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THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
= ROSES. < 
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VARIATIONS IN ROSES. 
The question has more than once been 
asked if Roses did not deteriorate. I do 
not think a variety loses in quality if due 
care and selection be exercised when pro- 
pagating If we increase from bad or in- 
different wood, it is only reasonable to 
expect a Rose of poorer quality. Certainly 
this will be the case until the plant has 
succeeded in gaining strength and vigor, 
with more healthy constitution. Another 
cause of deterioration lies in propagating 
from a plant showing the variations I will 
endeavor to point out. That selection has 
great influence upon stock we have ample 
proot both in the case of vegetables and 
flowers. Then why not be more careful as 
regards the many varieties of Roses? For 
example, we have that grand Tea, Maman 
Cochet, which generally gives us a fine 
shade of flesh-coloxed rose, more or less 
suffused with carmine and salmony yellow, 
always clear and opening well when com-- 
ing as described above. But we now and - 
again get what may be called a bad type 
ci this. . 
being much thinner, the color pale and dull, 
the flower opening badly. 
we get an occasional bad blossom upon the 
plant, but all flowers upon that plant are 
equally indifferent. I have found it so in 
cases where I am positive the buds were 
taken from Maman Cochet, so that it can- 
not be put down to mixture of varieties. 
If we select buds or grafts of this variety 
indiscriminately, we run great risks of per- 
petuating the bad type. Iam not alone in 
this. contention, for, if my memory does 
not deceive me, Mr. C. E. Cant, of Colches- 
ter, holds the same view as regards bad. 
types of this and other Roses. I hope 
none of my readers will for one moment 
imagine I am disparaging such a grand 
Rose as Maman Cochet. I could not do 
so when I have its beautiful blossoms un- 
der glass at the time of writing, and bear 
in mind the many ideal blooms seen during 
the past three summers. But let us be 
more careful in selecting the propagating 
material. 
_ If we turn to another grand Tea of older 
origin (1871), we find a similar variation. 
I. allude to Comtesse de Nadaillac. I am 
acquainted with more than one instance 
where plants of this Rose have produced 
such indifferent flowers that they were use- 
less. It is not’ an occasional blossom, but . 
the whole of those upon that plant are the 
same, notwithstanding they were side by 
side and had the same treatment as others 
which produced superb examples. It is 
the same with Souvenir d’un Ami and seve- 
ral others. Then we find Perle des Jar- 
dins varying in form more than color. -A_ 
plant will persistently put forth flowers of 
perfect form, whether they be large or 
small, while a second plant just as regu- 
The flower is of similar size, 
and form, but the fault lies in the petals 
It is not that. 
or so globular that. they. .do not open 
freely. 
Until I had given the subject some close 
attention I was under the impression it was 
only an occasional or chance flower which 
had ‘these defects, but am. now convinced 
that some plants produce them so persis- 
tently, as to call for extermination if we 
are to have a stock that can be relied upon 
to: giye us blossoms of these varieties in 
their best form. I have found Marie Bau- 
mann, Duke of Wellington, Xavier Olibo, 
Dr. Andry, and a few more Hybrid Perpe- . 
tuals vary in the same way. It isnot due 
to the season or weather, otherwise why do 
wo find the better quality flowers upon . 
Nor is it the same. 
neighboring plants? 
kind of variation we find in Comtesse 
d’Oxford, Mme. Lambard, William -Allen 
Richardson, Anna Ollivier, Marie .yan 
Houtte, l’Ideal, Beaute Inconstante, and. 
naturally changeable.. 
others, which are 
without being of indifferent quality. It 
would be interesting to know if others have _ 
observed these variations, and if so, to 
what extent and upon what varieties. 
None of us would think of propagating 
from plants of indifferent character if we 
knew such to be the case, and I feel sure 
wo could secure a more reliable stock. of - 
many varieties if a little more attention 
were given to this subject.—A. Prrsr, in 
“The Garden.” 
7 CE30 3OS6b> 
ROSE NOTES FROM “THE - 
GARDEN 
Rose THE BripE as A Pot Rosr.—I con- 
sider this a most useful Tea Rose for grow- 
ing in a pot to obtain early flowers. I am 
aware Niphetos has many good qualities, 
but in shape I consider The Bride superior. 
