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JOURNAL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  12,  1901. 
Gadding  and  Gathering. 
“Here  ’awa,  There  aw  a.” 
The  Old  Rose  Gardens,  Colchester. 
Messrp.  B.  R.  Cant  &  Sons  have  recently  entered  the  ranks  of  Rose 
hybridists,  for  it  is  a  patent  fact  that  all  extensive  cultivators  of  the 
Rose  for  commercial  purposes  do  not  attempt  to  raise  new  varieties;  the 
bnlk  of  the  commercialists,  indeed,  are  merely  nurserymen,  that  is, 
they  raise  stocks  of  existing  sorts,  but  seldom  emanate  improved 
varieties  as  a  result  of  any  hybridising  effort  of  theirs.  Amongst  the  new 
varieties  that  have  already  gained  considerable  reputation,  whose  origin 
was  here,  are  the  H.P.  B^n  Cant,  and  the  Tea-scented  Mrs.  B.  R.  Cant. 
Climbing  and  pillar  Roses  were  in  extraordinary  profusion.  The 
pretty  new  pink-flowered  Euphrosyne,  laden  with  flowers,  formed  a 
very  special  feature.  Near  by  it  were  handsome  masses  of  Dundee 
Rambler,  and  it  may  be  mentioned  in  passing  that  in  the  Old  Rose 
Gardens  there  is  perhaps  the  tallest  and  most  prodigious  hedge  of  this 
floriferous  variety  to  be  found  anywhere  in  the  United  Kingdom.  The 
Garland  is  too  well  known  to  call  for  description  ;  but  Rosa  fimbriata 
cannot  be  said  to  be  yet  so  popular.  The  flower  has  each  a  nicely 
frilled  edge,  hence  the  name.  Then  R.  polyantha  grandifl  rra,  whioh 
recently  figured  in  our  pages,  adds  another  of  the  climbing  Roses  to  the 
select  list.  Such  a  trio  as  the  yellow  Rambler,  R.  Aglaia  ;  the  Dawson 
Rose,  pink  and  early  flowering  ;  and,  thirdly,  Aimee  Vibert,  are  worthy 
of  all  at  ention.  The  Dawson  Rose  resulted  from  crossing  H.P.  General 
Jacqueminot  with  R.  multiflora.  It  is  a  very  showy  Rambler  Rose,  and 
suitable  for  effective  massing  in  large  beds  in  the  open  grounds.  Thalia 
ought  also  to  be  included. 
Amongst  the  brightest  and  best  of  the  bedding  Roses  comes 
Pabvrier,  happily  known  to  nearly  all  of  us.  Fellenberg,  with  the 
deepest  of  rose  pink  flower  cluster,  is  equally  desirable,  and  the  two 
Lameschs,  both  new — to  wit,  Eugenie  Lamesch  and  Leonie  Lamesch, 
are  capital  bedding  acquisitions.  Both  are  worthy  of  the  very  highest 
praise.  The  former  Bomewhat  approximates  to  Aglaia  in  co'our,  bnt 
the  latter  has  a  charming  and  wonderful  combination  of  colours.  It 
may  simply  be  described  as  orange-scarlet  toned  or  suffused  with 
cherry  red.  They  should  not  be  overlooked.  Eugdnie  Lamesch  was 
accorded  an  award  of  merit  in  the  Drill  Hall  on  July  30th.  Irene  Watts, 
Madame  E.  Resal,  Gloire  de  Polyantha,  Cecile  Brunner  (very  like  Perle 
d’Or),  and  Anna  Marie  de  Montravel,  are  all  suitable  and  oommendable 
bedding  and  general  decorative  garden  Roses. 
Of  course,  many  varieties,  principally  useful  for  the  ornamentation 
of  gardens,  can  also  be  obtained  in  high  form  for  the  exhibition  tables. 
Such  is  the  case  with  the  Noisette  Reve  d’Or. 
Georges  Schwartz  promises  to  be  one  of  the  finest  and  most  distinot 
dwarf  Roses,  suitable  for  a  variety  of  purposes,  that  has  recently  been 
acquired.  The  flowers  are  pale  yellow — a  rare  Rose  colour,  and  the 
foliage  is  of  a  dark  ruddy  shade.  All  in  all,  this  is  one  of  the  best 
novelties  the  Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  &  Sons  are  offering. 
