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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
December  21,  1899. 
CHRISTMAS  ROSES. 
Though  the  term  Christmas  Rose  is  sometimes  applied  to  the 
Hellebores  generally,  only  the  hlack  (which  has  reference  to  the  root) 
Hellebore,  Helleborus  niger  and  its  varieties,  have  right  claim  to  the 
popular  title.  The  true  Christims  Rose  produces  splendid  crops  of 
pure  white  flowers,  when  protected  by  glass,  2  to  3  inches  across, 
borne  on  stout  leafless  scapes,  at  the  exact  time  required — Christmas. 
The  colour  varies  somewhat  from  influences  of  diffe  ent  soils  and 
situations,  being  in  some  locations  tinged  with  rose  externally,  and  in 
others  tbe  flowers  are  white  throughout. 
The  rose  tinge  also  pervades  H.  n.  angustifolius  scoticus,  the 
flowers  of  which  are  white  internally,  and  slightly  tinged  with  rose 
externally.  The  plant  is  dwarf  and  compact,  very  floriferous,  and 
comes  into  flower  much  earlier  than  the  species.  There  is  also  a  form  of 
H.  n.  angustifolius  called  the  Manchester  variety,  with  large  numerous 
flowers,  pure  white  throughout.  The  leaves  and  stems  are  light  green, 
and  the  handsome  flowers  are  pale  green,  devoid  of  spots.  Then  there 
are  the  Bath  Christmas  Rose,  bearing  large  pure  white  flowers  ;  and 
St.  Brigid’s  Christmas  Rose,  with  green  leaves  and  large  snow-white 
flowers,  produced  in  great  profusion.  Madame  Fourcade  produces 
pure  white  flowers 
To  crown  all,  the  Great  or  G'ant  Christmas  Rose,  H.  n.  altifolius 
or  maximus,  has  large  flowers,  sometimes  5  inches  across,  one  to  three 
on  each  stalk,  white  internally,  tinged  with  rose  externally,  becoming 
deeper  as  the  flower  advances  in  age.  This  variety  usually  opens 
with  a  tinge  of  pink  in  the  petals  during  the  autumn  and  early  winter 
months,  while  after  the  New  Year  the  blossoms  are  white.  The 
season  of  Christmas  Roses  lasts  from  November  to  February  inclusive. 
Hellebores  thrive  in  almost  any  ordinary  garden  soil,  but  a  deep 
rich  loam,  with  a  moist,  rather  shady,  perfectly  drained  situation 
suits  them  best.  They  delight  in  a  mulch  of  good  decayed  manure  or 
leaf  mould  freed  from  sticks,  placing  it  on  the  ground  as  soon  as  the 
flowering  per:od  is  over.  When  wanted  to  give  flowers  for  cutting 
the  stock  should  be  planted  in  such  a  position  that  can  be  readily 
covered  with  frames.  An  ordinary  two-light  frame  will,  if  the  plants 
are  well  grown,  afford  thousands  of  blooms  for  cutting  during  the 
months  of  November,  December,  January,  and  February.  It  is  no 
use,  however,  expecting  any  from  a  cold  frame  when  frost  is  master  of 
the  situation,  for  the  blooms  are  “  nipped  ”  by  5°,  and  ruined  by  10° 
of  frost. 
By  keeping  the  lights  closer  or  the  opposite  during  December, 
according  to  the  state  of  the  weather,  blooms  can  always  be  had  at 
Christmas.  In  case  of  a  prospect  of  very  severe  weather,  the  buds 
may  be  cut  and  the  flowers  allowed  to  expand  in  water,  in  a 
warm  house.  In  most  cases  a  covering  of  mats  during  frosty  weather 
will  afford  the  needful  protection,  never  uncovering  until  the  frost 
inside  the  frame  has  departed.  During  mild  weather  in  early  spring 
too  much  air  cannot  be  given,  so  as  to  gradually  harden  the  plants 
and  inure  them  to  the  open  air,  and  when  new  growth  is  being  freely 
made  the  frame  should  be  removed.  This  in  most  cases  will  not  be 
safe  until  March  winds  have  ceased  to  blow,  for  the  plants  must  not 
be  crippled  in  their  new  growth,  and  even  after  the  frame  is  taken 
away  some  temporary  covering  should  be  at  hand  to  protect  the 
plants  from  frost. 
Top-dress  with  decomposed  manure  in  the  spring,  and  give  an 
occasional  soaking  of  liquid  manure  when  the  plants  are  in  full 
growth,  not  forgetting  that  copious  supplies  of  water  are  beneficial  in 
dry  weather.  Hellebores  like  moisture,  but  they  never  thrive  on  a 
heavy  retentive  soil  in  a  waterlogged  condition.  They  also  detest 
frequent  disturbance  at  the  roots.  Still  the  plants  may  be  lifted,  and 
placed  in  gentle  heat  under  g^ss,  but  they  should  not  be  forced  much, 
and  they  must  be  well  hardened  before  planting  outside  again. 
