14 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ January s, isss. 
Mr. Wolley Dud sent me flowers of a variety of Mimulus in 
1881, said to be a form of M. cardiDalis, but no doubt of a cross¬ 
bred plant of this hybrid race. At any rate it would be interest¬ 
ing to hear if anyone still has plants of this fine hybrid in 
cultivation. The flowers are fully twice as large as those of the 
typical M. cardinalis ; the lobes of the limb do not reflex so much, 
thus giving the flowers a better shape, and the colour is a fine 
deep rosy red approaching to crimson, having a few dark spots 
on the yellowish throat of the flower. The erect habit is that of 
M. cardinalis.— Dublinensis. 
HARDY ROSE CULTURE. 
An animated discussion, which extended over three sittings, has 
taken place in the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and as it 
may have a certain amount of interest to the cultivators of the 
Rose in this country we give extracts from the Transactions of 
the Society for the past year. The discussion was opened by 
the following paper, which was read by Mr. William H. Spooner, 
Chairman of the Committee on Plants and Flowers:— 
In looking at a subject it is generally supposed that, to attain 
even a moderate measure of success in the Rose garden, all 
advantages of soil, scientific appliances, Sec., are essential, but 
the amateur will find very satisfactory results even when these 
conditions are not carried to great perfection. The soil of my 
garden is not particularly adapted for the growth of Roses, being 
light loam with a gravelly subsoil, yet from this apparently uncon¬ 
genial source I succeed in growing many very good Roses. I am 
not an advocate of the deep trenching or subsoiliDg system in the 
preparation of the grouud, considering it entirely unnecessary. 
My system of planting was very simple at the outset, the land 
being already in a good state of cultivation. First, preparing 
mj'self with a sufficient heap of well-rotted horse manure, the 
space assigned for the plants was covered with a portion of the 
compost, spread broadcast, and then thoroughly ploughed in. I 
may mention here that I have at other times made use of hen 
manure mixed with about one-third soil, and consider it a good 
fertiliser for the Rose. The ground was then laid out in rows 
3 feet apart, and the same distance between the plants ; the holes 
for their reception were prepared by throwing out the soil to the 
depth of one spade from each, and then throwing in two or three 
forkfuls of manure, thoroughly incorporating it with the soil to 
the depth of the spade, when all was ready for the plants. 
My plants are all the so-called dwarfs, worked low uprn the 
Mauetti stock, which I prefer to the seedling Briar, as t seems 
better adapted to my light soil. I judge the latter stock may be 
better suited to a stronger or clayey soil ; at any rate, all the 
plants I had worked upon it have died. My plants were im¬ 
ported, and not received until about the 10th of December, when 
the ground was closed, so that I was obliged to keep them in snug 
winter quarters, bedding them carefully into a frame, protecting 
them very closely with leaves, and covering the frame with boards. 
They came out in splendid condition in the spring, and were 
planted with hardly an exception to s iccessful growth, which 
result has led me to prefer the spring for planting in our uncertain 
climate, and I have continued to make small experiments of the 
same kind yearly since my first venture. Having cut back the 
plant to two or three buds, the stock should be planted with the 
collar about 2 inches under the surface, and the soil pressed very 
firmly about it. Through the summer I apply guano to the surface 
occasionally—a handful or two to each plant, sometimes in a dry 
state, and sometimes in water. I use frequently, in summer, a 
top-dressing of brewers’ spent hops strewn broadcast, not digging 
it in ; it helps to keep down weeds, and has many advantages. 
The Rose, in a healthful growing state, is a great absorber 
of water, and the free use of the hose morning and evening has 
been my most reliable assistant in promoting its health and in 
freeing the plants from insects. Every fluttering leaf of the 
plants seems to rejoice as the cool water showers down upon it, 
and the clean fresh foliage greatly enhances the beauty of the 
blossoms which it surrounds. But insects are ready to invade 
every domain of horticulture, and are especially destructive to 
the perfection of the queen of flowers ; some of them may be 
overcome, but as regards the Rose bug or Rose beetle I am in 
despair. The only remedy for this persistent plague that I have 
found has been the continuous application of the thumb and fore¬ 
finger, and that with some severity. 
It may be urged by some that the budded Rose has entailed 
upon it the disadvantage of suckers, and endless care to prevent 
them ; but actual experience proves this to be very slight. It is 
presumed that a lover of the Rose is with his pets as often as 
possible, and the persistent thieves are easily detected and quickly 
destroyed. I cannot agree with those who claim that the maiden 
b’orm is the best effort with the budded Rose, as I am now grow¬ 
ing plants on the Manetti stock which have been out eight years, 
and are producing as fine blooms as ever. The amateur wants 
results in the shortest time, and therefore must take the budded 
plant ; if sunk deeply enough it soon becomes fixed on its own 
roots. 
