February J7, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
179 
tigli before they are placed against the wall; after that time the shade 
from the Vines is so dense that nothing but leaves and stems are grown. 
By starting the Vines about the 1st of March the Tomato plants are 
■enabled to make a good growth and set some fruits, the plants being 
raised from seed sown early in the year before all the space devoted for 
the growth of the Vines is covered with foliage. 
Asparagus tenuissimus is a capital plant for covering a back wall in 
a vinery, where greenery only is wanted. The feathery shoots of this 
■climber are most useful for supplying “ backing ” to buttonhole 
bouquets or sprays, growing as it does in exactly the right form for this 
purpose ; or for mixing with flowers in small vases it is good, being of 
6uch a deep green colour. But this variety cannot be compared with 
A. plumosus nanus for vase or epergne decoration. For covering walls 
as here described it is first rate, as it grows rapidly, sending out thick 
shoots from the base, which will quickly mount to the top of a 12 foot 
wall. Abundance of water is needed at the roots to ensure freedom of 
growth. If this attention is neglected the minute needle-like leaves 
will quickly turn brown and fall off, rendering them quite unfit for use, 
and disfiguring the appearance of the plant also. A compost of two 
parts fibry loam, one part of peat and leaf soil, with plenty of sand and 
charcoal, using the loam and peat as rough as possible, will suffice to 
grow this plant well. As before stated, abundance of water is essential 
to success. To hide the soil in which this Asparagus is growing we 
plant annually in the spring Panicum variegatum, which grows freely 
and makes an agreeable contrast to the deep green of the climber. 
Hoya carnosa will succeed in the same position with a soil composed 
mainly of peat, leaves, a fourth part of loam, and a good dash of bone 
meal. When planted out and given plenty of water, both at the roots 
and over the foliage to keep it clean, long shoots are quickly made ; the 
stronger and greener they are the more numerous and better will be the 
trusses of bloom. 
Some persons attempt to cultivate Figs on back walls in the vinery, 
but with one exception I have never seen any that could be called 
successful. Enough of the sun’s rays are not obtained to ripen the 
wood of the Fig trees, which need sufficient sun to produce a crop of 
fruit.—S. 
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS—A CATALOGUE COMMENTARY. 
(^Continued from page 140.') 
Hybrid Tea Roses. 
These should be classed with the H.P.’s, according to N.R.S. rules, 
and rightly, for they are Hybrid Perpetuals, and, as we have seen, a 
good many of that class have probably some strain of the Tea Rose race 
in them. For instance. Her Majesty and Lady Mary Fitzwilliam are 
acknowledged to be crosses from the Teas, yet no one would think of 
reckoning them as anything but H.P.’s. But I think I have omitted 
two or three which are worthy of notice. 
Clceshunt Hybrid (G. Paul, 1873) was the earliest of these crosses 
to be recognised as a Hybrid Tea ; probably the races of Victor Verdier 
and La France, and certainly that of Gloire de Dijon, ought to have 
been added, if a new class was thus to be made. Of very vigorous 
(climbing or pillar) growth, and fine foliage, hardy and strong, not 
liable to mildew or to injury from rain. The blooms generally come 
fairly well and early, but they are not good enough for show, and are 
wanting in brightness of colour, and a dull Rose is surely a poor thing, 
however many good colours it may have. 
Grace Darling (Bennett, 1884).—Sent out as a Tea, but pronounced 
to be H.T. by the National Rose Society. Some authorities, however, 
■do not acquiesce in this judgment. Those who pronounced against it as 
a pure Tea were guided, I suppose, by the foliage, which certainly seems 
to indicate a cross ; but so, at the same time, do the leaves of the Gloire 
de Dijon race, which, though more vigorous, appear to me very similar 
indeed. And when it is taken into consideration that Gloire de Dijon, 
by its strong growth, shows another departure from the pure Teas, which 
is not shared by Grace Darling, it seems inconsistent that the former 
should be admitted and the latter excluded. Of good growth for a pure 
Tea, not speciaUy liable to mildew, or more Injured by rain than most 
of the Teas, but it will not be seen to advantage except in dry weather. 
Rather wanting in stoutness of petal and fulness of centre, but comes 
well and opens readily. Of good shape and colour, and fair size, but 
not large enough to be shown among H.P.’s. Very free blooming and a 
good autumnal. Not a good laster, and requires good soil and generous 
treatment. 
Iteitie Marie Ilenriette (Levet, 1878).—Of very strong climbing 
growth, with good foliage ; not much liable to mildew or to injury from 
rain ; very free flowering and a capital autumnal. Being brighter than 
Uheshunt Hybrid, this Rose has some claim to be considered the best of 
the climbers ; but two of the three Waltham climbers (W. Paul. 1885) 
seedlings from Gloire de Dijon, of which No. 1 is the brightest and 
No. 3 the best shaped, are also well in the running. 
Noisettes. 
