JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
521 
Jane 30, 1887. ] 
30 
Th 
Shepperton Show. 
2 
s 
3 
SUN 
4th Sunday after Trinity. 
4 
M 
5 
Tu 
National Bo3e Society’s Show, South Kensington. 
6 
W 
Twickenham, Wimbledon, and Brighton Shows. 
OLD ROSES. 
ARRIORS of the Rose are preparing for the 
fray, burnishing their armour, and reviewing 
their strategic plans for conquering former 
successful adversaries. Soon we shall see 
the pages of “our Journal” teeming with 
records of the conflicts, and the excitement 
almost induces some steady-going non¬ 
exhibitors to test their strength in the field. 
Still, however, we content ourselves with witnessing the 
triumphs or defeats of others, revelling in the beauties of 
our own homely Rose trees and their plentiful blooms. 
For seeing perfection of individual form, and comparison 
of varieties, Rose shows are admirable institutions; but 
it is perhaps an open question whether the rosarian’s 
chief pleasure is not found in watching the development 
of his treasures at home, and gathering them sparklingly 
fresh with the morning dew to adorn dainty vases or 
delight a friend. There is an indescribable satisfaction 
in wandering through a rosery and observing the objects 
of one’s care during so many months, repaying us ten¬ 
fold with brilliant or soft-tinted and fragrant flowers. 
This season the exceptionally dry weather has somewhat 
diminished the enjoyment, as they are coming with less 
substance and do not last so well; but the colours are 
excellent, and exhibitors may find some compensation in 
this. 
Much is written about the “ New Roses ” every year, 
but few seem to think it worth while saying anything 
about “ Old Roses;” yet there are many old varieties that 
possess all the charms we expect or desire in a Rose 
except the symmetry of form considered essential in varie¬ 
ties for exhibition. Unfortunately magnitude is regarded as 
an indispensable character also, and then too often there 
is an approach to what is correctly, but inelegantly, 
described as “lumpiness.” Non-exhibiting amateurs, 
like myself, can happily disregard all such imaginary 
attractions, and find our satisfaction in a liberal supply 
of blooms, varied in colours and rich in fragrance. The 
last named quality is one that has been most neglected 
in recent years by raisers of new Roses, yet thirty or forty 
years ago it was one of the principal recommendations of 
candidates for popular favour. In richness of colours 
there has also not been much advance, for several varieties 
in cultivation forty years ago cannot be surpassed in that 
respect now. For example, the old Geant des Batailles 
was extraordinary for the brightness of its colour, and we 
• have just cut a bloom that is almost dazzling in com¬ 
parison with some of the best of the modern Hybrid 
Perpetuals, though not equal to them in form. Said Mr. T. 
Rivers, when writing about Roses in his agreeable manner, 
“It should have been named Etna, or Vesuvius, or Fire- 
No. 3CG.—Vol. XIV., Third Series. 
brand, or some such fiery name, for who ever saw any¬ 
thing amongst flowers so glowing, so live-coal-like?” 
Cramoisie Superieure was another superbly rich Bose, and 
Velours Episcopal was equally remarkable for fine crim¬ 
son shade and velvety substance of petal, but I have not 
seen it for many years, though the other two are some¬ 
times found in old gardens. 
The Cabbage Roses have gradually declined in general 
favour, mainly because their season of flowering is so 
much shorter than the Hybrid Perpetual group; yet they 
are very beautiful, and what can equal them in fragrance ? 
From the time of Gerard, when the Holland Provence 
Rose was figured in his celebrated “ Herball,” until the 
middle of the present century, the Provence or Cabbage 
Roses were garden favourites, and still they have admirers. 
One variety that attracted much attention was the Unique 
Provence, which, I believe, was found as long ago as 1777 
in a cottage garden at Needham Market, Suffolk, by a 
Mr. Grimwood, then a nurseryman at Kensington, and it 
was sent out by him. The flowers were pure white, of 
good shape, and the variety became a great favourite, as 
being quite distinct from the numerous crimson and rose- 
coloured forms of the same type. Some of the large 
Rose-growing nurserymen of the present day catalogue a 
variety under the name of the White Provence, but I have 
not had an opportunity of satisfying myself whether this 
is identical with the Unique Provence Rose, but probably 
it has been derived from it. The Rose de Meaux is 
included in this group, and a charming little early- 
flowering variety it is; while its sport, the Mossy de 
Meaux, one of the best-known of the old Moss Roses, 
introduces us to another beautiful type, of which there 
are scores of forms as much admired now as they were 
early in the century. The original Moss Rose seems to 
have made its first appearance in this country in 1596, 
having been brought from Holland with other horticul¬ 
tural curiosities or valuable additions to garden plants; 
but the Mossy de Meaux originated in a garden at 
Taunton, where it was found in 1814, and purchased for 
£5 by Mr. Sweet of Bristol. It is an exceedingly pretty 
variety, and though such Moss Roses as Lanei, which is 
remarkable for its fine crimson colour and well-formed 
fragrant blooms, have to some extent taken its place now, 
it should by no means be despised. With regard to the 
terms Provence and Provins, which are still applied 
indiscriminately to the Rosa centifolia or Cabbage group, 
it may be pointed out that it was long since decided that 
the Provins Rose belongs to the species R. gallica, and is 
quite distinct from the Provence. About Mitcham, where 
Roses have for many years been cultivated for their 
flowers, which are employed in the preparation of Rose 
water, R. gallica varieties or the Provins Rose are those 
grown, as they were also about Provins in France, which 
was celebrated at one time for a conserve of Rose petals. 
Under the R. gallica hybrids must be mentioned the 
interesting old striped Roses Rosa Mundi and "V illage 
Maid, the latter of which is occasionally seen named York 
and Lancaster, though this is a Damask Rose and dis¬ 
tinct from the preceding, though all are pretty. 
The China and Hybrid China Roses constitute a 
beautiful group, and some of these make handsome 
bedding Roses, flowering late into the autumn, but the 
strongest growers are best suited for pillars. One of the 
most noted of the section is General Jacqueminot, which, 
in its way, is unsurpassed to the present time, and is 
highly appreciated in hundreds of gardens. Rivers’ 
George the Fourth and the Duke of Devonshire, both 
No. 2022.— Yol. LXXYI., Old Series. 
