
Desiree Parmentier. Gallica. Garden Notes. “This isa somewhat smaller 
and much deeper toned globular rose of Coupe d’Hebe type. Apparently the sun 
quickly lightens the flower on the outside of the petals, whereas the inside remains a 
very deep, rich rose-carmine, almost blackish, giving a striking two-tone effect and 
outlining the petals. Older foliage is dark emerald green—the new growth lettuce- 
green with red prickles, very bushy. Very “distingue” is Mme. Parmentier.” iy) 
Dr. Huey. 1920.) Climber. So healthy, hardy and vigorous, is now a 
leading California understock. Blooms profusely over a long spring season, in clus- 
ters of two inch semi-double flowers; color non-fading crimson-maroon, enlivened 
by lighter centers and yellow anthers. Says Dr. J. H. McFarland, “Captain George 
C. Thomas, Jr. will be best remembered by his superb rose Dr. Huey, named for a 
famous Philadel phia amateur.” 15 
Duchesse de Brabant. Tea. (1857.) This delightful old tea rose is best 
described by Mrs. Keays, writing in “Old Roses,” 1935, “Duchesse de Brabant has 
the shape of a deeper, firmer cup, more like a tulip, with 45 upright petals. Light 
gives a pearly cast over the basic pink color deepening to bright rose, and creates a 
glistening brightness in the smooth, transparent petals of the large, well-stemmed 
bloom ... this Duchesse has been a great favorite for years for its lovely sunny 
color, its splendid fragrance, and its free-blooming habit.” 175 
Ednah Thomas. Cli. H. Tea. (1931.) Close to top rating among 
the large flowered, double, salmon-pink climbers. Very vigorous . . . in profuse and 
almost constant bloom... a fine cut flower on good stems. Excellent always, and all 
ways. 1.50 
Eglantine. Sweetbrier Rose. (Ancient.) It was the writer’s great privilege 
to accompany the late Francis Lester on many walks through his garden—admiring 
investigating, sniffing—for his was a keen nose for good smells. Something about 
the apple-scented Eglantine, its age and tradition, its “Old English,” as it appears 
at garden gate and round and about the simple Lester cottage, reminds me most of 
those walks, and is of deep and fragrant memory. But its charm is better told you 
by the old writers, to whom we will give, perhaps, more space than we should, hoping 
that you, too, may have pleasant memories of the Sweetbrier rose, and will enjoy 
reading their mellow words— 
From “PLANTING AND RuRAL ORNAMENT,” London, 1796. **Sweetbrier— 
The leaves constitute the value of this plant; for they are possessed of so grateful an 
odour, as to claim admittance for this sort into the first class of aromatic plants; 
the odoriferous particles they emit are sweet and inoffensive; and they bestow them 
in such profusion, especially in evenings or after a shower, as to perfume the circum- 
ambient air to a considerable distance. For this reason, plenty of Sweetbriers should 
be planted near much-frequented walks; or if the borders of these are designed for 
more elegant flowering shrubs or plants, they may be stationed at a distance, out of 
view, and then they will secretly liberally bestow their sweets, to the refreshment 
of all. For nosegays, also, there is nothing more proper than sprigs of the Sweetbrier, 
when divested of its prickles; for they will not only have a good look as a fine green 
in the center of a posey, but will improve its odour, let the other flowers of which it 
is composed be what they will.” 
And from the ‘‘so-quotable” Dean Hole, in a “Book AsouT Roses,” England, 
1869, “So may the Sweetbrier, with no flowers to speak of, remind many a gaudy 
neighbor that fine feathers do not constitute a perfect bird, and that men have 
other senses as well as that of sight, to please... but the Eglantine to me, when 
I passed through ‘The Sweet Garden,’ as it is called, just after a soft May shower, 
had the sweetest scent of them all.” 1.50 
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