SCENTED ROSES. 12 9 
grown for this purpose being a variety of R. damascena imported from 
Bulgaria. The manufacture of rose-water goes back to very early days. 
We all know that as a rule, and for reasons which I have en- 
deavoured to trace, red Roses are more fragrant than the lighter 
shades or white. It is therefore rather disconcerting to find that 
some recent red introductions have little or no scent. I hesitate to 
mention names, but as illustrations I give ' W. C. Gaunt/ ' Col. Oswald 
Fitzgerald,' and ' Covent Garden ' — this last I found, however, in the 
warmth of the Tent at , Chelsea, did give a slight perfume. I had 
hitherto classed it as unscented. 
Pink Roses, in which R. centifolia still maintains an influence, are 
usually pleasantly scented, but some modern pink Hybrid Teas are 
unfortunately lacking. It is difficult to attempt generalization. It 
is, however, the " Tea " blood which accounts for deficiency in scent. 
The scent of Roses is extremely varied. But if I were asked to suggest 
a classification of Roses according to scent I should make three groups J 
I have already indicated that Roses in which R. damascena and 
R. centifolia have strong influence are the Roses with the true Rose 
scent. There is no doubt about the real Rose scent, nothing else 
approaches it and no adjective can describe it. Though most Roses 
have scent of some kind and to some degree, it is the presence or 
absence of the true Rose scent that we notice at once. My first class 
would therefore be Roses with the true Rose scent. 
This is the class we wish to see in greater strength. We do not 
disparage the great advance in free-flowering qualities and in other 
respects, but we do not wish to purchase progress too dearly. In fact, 
we are rather greedy. In our quest for size, form, quantity, and new 
colourings we have to some extent sacrificed scent and constitution. 
Now we wish to regain scent without giving up anything. Mr. Pem- 
berton asks us "to imagine a Perpetual Crimson Rambler bearing 
clusters in the finest stage of development of ' General Jacqueminot ' 
or ' Horace Vernet ' " ! And he suggests Dark Hybrid Perpetuals 
with multiflora habit and magnificent Teas on rugosa bushes ! It 
may be possible, but it seems rather against nature. And when if 
ever it comes to pass that everything is so perfect, our descendants 
will not need Rose Shows. No. Let us be a little less ambitious. 
Why not go back to the Damask ? Why not drop a little of the Tea 
strain and work on the more vigorous types ? We might lose some- 
thing in the number of blooms, we should probably gain in vigour, 
hardiness in the plant, and colour and scent in the flowers. A really 
fine all-round crimson Rose has yet to be introduced. 
My second class would include all the Roses with what may be 
described for want of a better word as a " fruity " scent. A typical 
example of what I mean is furnished by the Rose ' Mrs. Foley Hobbs.' 
r There are many varieties of scent in this division, far removed from 
that of the pure Rose, yet quite agreeable. The other day a Rose 
(- Louis Barbier ') was handed to me to name which had distinctly 
the odour of violets, and attempts have been made to specify Roses 