All  the  well  known  indispensable  varieties  are  grown  liberally,  for  the 
Rose  grounds  cover  acres.  R.  rubrifolia,  with  glaucous  and  red  tinted 
stems  and  foliage,  has  all  of  a  sudden  sprung  into  popular  use  as  an 
adjunct  in  floral  decorations.  Rosa  in dioa  sanguinea  occupies  the  same 
place  amongst  bedding  Roses  that  La  Fayette  Begonia  does  amongst 
those  of  its  genus.  It  is  the  finest  deep  coloured,  glowing,  cherry-red 
variety  one  could  find  in  a  day’s  march  anywhere.  The  Tea  Golden 
Gate  might  be  noted,  and,  of  course,  Maman  Cochet  and  White  Maman 
Coohet  can  never  be  done  without.  Those  who  lack  that  comparatively 
new  variety  Mrs.  Ed.  Mawley  would  be  very  well  advised  were  they 
to  resolve  upon  getting  it ;  in  the  Ro«e  analysis  it  must  stand  high. 
Mrs.  Bosanquet,  with  pale  creamy  white  flowers,  and  Laurette  Messimy, 
with  lilac-rose  flowers,  are  both  vigorous.  The  Chinas  are  all  serviceable, 
and  amongst  these  the  crimson  and  common  Chinas  are.  preferable  to 
others.  H.P.  Gloire  de  Margottin  can  only  be  cited,  and  before 
concluding  one  must  recognise  the  olaims  of  such  other  Hybrid 
Perpetual  varieties  as  Marquis  of  Londonderry,  Marie  Rady,  Le  Havre, 
Margaret  Dickson,  Mrs.  Cocker  (both  the  latter  are  grand  to  say  the 
least),  A.  K.  Williams,  never  better  than  it  was  during  the  dry  weather  of 
July;  Captain  Hayward  ;  Black  Prince,  Bplendid  in  dry  weather  ;  Prince 
Arthur,  of  which  the  same  may  be  said ;  and  Prince  Camille  de  Rohan. 
That  excellent  variety,  Suzanne  Marie  Rodocanachi,  has  also  been  in 
A1  condition  during  the  past  summer,  not  forgetting  Xavier  Olibo,  one 
of  the  best  of  dark  crimsons  when  it  can  be  obtained  at  its  best.  Tom 
Wood  is,  perhaps,  not  always  dependable,  yet  is  a  fine  Rose ;  Victor 
Hugo,  Ulrich  Brunner,  and  Alfred  Colomb,  with  varying  shades  of  red, 
are  exhibition  Roses  of  the  first  water. 
Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  &  Sons  offer  what  they  term  “The  Dean’s 
Collection  ”  of  Roses.  This  refers  to  the  selection  of  all-round 
nuritorious  varieties  of  the  Rose  which  the  veteran  Dean  of  Rochester 
furnishes  in  his  pleasant  Rose  book.  To  many  cultivators  the  list 
selected  by  so  able  a  rosarian  must  have  been,  and  will  continue  to  be, 
of  great  value  and  guidance. 
The  new  Tea  Rose  Sunrise,  with  a  glorious  heterogeneity  of  colours, 
orange,  salmon,  pink  and  rose  all  mingled,  grows  out  of  doors  and 
flowers  fairly  well  in  these  nurseries.  Souvenir  de  S.  A.  Prince,  almost 
white,  is  another  lovely  Tea ;  Muriel  Grahame  and  Comtesse  de  Nadaillao 
are  also  the  creme  de  la  creme. 
A  brief  review  must  necessarily  be  very  incomplete,  yet  sufficient 
has  perhaps  been  written  to  draw  attention  to  the  finest  Roses  of  the 
season.  Soon  the  planting  season  will  be  upon  us,  whence  the  new 
varieties  not  yet  tried,  or  the  older  ones  that  hitherto  have  been  omitted, 
may  receive  the  consideration  their  merits  entitle  them  to. 
- - 
Conifers. 
