and well 



constant 



d though not one of the latest, it will keep good till February- 

 lees Russet is a fine variety, but, like all others of this class shouiap 

 allowed to hang on the trees as long as possible ; the fruits must, howe . 



flavoured 

 Brow* 

 hould be 



^ ^ J1U1V-. J tilt Ai UllJ / . 



be protected from torn-tits, as they are very fond of picking holes 

 them. Clavtratp IVarmnin oicn a fin*. vorUtv • thft tree is a consw* 



tion roses by reason of its early flowering. The chief characteristic of 

 the rose is its wonderful blooming capacity. It seems as if when left 



a one to grow as it pleases it would bloom itself to death, having eight or crooner >mif «f 2 '^a* TZ ^iVZ^^dt* in the *1* 



irom an exhibition point of view it is a treacherous rose, quickly 

 expanding in the exhibition tent in hot weather. In the hvbrid tea class 

 ~ - - good position. For exhibition purposes it is best on maidens 



latter, however, cankers very badl'y on our cold heavy soil. t'° ^ 



Harvey, Golden Pippin, and Golden Russet are all good, though, 

 f . , — . K . handsome fine-flavour 



former cankers badly here. 



As a decorative or "garden" rose it cannot be too highly recommended' 



IH kk OF KORK, China William Paul and Son [' hope the Xv is 



not far distant when all kinds of new roses, whether so called "garden " 

 or exhibition roses, shall find their way into the stands for net roses 

 At present none but exhibition roses practically are staged. This rose is 

 bu little known at present by rose exhibitors, not because it is worthless 

 but because ,t is essentially a decorative variety. When « garden " roses 



52 f££Sv° ! hC S n m V tand with oth€r *™ roses > such varieties hke 

 the Duke of \ ork will find a place. Not growing the rose, I cannot speak 



of t from experience, but from what I have seen of it, Duke of York is 

 mdeed all Chmas are a most useful rose for the garden and house 

 decoration. It ha, not the form of the exhibition type, but we are not 

 very exacting ,n th.s respect with flowers for decoration 



Joseph H. Pemberton. 



Lord Burghley is a handsome nne-»-' 

 variety of first-class quality, and on that account should be planted e > 

 where that room can be found, as it is a good grower ; the same nj. 

 said of Mannington Pearmain. The old Nonpareil, when well gw^ 

 a fine variety and a most prolific bearer. Reinette du Canada, f 

 we » grown, is also fine ; the tree, however, requires but I^P^Jf* 



I 



it makes an abundance of fruit buds along the young shoots. 

 Pippin is one of the best late-keeping dessert kinds we have ; *» ; . 

 seldom fails to produce a crop of fruit, and though only small 



excellent quality. 



. Scarlet Nonpareil is also very good, seldom i. ^ 

 produce a crop of fruit. It must, however, be understood thai 1 ^ 

 this in the finest condition late in the season the fruit snow ^ 

 on the trees as long as possible ; in fact till the leaves begm w ' J 

 which time they will part readily irom the stalk, and as the »eai 

 be getting cool they will not ripen so rapidly. . _ PpiN5 eP. 



BuxtedPark Gardens H. C. PR lN5 



