Janniry 11, im . ] 
JOUEiYAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
43 
quickly lose its heat, not be easily restored without further additions 
being made. 
The best system of outdoor forcing I have seen was to have the 
Rhubarb planted in beds two rows in each, and between them was 
a trench 18 inches deep and 2 feet wide ; this filled with sweetened 
manure acted at once on the roots, and never failed to excite an 
early growth. 'J'he pots are placed over the crowns in the ordinary 
way, and only partially covered with litter. The open trench, 
which may be cleared of the manure at any time before autumn, 
would act favourably on the early ripening of the growth, and 
prepare it for an early start, as a large surface is in this way open 
to the action of the frost, as well as that of the sun and wind.— 
W. S. 
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS—A CATALOGUE COMMENTARY. 
(^Continued frampage 15.') 
Lady Mary Fitzio'dlmm (Bennett, 1882).—This is a Hybrid Tea 
Rose, which makes very short growth. We can hardly call it weak, 
because that generally implies some debility of constitution and want of 
free-flowering qualities, whereas this Rose is of hardy, lasting, and 
strong, though quite dwarf habit, and very free flowering, which weak 
Roses are not. A capital sort. It is surprising what a number of good 
and quite large blooms a very small plant will produce. Not liable to 
mildew, but apt to be gummed by rain. The blooms come well, of ex¬ 
cellent shape, and fair lasting qualities, the petals being large and fine. 
A good autumnal Rose, and one of high merit in many ways. Changeable 
in colour, often coming nearly white. 
Lady Sheffield (Postans, 1881).—A pretty good show Rose, of rather 
poor growth, distinct colour, good shape, and fine stout smooth petals, 
but with no further peculiarities. 
La France (Guillot, 1867).—This is a Rose by itself, of great merit, 
and of a thoroughly distinct type, supposed to be a Hybrid Tea. Two 
followers have lately appeared—Duchess of Leeds, a seedling ; and 
Duchess of Albany, a sport—both very similar to it in general appear¬ 
ance. The growth and foliage are good and very characteristic, par¬ 
taking much more of the Tea habit than such acknowledged hybrids as 
Her Majesty and Mary Fitzwilliam. Not very liable to mildew, but 
rather sensitive to rain. The blooms come generally well, but some¬ 
times the strongest are too spherical and ball like, losing their points. 
Petals good, but centre rather weak ; beautiful colour, but rather diffi¬ 
cult to keep “ clean.” It should have a striking silvery brilliance. In 
freedom of bloom, and as an autumnal, of the very highest class ; of the 
largest size, but a bad laster, and must be cut small in hot weather, as it 
opens quickly. Has a most distinct and exquisite scent. Merit on this 
point would be difficult to settle, as tastes differ so much. I saw lately 
somewhere a selection of six Roses as the sweetest scented, and they all 
had the Tea scent, which to me is not pleasing. I should place the Rose 
under notice at the head of the list. It would occupy the same proud 
position in the estimation of a good many as a general all-round Rose 
for everybody, for it is harc(y and of strong constitution, and will do 
well, or even better, on rather light soil. 
Le Havre (Eude, 1871).—Of fair but not strong growth, with good 
foliage ; not specially liable to mildew, but rain will impair its good 
qualities. A beautiful show Rose, one of the very best examples of the 
imbricated form, but the blooms will not come of good shape or colour 
in bad weather. Like Fisher Holmes and some others, this Rose shuts 
up at night, the outer petals crinkling inwards ; not free in bloom or a 
good autumnal, but with a very high reputation for its lasting qualities. 
Lord Macatday QN . Paul, 1863).—Of fair growth and foliage, pre¬ 
senting no striking peculiarities. Of good bright colour, and very full 
shape, but medium in size, and not first class in free flowering or 
autumnal qualities. 
Louis Van Houtte (Lacharme, 1869).—Of weak growth and small 
foliage; not much liable to mildew, but is injured by rain, and will 
burn in a hot sun. The blooms will only come fine if strong shoots are 
produced ; and this is a difficult task with purchased plants, as the con¬ 
stitution is weak and does not bear removal well. It is best to bud it 
annually ; but plants which have never been moved will sometimes do 
well as cutbacks for a few seasons. Not free blooming or good as an 
autumnal, requiring high culture, but a grand bloom when you get it 
good, with stout petals, full centre, rich colour, fine globular shape, and 
full size. The lasting powers of the blooms are particularly good, and 
it is worthy of notice as-an example of the old manners and customs of 
Roses, that many of the weakest growers have the most lasting flowers, 
and vice versa. For instance, Marquise de Mortemart and Madame 
Dncherare, I should think, about the worst growers among H.P.’s that 
we have, and these two Roses are especially noted for the lasting qualities 
of their blooms, while the strong growers, Dupuy Jamain and Thomas 
Mills, show the opposite side of the picture. 
Mabel 3£)rrison (Broughton, 1878).—A pure white sport from 
Baroness Rothschild, but smaller, and very weak in the centre ; is only 
worthy of notice as a seed parent of Her Majesty. 
