The hybrid perpetuals were breathtakingly lovely. I wonder that 
so few of our present-day Rosarians grow the beautiful scarlet Gen- 
eral Jacqueminot. This rose was produced in 1853 and, despite its age, 
will attract as much attention as the most perfect hybrid tea. Gloire 
de Chedane Guinoisseau, only twenty-nine years old, has long pointed 
buds of bright red. Mrs. Lester says this rose can be encouraged to 
repeat by pruning back after the heavy spring bloom. 
Among the very ancient roses in this garden is Eglantine, the rose 
so frequently mentioned in English poetry. This rose is more noted 
for the delicious apple fragrance of its foliage than for the great pro- 
fusion of small single pink flowers. Castilian, one of the oldest roses 
known, bears soft pink intensely fragrant flowers, from which, for 
centuries, the true attar of roses has been made. 
No old rose garden would be complete without a few of the 
very interesting Moss Roses. The Lester Gardens have a goodly 
supply of these ancient ones. Old Pink Moss, termed the mother of 
the Mosses since she swayed the hearts of Rosarians in 1596, is very 
lovely. Beautifully mossed buds open to large, delicately rose-pink 
blooms. The Crested Moss known as Chapeau de Napoleon, because 
the mossy bud resembles a miniature cocked hat, has been with us 
since 1827. These Old Moss Roses are equally beautiful whether the 
petals are red, yellow, white or pink. They require but little room 
and should be more frequently planted. 
No trip to the Lester Rose Gardens would be complete without 
examining that novelty of the year 1856, the Green Rose. This plant 
has a strange and quite unexplained freak of foliage. The buds exactly 
resemble other rose buds and open to double leaf green ‘flowers.’ This 
rose could more truly be called the April Fool Rose. 
Rios Silvestres is a place that every Rosarian should visit whether 
or not his garden permits the planting of any of these old favorites. 
The best time is the middle to the latter part of May. 
We 
‘In gardening, the division between the amateur and the profes- 
sional is often but a matter of words or financial interest. The 
only real difference between one interested gardener and another 
is the time available for study, the seeing eye, and retentive 
memory.” —OLD GARDEN RosEs 
