July 13, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
725 
rose, pink, and white. A deep rose-red variety named 
Ohl reminds us of the old-fashioned kinds grown in 
cottage gardens, as well as in those of professional 
gardeners many years ago, and in some even yet. In 
the same gardens were double varieties of the sweet- 
scented white Rose (R. alba). 
Great interest attaches to the Indian or China Rose 
(R. indica) in its numerous forms or races, such as the 
dwarf forms spoken of as Monthly Roses, Fairy Roses, 
Noisette, Tea-scented, Bourbon, and other Roses, 
according to the other parent and the particular races 
of R. indica, which have been hybridised or inter¬ 
mingled with one another. The Tea-scented varieties 
have been derived from R. i. odoratissima, named by 
the French, Rose a Odeur de The. A single white form 
of R. indica was shown, but the type should be pale 
rose. Semi-double and double varieties were shown 
underthenames of Crimson China, Cramoisie Superieure, 
crimson ; Belle de Florence, Purple China, deep rose ; 
Blush, Mrs. Bosanquet, blush ; Little Pet, white ; and 
Viridiflora, green. The Noisette Roses also belong here, 
and have been derived from R. i. Noisettiana, which 
was raised in North America from an accidental cross 
between R. indica and R. moschata, and the plants 
being acquired by Philip Noisette, the hybrid was 
named in compliment to him. At the conference the 
Noisettes were represented by "VV. Allen Richardson, 
orange; Soisette, blush ; Madame Francis Pittett, 
white ; Celine Forestier, pale yellow, L’ldeale, rosy 
salmon ; Bouquet d’Or, deep yellow ; Marechal Niel, 
golden yellow ; and others. 
The Musk Rose (R. moschata) is a species of strong, 
climbing or rambling habit, and in a wild state extends 
in one form or other from Madeira, through the north 
of Africa to Egypt, and from thence to the Himalayas, 
whence it has been introduced and described under 
the name of R. Brunonii, or Brown’s Rose. There are 
many wild forms, some of which have been introduced 
and described, including R. m. nivea, a white or 
delicate blush, and a very beautiful kind. The latter, 
as well as Garland, blush or white ; Rivers’ Musk, 
rose ; Fringed Musk, blush ; and Princesse de Nassau 
were brought up to the conference in attractive con¬ 
dition. 
A considerable number of the Briars were shown, 
including our native one, the Sweet Briar or Eglantine. 
Doubtless more of the yellow Briars would have been 
exhibited had not the long spell of hot dry weather 
caused them to pass quickly out of bloom. As it was, 
R. lutea, the Yellow Eglantine Rose or Austrian Briar, 
was shown, as well as the double Persian \ellow. The 
Banksian Roses were very sparingly if at all represented. 
They do not succeed well as a rule in the London 
district. Very few of the Scotch Roses (R. spinosis- 
sima) were shown. 
A considerable number of species of Roses were ex¬ 
hibited, the largest collections coming from the Royal 
Gardens, Kew ; from Mr. R. J. Lynch, The Botanic 
Gardens, Cambridge ; from Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt; from T. W. Girdlestone, Esq., Sunningdale, 
Berks ; and from Mr. F. Ross, gardener to Sir George 
Maeleay, Pendell Court, Bletchingley. The collection 
other southern counties. Earliness, size, beauty, 
fertility, fair quality, and vigour of constitution, are 
the qualifications that recommend it to the attention 
of gardeners in private establishments, as well as of 
market growers, whether situated in the north or 
south. 
As an early Strawberry it has certainly no 
equal for size and beauty, and must lead to the 
discarding of many of the small-fruiting and early 
old kinds, except where small fruit is required for a 
particular purpose. By reference to the accompany¬ 
ing illustration, for which we are indebted to Mr. 
Laxton, an idea of the size and shape of the 
fruit may be conceived, without going into a detailed 
description. Ripe fruits, single and in bunches, have 
frequently come under our notice this season ; we 
have also seen it growing, and can speak in high terms 
of it as an early variety that must soon find its way 
into every garden. 
The counterpart of this early variety is another one 
named Latest of All. It is a seedling from British 
Queen crossed with Helene Gloede, and resembles the 
former very closely. The firm white flesh and luscious 
flavour is said to resemble those of the seed parent very 
closely. The most important characteristic of the 
variety, however, is its habit of ripening late. It comes 
into season ten to fourteen days later than British 
Queen, and fruit may be gathered from it, on good 
Strawberry land, three weeks after all other kinds are 
over. The plant is of dwarf habit but vigorous, with 
leathery, hairy leaves said to resist the attacks 
Laxton’s New Strawberries : A, Noble ; B, Latest of All. 
