183S. ] 
TKOPJEOLUM SPECIOSUM. 
195 
Waltham Cross, in the valley of the Lea. The soil is a strong loam, 
4 feet deep, resting on gravel. Water usually stands in this gravel within 
4 feet of the surface. The ground has been thoroughly drained, the mains 
being 4 feet, the contributaries 3 feet 6 inches deep. Being surrounded 
with water, water has been freely used; but I have little faith in water 
alone on this soil. It requires to be supplemented either by mulching or 
keeping the surface loose by means of the hoe or fork. The latter is the 
grand panacea, on this soil, for all the ills which trees and plants are heir 
to ; gravel and water, however, are not very far from the surface, and the 
water is doubtless constantly setting upwards by the law of capillary attraction. 
Such a season as that just passed teaches us something. We learn 
a little by it, and have to unlearn a great deal. One’s faith in many 
varieties would be sadly shaken were he to judge them by this season 
alone. Some of the favourite show Roses, whose reputation has been 
built up by cut blooms alone, have scarcely appeared in box or on tree, in 
anything like showable condition; whereas some almost-forgotten favourites, 
both new and old, have acquired or regained a high reputation. The best 
twenty-five varieties of the year with me have been :— 
Alfred Colomb. 
Antoine Ducher. 
Beauty of Waltham. 
Black Prince. 
Dr. Lindley. 
Elizabeth Yigneron. 
Felix Genero. 
Fisher Holmes. 
Francois Louvat. 
Jean Lambert. 
La Duchesse de Moray. 
La Ville de St. Denis. 
Lord Macaulay. 
Louise Pevronny. 
Madame Victor Verdier. 
Mdlle. Annie Wood. 
Marechal Vaillant. 
Marie Baumann. 
Monsieur Boncenne. 
Monsieur Noman. 
Pierre Notting. 
Praire de Terre noir. 
Prince de Portia. 
Queen Victoria (Wm. Paul). 
Souvenir de Monsieur Boll. 
Do we seek the why and wherefore of this ? The reply is, Constitution 
and substance. A Rose with good constitution and substance stands best 
the vicissitudes of climate, be it rain, frost, or sun heat. Thousands of 
Roses of perfect beauty, but of delicate constitution, will be found to have 
succumbed to this tropical summer; and this year’s experience should 
teach us not to pay too much respect to the one idea of form, but to look 
after substance and constitution also. Another year may teach us some 
other fact, and so little by little, with Roses as with other things, is a wide 
and correct knowledge built up by experience. 
Paul's Nurseries , Waltham Gross , N. William Paul. 
TROPiEOLUM SPECIOSUM. 
’HE hardiness and endurance of this beautiful climbing plant forms a 
strong plea in its favour, and should bring it into more general 
cultivation. Having bright crimson flowers, and well-defined foliage, 
it is well adapted for growing on trellis-work amongst Roses and 
other climbing plants, also for covering low walls provided with 
netted wire, its leafstalks readily coiling round the wires. 