There is evidently a great difference in the constitution of 
hardy Hybrid Roses, as has been proved by success or failure 
under the varying influences of climate, soil, or stock ; and as some 
results of my individual experience may prove suggestive, I 
append a list of a few which have been successful under my 
system of culture. 
Abel Carri6re.—Moderately vigorous ; hardy ; beautiful. Alfred 
Colomb.—This superb Rose is quite hardy and vigorous ; its 
brilliant crimson flowers are unrivalled. Beauty of Waltham. 
Bessie Johnson. Charles Lefebvre.—A very strong and hardy 
Rose ; flower large, and beautifully formed. Comtesse d’Oxford. 
— Hardy, vigorous, with fine large flowers. Coquette des 
Blanches.—A white Rose, and a truly perpetual bloomer until 
late in the autumn; a remarkably vigorous grower, and has 
proved hardy with me until last winter, when it was killed to 
the ground. Dr. Andry.—Hardy, vigorous, and a free bloomer. 
Duke of Edinburgh. — One of the strongest and most hardy. 
Dupuy Jamain. Eliza Boelle. — Moderately vigorous; hardy, 
with a very delicate white bloom, shading to flesh colour. Emily 
Laxton.—Vigorous ; of a climbing tendency ; hardy, and very 
desirable. Fisher Holmes. Jean Goujon. John Hopper.—An 
old favourite ; hardy, and a very fine bloomer. Jules Margottin. 
—Of vigorous habit; very hardy, and still one of the best. Lord 
Clyde.—A remarkably strong grower ; hardy, and a very good 
Rose. Mabel Morrison. Marie Baumann.—One of the very best; 
moderately vigorous, quite hardy, with large and perfect flowers. 
Miss Hassard. — Vigorous, hardy ; delicate flesh colour, very 
sweet, and a free bloomer. Mme. Boll.—Perfectly hardy and 
vigorous ; a free bloomer, and early ; flower not the most perfect 
in form or colour. Mme. Gabriel Luizet.—Vigorous ; hardy ; a 
free bloomer, and I think may prove one of the best. Mme. 
Georges Schwartz. Mme. Rivers. — A fine Rose; moderately 
vigorous aud hardy. Mme. Scipion Cochet. Mme. Victor Verdier. 
Mme. Vidot,—Moderately vigorous; hardy ; flower beautiful, and 
perfect in form. Mons. Boncenne.—A plant of good habit, very 
hardy and vigorous ; the best of its class with me. Paul Neron. 
—Vigorous and hardy. Pierre Notting.—Very hardy ; of good 
habit, and a strong grower, but, alas ! how seldom do we find a 
fully developed and perfect flower ; a bright sun apparently 
scorches the petals in the bud. Princess Louise Victoria. Sena¬ 
te ir Vaisse. Sir Garnet Wolseley.—A thick bushy plant, rather 
short-jointed, moderately vigorous and hardy ; its large vermilion 
flowers and profuse bloom are very attractive. Souvenir de 
Charles Montault. Thomas Mills.—Very hardy ; a well-formed 
plant, of great vigour of growth ; a very prolific bloomer ; flowers 
very large ; one of the best with me. TTiomphe de Caen. 
Victor Verdier.—Always good and reliable. 
I will now name a few varieties that have not proved hardy, 
or have been weak in growth, and less satisfactory in general 
results in my experience. 
Cranston’s Crimson Bedder.—This seems hardy enough, but is a 
very poor grower. La France.—Almost invariably killed. Louis 
Vau Houtte.—Almost always killed ; I only saved it one year. 
Mile. Bonnaire.—Very beautiful and free in flower, but a poor 
grower. Mdlle. Eugenie Verdier.—A weak grower, although a 
beautiful Rose. Mme. La Baronne de Rothschild.—Usually killed in 
winter nearly to the ground, and is never a vigorous grower. Mme. 
Lacharme.—Very tender. Prince Camille de Rohan. — Is not 
very hardy. I know this is not the general experience, but I 
h ive lost a’l my plants. Mdlle. Marie R.idy, Vicomte Vigier, Andre 
Dunand, and Capitaine Christy have proved tender. 
The Moss Rose. —Turning now to the fairest of the Rose 
family, we are reminded of the poetic allegory which accounts for 
its added beauty by supposing an angel to have found repose 
beneath its branches, and to have wished to bestow some gift in 
recompense, but to have been scarcely able to devise any addition 
to its charms : 
“ The angel paused in silent thought :— 
What grace was there the flower had not ? 
’Twas but a moment. O'er the Hose 
A veil of moss the angel throws; 
Aud, robed in Nature's simplest weed, 
Could there a flower that Rose exceed ? ’’ 
I must confess to a great love for this fascinating class, partly for 
the reason that my light well-enriched soil, with its natural sub¬ 
soil drain of gravel, tends to bring it to full perfection, and partly 
because the delicate fragrance of the foliage is peculiar and 
unique. The ground for Moss Roses should be prepared in the 