These are hardy, very strong growing, evergreen Roses, blooming in 
clusters. The flowers are naturally quite small, but almost all of them 
have been further crossed with the Tea race, which has the effect of 
much incre-asing the size and beauty of the blooms, but at the same 
time rendering the plants liable to injury from frost. All these Roses, 
and the pure Teas, require a rich, but not necessarily a strong or heavy 
soil, such as is most loved by the majority of the H.P.s. The true 
Noisette is itself said to be a hybrid between the Musk and Tea or China 
Roses ; so that it seems rather difficult to decide as to what is a pure 
Noisette. Of those mentioned in the N.R.S. catalogue, Aim6e Vibert 
(Vibert, 1828) with clusters of small white flowers, and Ophirie (which 
see) show less of the Tea cross than the others. 
The true and Hybrid Noisettes have a characteristic custom, which 
is shared by the Gloire de Dijon race, of blooming from nearly all the 
buds of the long secondary shoots of the previous year, which should be 
left unpruned. Many of them will hardly bloom at all if closely 
pruned. 
Caroline Kntter (Pernet, 1872).—This is a Hybrid Noisette, but for 
all practical purposes it might be classed among the Teas, to which it 
shows a strong affinity, as it is not of climbing growth, and will flower 
as freely as any Tea Rose if closely pruned, which other Noisettes will 
not. Of strong good growth for a pure Tea, with small foliage ; not 
very liable to mildew, but, like all Teas, is injured by rain. The blooms 
sometimes come divided, especially the strongest ones, and they are 
deficient in colour, but good in petal, shape, fulness, lasting qualities, 
and size. This is a very accommodating Rose. A strong established 
plant in good soil may be used, either by very slight pruning and not 
thinning the buds ; as a most useful bush to “ cut and come again ” at 
for serviceable pale yellow buds throughout the season ; or, by severe 
pruning and rigorous disbudding, to produce a few show blooms of the 
first quality and the largest size, fully capable of being staged among 
our best H.P.’s. Free blooming and a good autumnal, does well as a 
dwarf, and for a Tea Rose fairly hardy. 
Celine Forestier (Troillard or Leroy (?), 1858).—Of good growth, but 
not sufficiently lengthy to make a good climber. The wood and foliage 
are very distinct, the latter being evergreen and particularly bright and 
shining. Will sometimes bloom as a maiden or if closely pruned, which 
many of the Noisettes will not do. Not liable to mildew or much 
injured by rain. It blooms in large clusters, which should not be 
thinned, for no treatment can make a show Rose of it owing to the flat 
open shape, and the prettily coloured buds add much to the beauty of 
the truss. A free bloomer and fair autumnal ; tolerably hardy, but 
liable to injury in severe frost; of pretty good constitution, and doing 
fairly on light soil. 
Cloth of Gold (Coquerau, 1843).—Of very strong climbing growth 
for a south wall, liable to mildew, but can probably stand a shower. 
Here are manners, or rather the want of them, with a vengeance, for 
this Rose is unfavourably known as being by far the shyest bloomer we 
have, and though acknowledged to be an excellent bloom is not to be 
found in the N.R.S. catalogue at all. I once had a fine plant of it, 
which grew well in the sheltered angle of a south wall. Only once in 
eight years did it form a single bud, and that was after a very hot 
summer, during which the wood must have been not only ripened but 
almost roasted. About half a dozen buds came on that occasion, and 
as soon as they were clearly formed I stopped every other shoot and 
strengthened the blooms in every possible way, determined to see, even 
at the risk of the death of the plant, what this Rose is at its best. They 
were fine yellow flowers indeed, but it happened that I had also just at 
that time a large and splendid crop of Marichal Niels on another south 
wall. I could detect but little difference between them either in shape 
or colour, even when closely compared, and came to the conclusion that 
this variety, with its absurdly shy manners, was not worth growing. It 
is said, however, by those who used to grow it twenty-five years ago 
that it bloomed freely and well at that time, but that it received a 
check in a certain severe winter which affected the constitution of the 
whole variety. This seems to be possible if we may judge from analogy, 
but perhaps jealousy was a hidden trait among its manners and customs, 
and that it “ shut up ” from envy at sight of the rising star of 1864, 
Mar^chal Niel. It was stated, however, at the Rose Conference, and a 
photograph was shown to substantiate the evidence, that the Cloth of 
Gold Noisette flowers with great and long-continued freedom in 
Australia. That may be ; in this country it certainly does not seem 
wise to waste time and space upon it. I heard some time ago, with 
respectful wonder, of an amateur who was about to grow the Teas and 
Noisettes on a large scale, and who ordered the different varieties by the 
hundred, and when it was added that among these were a hundred of 
Cloth of Gold the wonder increased, but the respect, I fear, diminished. 
Lamarque (Marechal, 1830).—This is a Rose which was highly prized 
thirty years ago, when good varieties were few. Of very strong climb¬ 
ing growth, bright but small foliage, not thoroughly evergreen. Little 
liable to mildew, but not liking rain. The blooms are large and effec¬ 
tive, but open and flat, and not fit for show. Flowers very freely 
once, but the secondary bloom on a wall is very slight. The fragrance 
is very good and most distinct. I have never seen it grown except on 
a south wall, and it is hardy there against anything but exceptional 
frost. 
Vldeale (Nabonnand, 1887).—Too young to speak fully of, is not 
of climbing growth, and bids fair by its new combination of colours to 
become a successful rival of W. A. Richardson, 