Madame Charles Wood (Verdier. 1861).—Of robust but weak growth ; 
does not like being moved, and will not do well in some places. In fact, 
it does so badly with me that I am afraid I shall have to discard it. The 
blooms often come divided, and rain will spoil them. Yet sometimes a 
strong fine Rose, with large petals, well filled in the centre, and incurved 
in a characteristic manner. Not a free bloomer or good autumnal, but 
a good lasting flower, of full size. 
Madame Clemenae Joigneaux (Liabaud, 1861).—A very strong 
grower, with fine coarse foliage, not liable to mildew or to be injured by 
rain. The blooms are apt to be rough and badly shaped, and it seldom 
has sufficient form or smoothness for exhibition. Of large size and very 
sweet scented, but rather a dull colour. A free bloomer, but not par¬ 
ticularly good as an autumnal. A hardy useful Rose for cottage 
gardens, a strong constitution, and will do pretty well in light soil. 
Madame Ciapelet (Fontaine, 1869).—An old Rose, but still hard to 
beat at its best, as a smooth refined show Rose of the popular imbricated 
shape. Rather a weak grower, and liable to mildew, but can stand some 
rain, and well repays high cultivation. This Rose, like a good many 
others, has its good and bad years, and was particularly good with me 
last season. Capital imbricated form, very smooth and full, of good 
lasting quality and fair size. Not a free bloomer or good autumnal, 
but, though never of strong or hardy constitution, cannot be suspected, 
like some others of its age, of having undergone any deterioration. 
Madame Bucher (Levet, 1879).—This is perhaps the worst grower 
of all H.P.s. It is impossible to do anything with it except by annual 
budding on strong stocks, and even then it will not grow many inches. 
This being the case, it is of course only grown for show purposes, and a 
lovely bloom may sometimes be obtained, large, bright, and smooth, of 
perfect shape, and (as mentioned before) wonderfully lasting. It will 
“ stand ” and maintain its lovely form in a hot tent as firm as if carved 
in wood. 
Madame Eugene Verdier (Verdier, 1878).—Grows well as a maiden, 
though spring growths of cutbacks are sometimes very short; but the 
blooms come quite as well, and the foliage is fine. Not very liable to 
mildew, but much rain will cause the petals to “ gum ” (stick together), 
and a slight shower will stain the colour. The blooms are likely to be 
coarse, and are not often of refined shape or appearance ; but they are 
very large, with wonderfully fine petals, and well-filled centres. Fairly 
free in bloom, and a pretty good autumnal ; the shape is globular, but 
delicacy and regularity of outline are often wanting. I showed one 
last season that was very much like a prize Cabbage in shape and (I 
was almost going to say) size, for this is quite one of the largest 
Roses. 
Madame Gabriel Luizet (Liabaud, 1877).—A Rose of distinct 
manners, of strong vigorous growth, after the manner of a summer Rose. 
The foliage is good, and maintained throughout the autumn more com¬ 
pletely than any other H.P., but is verv liable to mildew. The blooms 
are occasionally divided, but generally good. On cutbacks they all 
come at once (also after the fashion of summer Roses), and as they will 
gum and rot with wet, two or three hours of rain at a critical time will 
destroy three-quarters of one’s crop. It is not good as a laster and 
below the average in size, but has fair petals and centre, with a capital 
point, and is noted for its colour, which is perhaps the most attractive 
shade of pink we have. A very free bloomer in the season, but one of 
the worst autumnals we have, with me. Others say they find it quite 
good in this respect, but I should say that I do not get on an average 
more than one autumnal bloom to each large plant. Hardy, and of 
strong constitution, very thorny and free in growth, forming quite a big 
bush in good soil. 
Madame Ilippolyte Jamain (Jamain, 1871).—Of good smooth growth 
and foliage, not very liable to mildew, but injured by rain. A coarse 
Rose, generally rough and irregular if grown strong, but sometimes of 
even globular shape, and then valuable for exhibition, as it is very large, 
full, and lasting. Not of much use as a free bloomer or autumnal. It 
should be noticed that there is a good Tea Rose of exactly the same 
name as this, besides Ilippolyte Jamain H.P. 
Madame Isaac Pereire (Margottin, 1880) seems to be a Perpetual 
Hybrid Bourbon, of strong good hardy growth, with fine foliage. _ I 
have not tried this Rose very long, but it has not been affected with 
mildew, and the blooms have come fairly well, not of very refined shape, 
but of extra large size. It is free flowering, and is well endowed with 
the two special good points of the Bourbon Rose, being very sweet 
scented and a thoroughly good autumnal.—W. R. Raillem. 
(To be continued.) 
On Improving Roses. 
It is not an uncommon occurrence for Roses to grow grossly and 
produce comparatively few blooms, and these only of poor quality, 
while some are found to make poor growth with few or no flowers, 
and in both cases the cause of the mischief may arise from insufficient 
rool action ; in the first case noted the roots being gross, and the rootlets 
almost wholly absent, and in the second instance few roots of any kind 
being produced at all. Though not a rule without the proverbial 
exception, it is a fact that many rootlets produce a growth short jointed 
stiff, hard, and free to flower. Once secure such a condition under ground. 