I grow several kinds in pots. | 
Striking Rose  Currines.—Where 
plants for indoor use are required, such as 
Marechal Niel and other Teas, they may 
be produced in plenty by dibbling the cut- 
tings in rather thickly into 5-in. pots and 
plunging in strong bottom-heat. The roots’ 
soon form, and top growth is also quickly 
made. ‘The cuttings may be about 
out. As soon as the cuttings are rooted, 
the pots must be lifted out of the plunging’ 
material and the plants potted singly a’ 
few days afterwards, shading them until 
the young roots are getting’ well into the. 
compost, when they may be very gradually 
inured to less heat and moisture. While: 
rooting the cuttings must never be al- 
lowed to get dry, and they must be insertéd 
round the edge of the pot only:. When’ 
established in their pots; they-must be‘cut 
back rather freely and the resulting shoots 
taken up singly if required for long rods, or’ 
’Roso offered to retail customers. 
‘with choice climbing Roses: 
in. in’ 
length of dormant wood from indoors, and 
they should have the bottom eyes piriched: 
July 15, 1903. . 
__. a8 many as are needed to form the desired 
-, Shape of plant. Se eae ae erage ioe 
Rose Mrs. Prerponr Morean.—F or two ‘ 
“years T grew'a small quantity of this Rose: * 
Sai poe >... TtWas not a’ great favorite, for some un-"’ 
larly produces blooms with split centres” account 
accountable reason, with the city’ retail’” 
florists. I do not encourage retail trade, * 
catéring ~ exclusively: for .the wholesale” 
trade. Some persons will drop in,’ how-’ 
ever; occasionally wanting flowers, ‘and ‘be- ~ 
cause the dealers in Philadelphia did not ~ 
take véry kindly to Morgan, this was the — 
So well ¢ 
did it please them that I secured orders 
for delivery at regular. intervals—twice a 
week. In addition to its other good quali- 
ties it is an excellent keeper. These cus-- 
tomers frequently. remarked: that the 
flowers when. three or four days old. were — 
still in good.‘condition, and when the fresh 
ones were delivered the older ones were 
forwarded and presented with evident 
great pleasure to some less fortunate per- 
~ gon who did not have flowers often.. For: 
this reason, if for.-no other, Mrs. Pierpont:, 
Morgan ought to be grown to a greater ex- 
tent than it appears to be, especially in. 
tho smaller towns where a florist, is a. com- 
bination..of. grower ‘and retailer—L., ‘in - 
“American Florist.” lee 
DIDS Meer ane 
>eeeeee et 
CLIMBING ROSES. 
Recently I saw a very novel idea carried 
out, and one which I think might be fol- 
lowed to advantage. A: large: sandstone 
wall at the bottom of a garden was planted 
As the wall 
faced due south and the north and north- 
east parts of the garden were sheltered, it 
can readily be imagined ‘how warm and dry 
the border would be. - So hot:was it dur- 
ing the past three summers that the Roses 
were far from. satisfactory, being parched 
and baked in spite of free root waterings. 
I now. see that a quantity of Oak cordwood: 
has been laid ‘upon the border, many of the 
long.shoots: of Roses being ‘brought down ~ 
and fastened to-this: The border is about 
2. ft. wide, and has’, been well manured. ~ 
There is still an ample supply of wood upon 
the wall, although enough has been re-- 
moved to clothe the logs as soon as the rods 
break into growth. That the Roses grew 
well last autumn will be evident when I 
say there were shoots of Crimson Rambler 
10 ft. and 12 ft. long, while Climbing Perle 
des Jardins had 14 ft. of sound wood. I 
have néver before seen a climbing ‘Perle’ 
in such grand form outdoors. Other varie- 
ties are William Allen Richardson, Climb- 
ing Niphetos, Marechal Niel, &c. The idea 
was that if it turned out too hot for Roses 
upon ‘thé sandstone wall, the shoots upon 
the logs would take a larger proportion of 
the sap. Shien Paneer so, oe shake 
In tlie same garden are some stumps of 
old fruit trees, and around theése are Crim- 
son Rambler—one plant had upwards of a 
dozen long shoots, some’ of which “had 
reached the top (10 ft.) and still spread out - 
another’ yard or  so—the © Hybrid 