Climbing Roses belong to several widely distinct 
species, including many of the forms of R. indica 
already mentioned ; but a number of very fine kinds, 
and which still give promise for further improvement, 
come under the group of which our native Field Rose 
(R. arvensis) is a type. The Ayrshire Roses have been 
derived from a variety of the latter named R. a. 
ayreshirea or R. capreolata. All are exceedingly appro¬ 
priate for covering walls, and some varieties were ex¬ 
hibited under the names of Virginian Rambler, blush ; 
Dundee Rambler, white ; and Felicite Perpetuel. R. 
sempervirens was represented by Flora, a blush variety. 
The Polyantha Roses are very variable in size, habit 
and climbing propensities, even in a state of nature, one 
type being named R. polyantha, while the tall-growing 
forms have long been known under the name of R. 
multiflora. The quantity of bloom produced on a 
large plant of the latter is something enormous, 
numbering hundreds or even thousands. R. poly¬ 
antha is considered the typical wild form, and is a 
low straggling bush, bearing bunches of small white 
flowers with four or five petals, resembling to all 
intents and purposes a large-flowering Bramble rather 
than a Rose. Very beautiful little Roses belonging to 
this species are Perle d’Or, orange, but varying almost 
to white under different treatment, and according to 
age or exposure ; Gloire de Polyantha, rose-pink ; 
Pacquerette, white ; Mignonette, blush ; and others 
with double flowers resembling buttons as to size. 
Perle d’Or is a gem for button-hole work. De la 
Grifferaio is a strong-growing rose-coloured variety, 
classed under R. multiflora by nurserymen. 
from Kew was the largest, and included about fifty 
species or thereabout. Comparatively few were in bloom 
in any of the collections, but amongst those we noted 
were many of the wild forms of the above-mentioned 
Roses, together with R. anserinifolia, R. rugosa, R. r. 
alba, R. pisocarpa, the beautiful R. lucida (a double form 
of which, shown in another collection, was exceedingly 
pretty), R. macrophylla, R. gallica, R. Webberiana, R. 
cinnamomea, R. alpina, &c. The largest collection from 
a private source was that of T. W. Girdlestone, and we 
must not omit the beautiful white R. Beggeriana, nor 
R. berberifolia Hardii, a hybrid between R. berberi- 
folia and R. involucrata. It has yellow flowers, with 
a crimson or scarlet blotch at the base of the petals, 
and more resembles a Cistus than a Rose. R. berberi¬ 
folia has small flowers, but similarly coloured, and is 
one of the most distinct species in the genus. On the 
Continent this species is separated from Rosa altogether. 
The leaves consist of one leaflet only, and greatly 
resemble those of a Barberry, hence the name. 
--XEc-- 
LAXTONS STRAWBERRIES. 
Noble and Latest of All. 
In 1885, Mr. Thomas Laxton, of Bedford, the raiser of 
the now popular Strawberry, Noble, possessed only 
three plants of it. He put it into commerce in 1887, 
and since then it has made remarkable progress all 
over the country, so much so, that large breadths of it 
are now in cultivation both in this country and on the 
Continent. It has already become a standard variety 
amongst market-grow r ers in Kent, Middlesex, and 
of mildew. The accompanying illustration gives 
an idea of the typical form of the fruit. 
-- 
BEES AND FERTILISATION. 
Since Darwin has pointed out that bees very probably 
in some cases would be aids to fertilisation, a goodly 
few lesser lights and less observant disciples arose to 
take up the thread of the modest philosopher’s 
postulate, and weave therefrom an endless web of the 
most fanciful suppositions. The bee to those hypo¬ 
thetical savants apparently is equally essential with 
the organs of reproduction in the economy of the pre¬ 
servation of the species. They maintain that colour is 
the power which attracts the insect to the flower, and 
consequently they argue that it naturally follows such 
flowers have every chance of being brought to full 
development. 
Few persons who have given any little diligence to 
the habits of the bee will be disposed to bear out that 
colour is the guiding instinct. The evidence points to 
the very opposite—at least, we suppose we are perfectly 
entitled to infer, fiom the fact that the bee will 
bo found to frequent Trifolium repens, Tilea europea, 
and Reseda odorata in preference to Foxglove, Roses, 
Delphiniums. &c., that it is the sense of smell that 
attracts it to the flower. Most rational people will 
readily support this view from the mere fact of the 
attraction the fruit shops have for bees, wasps and flies. 
Any work done by the bee in the sphere of fertilisation 
of a necessity must be accidental, and we are aware 
that Nature does not consist of a bundle of haphazards ; 
