878 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 11, 1893. 
An American Eose Book. 
Mr. H. B. Ellwanger favours us with a copy of his treatise on 
the Rose.* It is a substantial volume of 310 pages, clearly printed on 
stout paper, very handy, and admirably produced ; a re-issue, and though 
not up to date in varieties is readable, and contains information that is 
the opposite of a fleeting character. The author says, “ This book 
neither expects nor desires to supersede its predecessors, but asks 
admission to their fellowship, hoping that it contains enough that is 
distinctive and of merit to be considered companionable.” Most 
readers of the book will, we think, consider those hopes justified. The 
introduction to the book is new, and written by the father of the 
author, Mr. George H. Ellwanger, and from this we make a few 
citations :— 
As producers of new Roses, the French continue in the lead, though 
an extremely large proportion of recent French varieties are mediocre 
or useless for general cultivation, or resemble so closely other well kaown 
sorts as to be of no increased value in themselves. The incentive 
to produce new kinds, it should be remembered, is especially great 
in France, where 25 francs apiece is demanded for a novelty which may 
be good, bad, or indifferent, but whose description is invariably coukuv 
de Bose. Not that in the majority of cases they are sent out with the 
deliberate design to deceive—the Rose owes too much to Gallic intelli¬ 
gence, enthusiasm, and pains for a charge of this nature to be made. But 
to the raiser, a new variety, fostered by his care and travail, naturally 
possesses enhanced attractions which may not be equally perceptible to the 
public ; while new things are always apt to be more attractive at first sit^ht 
than upon closer familiarity. _ ° 
The English, who come next as producers of new Roses, continue to 
send out some excellent novelties, and, with our own growers, exercise 
better care and more reliability in selecting than the French. America 
has contributed largely those kinds suitable for forcing under glass: and of 
American Roses produced of recent years it may be said they are nearly all 
valuable as proved by general cultivation. 
Among new Roses there has been nothing better produced in their 
respective classes than Baroness Rothschild and Mme. Gabriel Luizet in 
pink, La France in silvery rose, Mabel Morrison in white, Msre-hal Niel 
in yellow, Catherine Mermet in delicate blush, Gloire de Dijon in rose- 
salmon, Marie Rady in fragrant and vivid vermilion, and Gboeral Jacque¬ 
minot in its brilliant scented crimson bud. Other new vari-1 es have been 
added, to be sure, possessing especial merits. Of distinct sorts recently 
introduced maybe particularly instanced Teas; Mme. Hoste (Guillot 
(Guillot fils, 1884), Mme. Pierre Guillot 
(Guillot, 1888), Papa Gontier (Nabonnanl, 1883), Queen (Dmgee and 
Conard Co., 1890), Climbing Niphetos (Keynes & Co., 1889), Climbing 
Perle des Jardius (J. Henderson, 1890). Hybrid Bemontants; American 
1885), E>rl of Dufferin (A. Dickson & Sons, 
1887); Gloire de Margottin (Margottin, 1887), Lady Helen Stuart (A. Dick- 
son & Sons, 1887) ; Mrs. John Laing (Bennett, 1887). Hybrid Buqosa; 
Mrne. G. Bruant (Bruant, 1888). BouThon : Mrs. Degraw (Bur'^ess 1887) 
Hybrid Tea: Meteor (Bmnett, 1887). Pohjantha: Clothilde Soupert 
(Soupert & Notting, 1890). _ 
Of the numerous varieties^ produced since the present volume was 
written, few possess greater claims to recognition than the Rose raised by 
T> j named by him after the distinguished pomologiat, Marshall 
R. Wilder one of the most fragrint, beautiful, and free flowering of the 
Hybrid Reniontant class, and equalled by few Roses as an autumnal bloomer. 
By many Ame-ican Beauty, supposed to be a cross from Mme. Victor 
yerdier and a Tea of unknovvn origin, is regarded as the finest of Roses. In 
its class it is certainly unrivalled, with its immense fragrant blossoms, 
beautiful vioIet-red colour, long stems, and luxuriant foliage. But it is 
essentially a Rose for growing under glass, and cannot take the place of 
numerous old-time favourites as an out-of-door fl )wer. 
So many varieties now exist, however, that growers should exercise 
redoubled care in sending out anything as a novelty which does not possess 
intrinsic merits of its own. It may still be reiterated that among the 
thousands of varieties included in the genus Bosa there exist far too many 
smilar colon's, and, equally, too many varieties whose colour fades with 
the first warm sun, though many of the latter class prove more satisfactorv 
when grown in a moist cool climate. There might be an abundant weeding 
of varieties possessing a purplish-magenta shade, to the decided advanta4 
of both growers and gardens. Too little attention also is paid in the raising 
of new varieties and in deciding the merits of exhibition Roses, both here 
ana abroad, to one of the most precious virtues of the Rose—fragrance_ 
. .... The coming Eose, 
The very fairest flower, they say, that blows, 
Such scout she hath. 
Roses for forcing in this country, the following may be mentioned 
.^R^^ough in respect to choice of varieties, floris 
qomp lo different localities; while even in the same lorali 
^‘^“*[a81y with certain kinds, where others fad. A lar 
ou7thp^‘°'^ blowing are grown by nearly all leid ng florists throu^ 
Catherine Mer uet, Mme. Ousi 
Mme. Hoste, Mme. de Watteville, Niphetos, Papa Gontier, Perle des Jardii 
■ New York : Dodd, Mead, & Co. 
