October 13,1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 329 
however, splendid in spring. The new double De Parme has not 
bloomed this autumn as yet.—G eo. W. Boothby. 
STANDARD ROSES. 
One of your correspondents, “ H.,” in last week’s issue mentions 
a fine standard Rose at Redhill, and asks some questions as to 
stocks and other matters. I hardly dare reply on such a point, 
and can only say that if you receive replies from a source better 
qualified, commit mine to that sanctum of an editor, “ the bourne 
from which no ” manuscript “ returns.” The size of standard 
Rose trees depends on several matters, and, as I think, grand 
growth of standards is only obtained when there is perfect 
accord between stock, scion, situation, and soil. When these all 
agree it is quite possible to have such a tree as your corre¬ 
spondent describes, and, when obtained, I grant its beauty ; but 
in an ordinary way and in certain localities I have hardly a word 
to say in favour of the mops. 
What, then, are the conditions that go to make a grand standard 
Rose tree ? First, the situation must not be too exposed to rough 
winds, and the soil must be good—these apply perhaps to all 
Roses—then a good straight and thick stock must be selected ; it 
should have plenty of small fibrous roots, and the Dog Rose from 
which it is taken should be free in growth. I do not believe in 
small stocks for standards. But now comes the question, What 
Roses budded on this stock will so progress as to furnish a good 
head and merit the name of tree 1 Some certainly amongst our 
best Hybrid Perpetuals will flourish on it, though possibly not so 
grandly as that mentioned by “ H.but Charles Lefebvre, Pierre 
Notting, Abel Grand, John Hopper, Madame C. Joigneaux, will 
certainly make good trees, and often Marie Baumann, Duke of 
Edinburgh, La France, and a few others will form very respect¬ 
able heads. Many of the Teas will also succeed well and be 
masses of bloom, small, perhaps, but lovely. Gloire de Dijon, 
however, if allowed, will surely be found grand. But it strikes 
me that the Rose tree mentioned belongs to neither of these varie¬ 
ties. There is one other kind that seems to me par excellence the 
scion that will furnish on standard Briar such a tree as that 
which charmed your correspondent, and that kind is the 
summer Rose. Charles Lawson and Coupe d’Hebe will v ' 
make fine heads, and I should never be surprise^ * 1 
such as “ H.” describes when a f rc ' r ' A " - ~ seein S trees 
summer Rose. It has al'* 7 "" 
criar is budded with a 
summer Roses *>-’ -J s appeared to me that between the 
“ vou ^ ^ the Briar there is a perfect understanding— 
.• ^ ^ your part, I’ll do mine” sort of contract, which results 
m success. The main point, as I believe, for growth, is that there 
should be this thorough agreement between stock and scion—a 
suitability for each other — which after they have taken each 
other “ for better, for worse,” leaves no room for fallings-out. 
Often have I seen these Roses a mass of bloom, for the summer 
Roses are truly floriferous, making up for the non-continuance of 
bloom by its abundance during a short period. 
At the present time I have a Charles Lawson standard that 
disdains any support, standing erect and displaying wondrous 
beauty until last winter’s frost injured its proportions. Its stem 
must rival in diameter that mentioned by “ H.,” and the top of 
the head must be 8 feet from the ground. It is certainly sixteen 
or seventeen years old, and a hundred blooms must have been cut 
from it in some seasons. When I came to my present abode some 
fourteen years ago I found a standard at the top of a bank. I do 
not know the Rose. For exhibition purposes it is valueless, but I 
have allowed this tree to grow as it pleased. The head must be 
6 or 7 feet through, and it is very beautiful from the quantity of 
flowers produced. It also is a summer Rose. 
To obtain any sort of Rose in perfection the stock must suit the 
scion, and the latter the stock ; and further, the stock must suit 
the soil. In hungry soil the Manetti and the seedling Briar will 
make a head, where the standard Briar, not seedling, quickly 
pines away. Some people say, “ I have tried Roses and they 
never succeed here but it is unfair to say this until they have 
tried the various stocks. A few Roses on their own roots produce 
better results than on any stock. Some years ago I recollect 
there was a “ stock ” election, and if I am right the result was 
a qualified one depending on the soil, but Manetti obtained the 
greatest number of votes. 
Perhaps now “ H.” has referred to this matter he will kindly 
take the trouble to enlighten us a little further, and let us know, 
if possible, the stock, the name of the scion, and something of the 
soil. It will interest some of your readers.—Y. B. A. Z. 
BOILERS v. WATER. 
In his interesting article “ Boilers v. Water,” Mr. J. Ollerhead 
asks the question “How are we to prevent the furring of boilers?” 
This is a serious consideration, and of great importance to all who 
are interested in heating glass structures ; and I hope those who 
have had this difficulty to contend with will be able to recommend 
some remedy, as, doubtless, many who are situated in districts 
where the water is hard have found it necessary to try various 
methods to prevent furring. When the water used is hard the 
sides and top of the boiler soon become incrusted with a hard 
substance that accumulates until it seriously interferes with its 
heating capabilities. This, when possible, should be chipped off 
at regular intervals. With most boilers used for horticultural 
purposes this is impracticable. The furring may, however, be 
greatly checked, and in some cases prevented, by the regular 
use of common soda crystals. I have frequently recommended 
them to be dissolved in the water for feeding large boilers used 
for driving machinery, and in the last case the person in charge 
of two large ones informed me recently that he was now using 
soda to prevent incrustation, and found it very beneficial.—J. H. S. 
DRACOCEPHALUM SPECIOSUM. 
A pretty hardy plant, which in the southern counties prolongs 
its flowering period into October, is Dracocephalum speciosum, 
and as flowers become scarcer in the borders every occupant that 
Fig. 54.—Dracocephalum speciosum. 
continues in any degree bright and attractive seems invested with 
far more interest than it would earlier in the year. In late Sep¬ 
tember, and October too, there is such a preponderance of the 
Composite that any distinct variation from the uniform floral 
characters marking that great family is especially welcome. This 
plant is really no trouble to grow, succeeding in ordinary border 
soil provided there be not too much stagnant moisture about its 
roots. The colour of the flowers is bright rosy purple, and stems 
are usually about 2 feet high, closely set with blooms upon the 
upper portion. 
The woodcut (fig. 54) showing a spike of flowers and the upper 