The  best  plan,  perhaps,  of  growing  Hellebores  for  forcing  is  to 
prepare  them  for  the  work  by  planting  in  beds  of  good  turfy  loam, 
adding  about  a  third  in  equal  proportions  of  peat  and  leaf  mould. 
Top-dressing  or  mulching  should  be  attended  to  in  the  spring  and 
again  early  in  June,  watering  in  dry  weather  and  giving  liquid  manure 
occasionally'.  The  plants  should  be  allowed  to  become  strong  before 
attempting  to  move  the  roots,  then  they  can  be  lifted  in  September  or 
early  in  October,  potted  if  so  desired,  grown,  and  kept  in  a  cold  pit, 
treated  as  before  advised  for  frames.  Or  they  may  be  planted  in  pits 
with  sufficient  piping  to  exclude  frost  in  the  severest  weather,  the 
plants  not  being  further  from  the  glass  that  12  to  18  inches.  Lifted 
with  balls  and  placed  closely  together  with  some  rich  compost  for 
packing,  the  plants  take  hold  of  the  new  material  and  push  flowers 
abundantly  from  November  to  the  middle  of  February.  The  plants 
can  be  used  about  every  second  year,  being  planted  out  after  flowering. 
— G.  Abbey. 
YALE  ROYAL,  CHESHIRE. 
This  beautiful  domain,  situated  near  Northwich,  is  the  seat  of  Lord 
Delamere.  It  stands  amidst  charming  scenery,  close  to  the  banks  of  the 
river  Weaver.  Yale  Royal  was  the  site  of  a  Cistercian  monastery, 
founded  in  1277  A.D.,  part  of  the  old  Abbey  being  incorporated  in  the 
present  building.  The  hall  is  of  red  sandstone,  and  consists  of  a  centre 
and  two  wings.  It  was  considerably  improved  and  restored  by  the  late 
and  second  Baron  Delamere.  The  entrance  porch  in  the  centre  is  very 
tine,  and  in  the  anteroom  adjoining  the  walls  are  covered  with  implements 
of  war  and  trophies  of  the  chase.  In  this  room,  and  in  the  corridor,  the 
windows  are  richly  dight  with  stained  glass,  principally  heraldic.  The 
great  hall,  70  feet  long,  with  vaulted  roof  with  ribs  of  oak,  contains 
family  portraits,  some  of  them  by  Rubens.  The  present  Lord  Delamere 
is  a  mighty  hunter,  and  two  room3  are  devoted  to  the  big  game  tnat  has 
fallen  to  his  prowess.  The  walls  are  covered  with  heads  of  lions,  tigers, 
innumerable  species  of  deer  and  antelopes,  with  single  heads,  consisting 
of  an  elephant’s  head  and  trunk,  a  rhinoceros,  a  hippopotamus,  zebra, 
and  giraffe.  Large  glass  cases  contained  two  remarkably  fine  lions  in 
combat,  another  large  lion  and  a  tiger,  besides  a  large  quantity  and 
variety  of  skins.  _ 
The  park  at  Yale  Royal  extends  to  450  acres.  But  the  gardens  for 
some  time  have  been  allowed  to  go  back.  However,  with  the  recent 
marriage  of  Lord  Delamere  to  a  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Enniskillin,  and 
the  appointment  last  spring  of  a  young  and  energetic  gardener,  Yale 
Royal  has  already  gained  some  of  its  pristine  beauty.  Of  course  a  dreary 
December  day  is  not  one  to  admire  Nature’s  wealth  of  charms,  and  par¬ 
ticularly  when  frosts  and  snows  have  for  a  time  locked  earth’s  beauties 
in  the  tomb.  However,  I  had  a  very  kind  reception  from  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Russel. 
The  first  houses  I  entered  formed  a  fruit  range  houses  of  about  300  feet 
in  length,  and  comprised  three  Peach  houses,  the  trees  of  which  are  old, 
but  very  well  set  with  buds  and  well  ripened  ;  three  vineries,  but  contain¬ 
ing  somewhat  ancient  Vines,  and  Mr.  Russel  has  made  a  start  to  renovate 
two  of  them.  One  is  to  be  planted  with  good  canes  of  Muscat  of  Alex¬ 
andria,  the  other  with  Madresfield  Court,  with  a  rod  in  each  of  Gros 
Maroc.  A  small  conservatory  adjoins  the  mansion,  the  back  wall  of  which 
is  covered  with  Ivy-leaved  and  single  Zonal  Pelargoniums.  The  floor 
and  side  stages  were  arranged  with  small  Palms,  Tree  Perns,  and  other 
decorative  plants  The  two  supporting  girders  to  the  roof  Mr.  Russel 
has  planted  with  white  Clematis,  which  will  be  most  effective. 
