ROSE SOUVENIR DE LA MALMAISON. 
T HE following from the Gardener s Magazine, should 
be read by every one that wants a good rose for 
autumn flowering. This rose does equally as well in 
this country as in England, and is without exception the 
most valuable of all our autumn-blooming varieties : 
“ The fact that a good many of our best roses have 
their season of flowering is not always so fully recognized 
as it should be when making selections for different pur¬ 
poses. This remark is especially applicable to the rose 
placed at the head of this note. It is a true autumn¬ 
flowering variety, and therefore altogether unsuitable in 
a collection of roses required to be at their best when 
summer shows are held. As an autumn-flowering vari¬ 
ety, Souvenir de la Malmaison certainly has no equal in 
the production of flowers, and as roses at that season are 
more valuable than in the summer, the form of the indi¬ 
vidual blooms is not of so much consequence ; therefore 
there is no necessity for making comparisons. After 
giving the above caution my next business is to call the 
attention to its excellent blooming qualities in the autumn. 
Many of us have no doubt been long aware of this, in 
fact, its late flowering has been many times noticed, but 
I question if its merits in this respect have been suffici¬ 
ently appreciated. Speaking for myself, I know it has 
not, and it was not until I met with it a few weeks ago in 
a market garden near Bristol, where it is largely grown, 
that I was made fully aware of its great' value. 
“ As will readily be understood, the number of flowers 
required by the grower is considerable, and suitable pro¬ 
vision has, therefore, been made by providing a sufficient 
number of plants. These were obtained on their own 
roots, and planted out in a well-prepared piece of ground 
where they are sheltered from the cold east winds by a 
high wood-fence. The plants stood six feet apart each 
way, and, as they have been planted twelve years, they 
have grown into large bushes, nearly meeting each other, 
each producing an immense quantity of flowers. These 
are cut just as the bud begins to open, and on the day 
on which I saw them I counted on several plants nearly 
thirty that would be ready for market the following 
morning. This was at the beginning of September, and 
by the number of buds remaining to open, anyone could 
see that the supply would continue for some time longer. 
As will be supposed, the price realized for the flowers 
at that season of the year is very satisfactory. The only 
drawback to this rose is the tinge of pink in the open¬ 
ing flowers. But this appears to be readily overlooked 
in the absence of a plentiful supply of pure white roses. 
“ It must not be supposed that the above results 
have been obtained without due care and forethought. 
No one knows better than growers for market what 
classes of plants pay best, and when they have settled 
down to a good thing they are sure to make it pay. 
They use every care to find out the conditions which 
suit it best. For instance, the roses under notice receive 
every year a good dressing of stable manure, which is 
forked in about the roots. Also, about the end of June, 
a thick mulch of long stable litter is laid on the surface 
of the soil. All this, of course, keeps the plants in vigor¬ 
ous health, and from what I saw of their condition, it is 
quite plain that if any one wishes to obtain equally good 
results,. they must do likewise.” J. C. Clarke. 
LAWN DECORATION. 
F OR the best effect in the decoration of a lawn, not 
many plants should be used. The principal object of 
admiration in a well managed lawn is the evenness of the 
ground, and its thickly set covering of grass. If this is 
attained, the finishing touches in decorating with orna¬ 
mental plants is easily done. The foreground should 
always remain free from the intrusion of plants, at least 
in the central part, and the grass should be kept closely 
and evenly clipped; only one walk should pass through 
it, unless it is large enough for a nicely curved drive to be 
laid out. 
When planting, keep in view the future size of the 
plants; set them in relation to each other, so their beauty 
will increase with each passing year. If planted too 
closely together, they will in a few years crowd each other 
and lose their vigor and symmetrical shape. Single speci¬ 
mens of tall plants and clumps of small species have the 
most pleasing effect upon the cultured eye; these should 
be so arranged as to give the impression that nature had 
done the work in planting them. The following named, 
when properly scattered over the borders of the lawn and 
on the background, give a very pleasing effect. 
Perennial phlox, plant in groups of half-dozen different 
colors in a cluster; Eulalia zebrina; a few hardy roses, 
such as General Washington, General Jacqueminot, Mer- 
ville de Lyon, Hermosa, Coquette des Alps, and Antoine 
Monton ; hydrangea, Thomas Hogg and Lindlii. These 
are all hardy and grow bushy. They can be kept in nice 
shape by fixing a few light wire hoops around them, tying 
them to the branches at the proper places. In addition to 
the above, and other hardy shrubs, if more are desired, 
plant a few lilies, a Yucca filamentosa, a Tritoma uvaria, 
and a few early-flowering bulbs in clusters of a foot in 
diameter, 
But it is principally of the exotic plants I wish to write, 
urging their introduction into our finest lawns, and point- 
