ON THE CULTIVATION OF TEA-SCENTED ROSES. 
43 
During the growth of this plant under intense heat, the foliage maintains its horizontal 
position at right angles with the stem ; but on exposing it to a progressively lower 
temperature, it gradually assumes its pendent position. As an ornamental plant for 
winter, it forms a very beautiful and picturesque object. Its peculiarly vivid tint of orange- 
scarlet, is the nearest approach in its elegant flower-spikes, to Euphorbia Jacquiniflora ; 
hut that, proverbial as it is for surpassing the painter’s skill, is still more inimitable in the 
present subject, and its precocious development of bloom is perhaps unexampled amongst 
plants, considering its peculiarly robust yet neat habit of growth. During the recent 
months of December and January, six plants were in bloom in the establishment from 
whence these remarks are dated, varying from two to six inches in height, and in both the 
flower-spikes exceeded the mean height of each plant ! One plant was a fine instance 
of luxuriant vigour, its stem being four inches in height, and surmounted by a large 
imbricated raceme of flowers six inches in length, whilst the diameter of its leaves from 
their opposite extremities was sixteen inches ! 
The soil most suitable for its growth is somewhat more than one half of sandy, turfy 
loam, in a well-decomposed state, the remaining portion of friable heath-mould. For 
dwarf habit, easy culture under high temperature, and brilliancy of effect it is unrivalled, 
and is certainly indispensable in every good collection of tropical plants. 
The finest grown specimen I have yet seen is at Nonsuch Park, Surrey, under the 
skilful management of Mr. Carson, gardener to W. T. Gf. Farmer, Esq. 
REMARKS ON THE CULTIVATION OF TEA-SCENTED ROSES 
AS CONSERVATORY CLIMBERS. 
By Mr. Paul, Cheshunt. 
Who can contemplate with indifference the beauty, variety, and perfume of the Queen 
of Flowers ? or who can fix a limit to the circle over whose affections she holds sway ? 
Cherished alike by peer and peasant, her circle of admirers is wide as are the dominions 
of our beloved Sovereign — the Rose of England. Growing spontaneously in almost every 
latitude of the northern hemisphere, admired alike by the highly civilised inhabitants of 
Southern Asia, and the less-favoured natives of the icy north — wheresoever it dwelleth, 
its presence is hailed with joy and gladness. Sweet emblem of innocence, of virtue, of 
humility, whence derivest thou that power which gives thee such an influence over the 
mind of man ? Truly, the Rose of the desert, in its loneliness, is suggestive of modesty 
and retiring worth ; and the gorgeous masses of our flower gardens are realisations of 
beauty, elegance, and grace. No wonder, then, that thy declared admirers are so 
numerous ; that thy presence should be sought so eagerly amidst the motley throng. No 
wonder that thou greetest us at every step, from the garden of the humble cotter to the 
Rosetum and conservatory of the wealthy and the great. 
But it is to advocate the claims of a particular class of Roses, for a particular purpose, 
that I now take up the pen ; and these are the Tea-scented Chinese. What we have said 
of other Roses may be said of them ; although the eye of the florist may pronounce them 
less perfect than the descendants of other species. The large guard petals at the circum- 
ference of the flowers, and the want of regularity in the arrangement of the inner petals, 
are not, perhaps, exactly in harmony with his taste. And we do think that their 
condemnation by some florists has, in a great measure, blinded the flower-loving public to 
their merits. Without courting controversy, we feel it incumbent on us to state our views 
m reference to this point, believing that a just estimation of their value would lead to their 
more general cultivation. And, first, let it be remarked that we do not yield them up as 
florists’ flowers. Indeed, they are not — if successful strivings to bring them to an ideal 
standard be the criteria of such. They resist this arbitrary process ; and in proportion 
as they approach what it is said they should be, they lose their own peculiar properties, 
merging all their natural beauties in one single fancied point. Fortunately, however, 
they are not very tractable in this respect. The Tea Roses originated in 1848 resemble 
Ox 2 