We  next  inspected  what  I  think  is  the  most  imposing  house  on  the 
estate.  It  has  a  length  of  120  feet,  a  breadth  of  12  leet,  and  a  height  of 
20  feet,  with  a  lantern  roof.  It  has  two  transepts  midway,  each  having  a 
length  of  16  feet  by  a  breadth  of  12  feet.  Running  the  whole  length  on 
each  side,  and  continued  along  the  transepts,  is  an  open  stage  of  3  feet  in 
breadth,  under  which  Mr.  Russel  has  formed  a  narrow  border,  enclosed 
like  a  box,  and  has  planted  thirty  varieties  of  climbing  Roses,  Teas, 
Noisettes,  and  Bourbons.  They  were  planted  early  last  summer,  and 
have  made  fine  growth,  and  will,  when  established,  produce  a  grand 
arcade,  from  which  it  will  be  possible  to  cut  Roses  in  profusion  at  any 
period  of  the  year.  Amongst  the  varieties  I  noticed  were  Mardchnl  Niel, 
Gloire  de  Dijon,  Reve  d  Or,  W.  A.  Richardson,  Belle  Lyonnaise,  Madame 
Pierre  Cochet,  Solfaterre,  Safrano,  Climbing  Niphetos,  Madame  Alfred 
Carriere,  Ophirie,  and  Triomphe  de  Rennes. 
A  span-roofed  Carnation  house  held  a  stock  of  about  250  young, 
clean,  healthy  Malmaisons  of  the  older  varieties,  with  about  fifty  Church¬ 
warden  and  several  dozens  each  of  Uriah  Pike  and  Duchess  Consuela, 
as  well  as  a  number  of  tree  varieties  and  several  dozens  of  Germania.  It 
would  not  be  easy  to  find  a  healthier  collection.  Mr.  Russel,  it  may  be 
worth  mentioning,  strives  to  keep  the  temperature  at  about  40°.  Roses 
in  10-inch  tubs  occupied  another  structure.  They  were  mainly  repre¬ 
sented  by  Niphetos  in  fine  bushes,  and  there  w’ould  probably  be  about 
two  dozen  plants.  In  an  adjacent  house  were  small  Crotons  and  Garde¬ 
nias  with  other  warm  house  plants.  A  50  feet  three-quarter  span-roofed 
house  was  filled  with  large  plants  of  Ccelogyne  ciistata,  tbe  remaining 
space  being  occupied  with  Cypripedium  insigne,  Zygopetalum  Mackayi, 
and  a  few  dozens  of  large  Adiantum  cuneatum.  A  rock  fernery  50  feet 
long  had  about  two  dozen  robust  plants  of  Asparagus  plumosus  trained  up 
the  front  of  the  roof.  Prom  this  house  frost  is  only  just  excluded. 
There  are  four  other  vineries,  but  the  Vines  are  old,  and  they  will  be 
gradually  replaced  by  younger  canes.  Two  other  span-roofed  houses  are 
filled  with  Roman  Hyacinths  and  Smilax  asparagoides.  It  will  be 
observed  that  as  yet  plants  are  not  largely  grown,  as  Lord  and  Lady 
Delamere  have  been  very  little  in  residence,  and  are  now  abroad. 
The  time  of  my  visit  precludes  me  saying  much  about  the  outdoor 
garden.  In  a  large  patch  of  grass  near  the  mansion  Mr.  Russel  has 
planted  in  informal  beds  400  Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses.  Crimson  Rambler 
has  been  planted  on  various  walls  in  company  with  other  climbing  plants. 
There  are  several  acres  of  kitchen  garden  and  a  large  orchard  of  fine 
young  half-standard  trees,  probably  nine  or  ten  years  of  age,  very  clean, 
hea'thy  and  fruitful.  These  consist  of  the  best  varieties  of  cooking 
Apples,  such  as  Lord  Grosvenor,  Lord  Derby,  Lord  Suffield,  Ecklinville 
Seedling,  Bramley’s  Seedling,  Cox’s  Pomona,  Lane’s  Prince  Albert,  and 
Warner’s  King.  I  had  almost  forgotten  to  mention  many  fine  stocks  of 
Callas  in.  10-inch  pots  and  tubs.  There  are  about  a  hundred  plants, 
each  pot  or  tub  having  at  least  six  spikes,  and  they  will  be  most 
effective  in  the  new  year.  These  Callas  are  remarkable  for  their 
health,  without  gross  leaf  growth.  Mr.  Russel  informs  me  they  had  not 
been  disturbed  at  the  roots  during  last  season,  but  the  pots  or  tubs  were 
plunged  in  the  open. — F.  Street. 
