THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 
77 
FRAGRANT ROSES FOR THE GARDEN. 
V/f ANY people value fragrance as the chief qualifica- 
tion in the selection of varieties of roses suit- 
able for outdoor growing, especially if they are intend- 
ed to be used as cut flowers, and it is fortunate that many 
of the choicest hybrid Teas combine entrancing beauty 
with delicious perfume. 
In seeking such roses for his garden the novice must 
often rely on the descriptions in the catalogues, but un- 
fortunately, some of these descriptions are not strictly 
accurate, and especially in the matter of giving informa- 
tion as to the relative amount of fragrance they possess, 
writes H. G. Reading in The Modem Gladiolas Grower. 
My own experience, he savs, in testing quite a good 
many varieties prompts the above statement. In fact, 
four of the most deliciously scented roses that I have in 
my garden are described in all the catalogues I have ever 
seen quite minutely as to their other qualities and habits, 
but not a word that they are fragrant in the least degree. 
The novice might thus overlook the most desirable ones 
to be obtained. Other roses that are woefully weak in 
fragrance are sometimes given credit for being "highly 
perfumed." This misstatement doubtless results from 
the habit of copying word for word from the original 
prospectus of the introducer, who generally claims every 
desirable qualification for his latest creation. Not only 
do the catalogues pay little attention to fragrance in 
roses, but in many of our best works on roses and rose 
culture this quality is slighted or entirely ignored. 
A list of delightfully fragrant roses that would em- 
brace a good variety of colors would necessarily begin 
with Killarney. I mention that sterling variety first be- 
cause it probably stands first and foremost as the world's 
best rose to date. It certainly is the most popular. Then 
might follow Madame Jules Grolez, usually described as 
bright china rose in color, even more fragrant than Kil- 
larney, and as free and constant a bloomer, whose charm- 
ing buds always come perfect, making it an ideal rose for 
the boutonniere : Chateau de Clos Vougeout, rich crim- 
son, shaded black, probably the darkest colored hybrid 
tea rose yet produced, having fine, stiff stems for cutting 
and the true old fashioned rose fragrance highly intensi- 
fied. In white. Entente Cordiale. (Pernet-Ducher), is 
most heavily scented, almost as strongly as a tuberose, 
but the rose is not quite as hardy as Kaiserin Augusta 
Victoria, a reliable old favorite, less fragrant but quite 
similar in form and color, both having a somewhat yel- 
lowish or creamy shading. If a fragrant yellow rose is 
wanted, Madam Raz'ary will produce almost continu- 
ously on well established plants, large flowers of moder- 
ate fulness, with good stems for cutting. 
Mad. Caroline Testout is a bright satiny rose colored 
variety that embraces fragrance in addition to its other 
sterling qualities. It is exceptionally hardy and very 
popular, having all the desired qualifications, with no 
faults, unless large and thornv prickers might be obected 
to. 
Mary, Countess of Ilchester, is a comparatively new 
rose of English origin which is making good here. Tt is 
hardy, and as profuse and continuous a bloomer as Kil- 
larney. The flowers are of a lively, brilliant carmine in 
color, somewhat flat in shape, but very showy ; and in a 
bed of mixed varieties this rose will stand out conspicu- 
ously. Its fragrance is not strong. 1 ut of true rose 
quality. 
If additional hybrid teas are desired. Betty, Pharisaer, 
and La Detroit could also be included, as each is endowed 
to a large degree with pleasing fragrance. 
A list of fragrant roses would be incomplete without 
mention of La France, an old rose with wonderful frag- 
rance that is pleasing and distinct from that of any other 
variety. Unfortunately, it does not succeed with every 
person, as its blooms do not always open perfectly, espe- 
cially in wet weather : and they often come balled, re- 
fusing to open at all. It is also considered a rather short 
lived rose. To those who wish to try it I would offer 
this advice. Give it moderately poor soil and not much 
attention as compared to that demanded by other choice 
varieties. It is one of the very few roses that does not 
appreciate coddling and high and rich cultivation. 
Another rose that I have not placed near the top of my 
list, is Duchess de Brabant, although its fragrance would 
entitle it to a position there. But it has little else to 
recommend it, and being a true tea rose, it is not hardy 
enough for outside growing in the northern sections. 
Grass an Teplits, a vigorous growing variety bearing 
clusters of large double dark crimson fragrant flowers 
in the greatest profusion continuously from early June 
until frost, is preeminently the rose for garden decoration, 
and should be planted liberally for that purpose. Its 
weak stems, however, make it valueless for cutting. 
All the varieties I have enumerated above are not quite 
as hardy as the Hybrid Remontants or so-called June 
roses, and in the extreme north would require winter 
protection, such as being hilled up with earth for 8 or 10 
inches, after the ground is first frozen in November. 
There are not so many fragrant roses in the misnamed 
Hybrid Perpetual class, which is declining somewhat in 
public favor because of the short season of bloom that 
characterizes most of its varieties, yet there are a num- 
ber of old favorites that are still popular and much called 
for because of being exceptions in their habit of bloom, 
or for their other good qualities. About all red roses are 
endowed liberally with true rose fragrance, and the big 
red roses of this class are especially in demand, chiefly 
for their size and color. Some of the very oldest of these 
have not as yet been surpassed, and such valuable red. 
loses as Fisher Holmes, Senator Vaisee, Marshall P. 
Wilder and General Jacqueminot will not soon become 
entirely discarded. Likewise, the popular old rose, Paul 
Neyron, has earned its claim to immortality on account 
of the enormous size and usual perfection of the huge, 
fragrant pink blooms which come more or less continu- 
ously throughout the summer on stems as long as those 
which characterize American Beauty, a fragrant rose I 
omit because I am considering exclusively outdoor roses- 
for the garden, and this variety is generally worthless for 
that purpose, requiring considerable skill to bring it to 
perfection under glass. If you have a so-called Ameri- 
can Beauty in your garden that bears good roses, the 
chances are that you owe a debt of gratitude to some 
accommodating dealer, more considerate than honest, 
who furnished some other — superior — variety. 
l r or an all-round, dependable rose for the home 
grounds or garden, probably no one surpasses or even 
compares with Mrs. John Laing, a fragrant pink rose of 
easiest culture. Coming perfectly on long, thornless 
stems, adorned clear up to the bloom with ideal, mossy 
foliage, each flower is a bouquet in itself, and as it is a 
true everbloomer, a rarity in its class, and always re- 
liable, it may well be termed "everybody's rose." 
What a lamentable pity that the most beautiful rose- 
the world has thus far produced is absolutely lacking in 
fragrance! Fran Karl Druschki, that gorgeous and im- 
maculate emblem of purity, white as the driven snow, as 
free and continuous of bloom as a tea rose, lacks only 
that one qualification to cause its name like Abou-ben- 
Adhem's, to "lead all the rest." 