Sunset. Hybrid Teas ; Duchess of Albany, La France, Meteor, Souvenir de 
Wooton. Hybrid China Magna Charta. Hybrid Bemontant: American 
Beauty, Anne de Diesbach, Bareness Rothschild, Gbn5ral Jacqueminot, 
Mabel Morrison, Mme. Gabriel Luizet, Mrs. John Laing, Paul Neyron, 
Ulrich Brunner. 
When well grown under glass, few Roses equal Souvenir de la Mal- 
maison for its delicate refined beauty, and the delicious uttar-of-rose 
fragrance exhaled by its flesh-coloured petals—a fragrance observable in a 
less degree in Caroline de Sansal and some other varieties. Marechal Niel, 
in like manner, has no equal in its splendid yellow full-blown flower, and 
its highly Tea-scented perfume ; but it is unfortunately limited to a single 
lode of gold during the season. With regard to odours, great variety exists 
among the different kinds—some recalling a luscious fruit in their particular 
fragrance, others exhaling a spicy aroma, and others still comparable to 
nothing else but the pure uncloying odour of the Rose itself. 
As for out-of-door Roses, who may state the favourites among so many 
of the fair? Let each one decide their merits for himself; and, revelling 
in their wealth of beauty as it unfolds with each recurring blossom-tide, 
repeat with Omar :— 
Look to the blowing Rose about us—“ Lo, 
Laughing,” she says, “ into the world I blow, 
At once the silken tassel of my purse 
Tear, and its treasure on the garden throw.” 
PKOSPECTS OF AND NOTES ON HARDY FRUITS. 
In this locality the hardy fruit crop may be considered fairly safe 
from the effects of frost, and on the whole is very promising. The 
recent hot weather, accompanied with dry air, has rendered the bulk of 
the blossom free from what little frost has been experienced during the 
last fortnight. Even the latest varieties of Apples may now fairly be 
looked upon as being safe, as in most instances the petals of late 
flowering varieties are commencing to fall. 
Gooseberries have suffered more than any other kind of fruit. The 
drought and piercing east winds have not only given the trees in many 
cases a full crop of red spider, but the young growth has been seriously 
interfered with ; small puny leaves of a pale colour have taken the place 
of the deep green leathery foliage and vigorous shoots. The trees in 
many gardens are now in a miserable plight in consequence of this pest. 
The same results are apparent in market gardens in the neighbourhood. 
Caterpillars (called by the natives “palivers”) are plentiful already. 
A dose of hellebore powder in the evening, and a vigorous washing 
with clean water applied with force through the garden engine, will 
cleanse the trees of this pest. For the defect in growth I have 
thoroughly soaked the roots of the trees with liquid manure as a filip 
to growth, and drenched the leaves well with clear water for the red 
spider. 
Red and White Currants are most promising in every way, the hot 
and dry weather being favourable to the fertilisation of the bloom. 
Black Currants are fairly promising if the trees keep clear of aphides, 
which are apt to be troublesome during hot and dry weather. 
Strawberries on the whole are promising, although many of the 
early blooms were spoilt by the sharp frost on the morning of April 11th, 
and the two successive mornings. In this garden the drought of the 
last two years, coupled with some severe frost during the winter, have 
thinned the rows of plants rather, but in the districts more favoured and 
better suited for Strawberry culture the plants promise remarkably 
well. All that is required is a thorough soaking rain to cause the fruit 
to swell quickly and well. 
Peaches and Nectarines on south, east, and west walls have set 
remarkably heavy crops of fruit, the first swelling being apparently 
quite satisfactory considering the heavy burden of aphis the foliage has 
to carry. I never saw the trees so infested as they are this year, in 
spite of repeated applications of insecticides of various kinds. The 
cold winds experienced a short time since prevented the usual remedies 
being promptly administered, hence the enemy has progressed rather 
too rapidly. However, persistent waging of war will rid the trees 
directly of these pests. As a whole, the trees are not much affected by 
“ blister ” this year. Copious supplies of water to the roots close to the 
wall, and a mulching with half-decayed stable manure, coupled with 
an early thinning of surplus fruit will do much towards encouraging 
satisfactory results. 
Pears promise a full crop of fruit, both on walls and in the open. 
At present the trees appear like escaping that wholesale dropping of 
the fruit in its initiatory stage. The foliage is remarkably free from 
grubs or insects of any kind. 
Plums flowered most abundantly, both on walls and in the open, but 
they do not promise a heavy crop as yet, many of the tiny fruit appear 
to lag behind. This I attribute to cold winds at the time when the 
bloom was fully developed and to drought since. Damsons look rather 
less promising still; the trees are so heavily attacked with green fly 
that the fruit cannot swell freely. The bitter east wind which many 
trees were exposed to while in bloom no doubt interfered with proper 
fertilisation. 
Apples are perhaps the most promising of all ; I never saw the trees 
so profusely flowered as they were in ail directions, and what is most 
remarkable the last year’s growih is in innumerable cases wreathed with 
blossom to the very tips. I do not reraemOer seeing this before. Such 
varieties as Lane’s Prince Albert, Ecklinville, Cox’s Orange Pippin, and 
even Warner’s King show this remarkable floriferousness. I do not 
consider it is an advantage to the trees, rather the reverse, as the current 
