DECEMBER. 
269 
I mean that I shall cut no more, but if the winter is mild some of the above 
Itoses would go on till January. But let us speak of newer Roses. 
1st. A Cheering Word eor Portemer. —Mr. Turner some few days 
back spoke highly of “ Pierre Notting.” This is now endorsed by Mr. Taylor, 
of Fencote, Yorkshire. Listen—“ The finest Rose of 1864 that I have seen 
this season was ‘ Pierre Notting.’ It bloomed on October the 2nd. It is what 
I have been waiting for for some years. There was only just one bloom on the 
plant, as it had been cut up for propagation. It is the colour of Due de Cazes, 
dark purplish velvety crimson; petals large, smooth, leathery, cupped, imbri¬ 
cated, of great substance. It is a large Chabrillant, 4 inches across, clothed 
in the colour of Due de Cazes, or Poire de Terre Noire, highly scented like a 
Violet; it is magnificent. I have not overdrawn the picture. Get Pierre 
Notting, and also Marechal Serrurier, both Al. The latter is a superior Mrs. 
W. Paul. I shall not forget P. Notting in a hurry. It will be some time 
before that Rose is effaced from my memory.” 
I have always found Mr. Taylor’s reports of Roses and Strawberries to be 
most faithful. 
2nd. A Prophecy. —I “pricked for the sheriffs” last year and named 
three of the best, Madame Victor Verdier, La Duchesse de Morny, and Eugene 
Verdier. All the catalogues speak more or less highly of these. Let me now 
predict such as are to be at least “ one of the best.” Rushton Radclyffe, W. 
Bull (two H.P’s), Marechal Niel (Tea), the most choice. The picture is 
beautiful. These I fancy will be the best. These, also, stand high in my 
“ predictive ” esteem : Souvenir de W. Wood, General d’Hautpool, Docteur 
Andry, J. Keynes, C. Wood, and Xavier Olibo. These are H.P’s. 1, 4, 5, 6, 
are raised by Eugene Verdier; 8 is raised by Portemer. 
No doubt much trash will be found among the vast number now coming 
out. Still we shall pick up a few jewels. The French have sent us many very 
grand Roses in the last few years ; and we must not be ungrateful, nor condemn 
the many respectable and high-charactered raisers, because there are some who 
prey upon “ John Bull’s ” credulity. Weigh the description of the Rose in the 
same scales with the raiser’s character and fame. Do not be hasty in judging 
new Roses. We require time to form a just opinion of their blooms and 
habits. My plan is to praise such as do well, and say nothing of such as do 
ill. I wait awhile, as they may, when got on strong and suitable stocks, do 
altogether well. 
3rd. Certieicates. —I think one of these things should be done. 1st, 
The English purchaser should have a written warranty of the French raiser, 
and vice versa ; or, 2ndly, There should be a Committee of the best raisers in 
France to decide on the merits of the new productions ; or, 3rdly, There should 
be, as lately advised in another periodical, an English Committee, who should 
go to France in the Rose season, and review the novelties, and decide upon 
their merits; or, 4thly* The English nurserymen should go, and form an ap¬ 
proximate opinion. I say, with emphasis, an approximate opinion; for until 
the seedlings, there as here, are on strong and suitable stocks, I fear a certain 
opinion could not be formed. After all we must, “ I guess,” depend in a great 
degree upon the raiser’s character for veracity and honour. 
4th. English Seedlings. —We have Devoniensis, not yet beaten in its 
line; John Hopper, Beauty of Waltham, Lord Macaulay, and Lord Clyde, all 
good Roses, and likely to remain in the catalogues. There appear to be four 
very promising ones in prospect, Lord Herbert, Princess of Wales, King’s Acre, 
and Beauty of Westerham; the first I have seen, the bloom sent me was very 
superior, and in the “ way of ” Madame C. Crapelet. Buds of the two first and 
of Lord Macaulay, were kindly sent to me by Mr. W. Paul. I put them on 