Taxodium  distichum,  the  deciduous  or  white  Cypress,  is  a  very 
distinct  tree,  and  one  of  the  few  deciduous  Conifers.  It  grows  in 
swamps  in  its  native  country,  and  is  found  on  what  are  called  floating 
islands.  It  is  said  that  trees  growing  upon  these  islands  send  down 
strong  roots,  many  feet  or  yards  long,  so  as  to  cast  anchor  in  the 
muddy  bottom,  rendering  the  island  stationary.  It  is  quite  hardy,  and 
must  be  planted  in  moist  situations,  being  suitable  for  the  margins  of 
lakes  or  streams,  where  moisture  at  root  and  in  the  atmosphere 
abound.  In  its  young  state  it  presents  a  pyramidal  outline,  with 
slender  spreading  branches  but  after  arriving  at  maturity  the  upper 
branches  frequently  lengthen  and  the  tree  then  as-umes  a  broad 
Cedar-like  aspect.  The  foliage  is  a  soft  and  pleasing  green,  which 
changes  to  dull  red  before  it  falls  in  autumn.  In  its  native  country — 
the  South-eastern  States  of  North  America — large  conical  protuberances 
are  formed  on  the  roots.  It  may  be  interesting  to  quote  a  paragraph 
from  Veitch’s  “  Manual  of  the  Coniferse.”  “The  roots  of  large  trees, 
particularly  in  situations  subject  to  inundations,  become  covered  with 
conical  protuberances,  commonly  from  18  inches  to  2  feet  high,  and 
sometimes  from  4  to  5  feet  in  thickness ;  they  are  always  hollow, 
smooth  on  the  surface,  and  covered  with  a  reddish  bark  like  the  roots, 
which  they  resemble,  also  in  the  softness  of  their  wood.  No  cause  has 
been  assigned  for  their  existence,  they  are  peculiar  to  the  deciduous 
Cvpress,  and  begin  to  appear  when  it  is  from  20  to  25  feet  high. 
They  are  made  use  of  by  the  negroes  of  the  Southern  States  for  bee¬ 
hives.  These  protuberances  or  knees  are  rare  in  England.” 
Wellingtonia  gigantea. — This  interesting  and  wonderful  tree 
was  introduced  in  1853,  and  named  in  compliment  to  the  Duke  of 
Wellington.  It  is  also  known  as  Sequoia  gigantea,  the  Mammoth  Tree 
of  California.  In  America  it  is  known  as  Washingtonia  gigantea. 
This  is  the  largest  of  existing  trees,  is  popularly  known  as  the  King 
of  the  Forest.  It  remained  unknown  to  the  civilised  world  till  the 
spring  of  1852,  when  it  was  accidentally  discovered  by  a  hunter  in 
the  employ  of  the  Union  Water  Company  of  California.  The  age  of 
some  of  the  trees  is  estimated  at  3000  years,  and  for  others  a  still 
higher  antiquity  is  claimed.  It  attains  a  great  height.  Lord  Richard 
Grosvenor  in  1860  confirmed  a  statement  which  had  been  often 
repeated,  that  one  specimen  was  450  feet  in  height,  and  116  feet  in 
circumference.  A  great  deal  has  bee  i  written  about  the  Wellingtonia, 
and  many  interesting  particulars  given  as  to  the  size  of  certain  trees 
and  their  history,  which  we  cannot  enlarge  upon  here.  Though  such  a 
monster  tree,  its  seed  is  remarkably  small,  in  this  respect  seed  of  the 
Wellingtonia  resembles  that  of  the  Scripture  Mustard,  which  is  amongst 
the  least  of  all  seeds,  but  when  grown  it  is  the  greatest  among  herbs. 
It  will  thrive  in  soil  of  very  diversified  quality,  and  in  exposed 
situations,  where  many  of  our  choice  Conifers  would  fail.  All  the 
same,  I  have  noticed  that  when  planted  in  rather  a  sheltered  position 
the  trees  are  more  dense  and  the  foliage  more  green.  Quite  recently 
I  was  shown  a  number  of  trees  that  were  planted  almost  as  soon  as  it 
was  introduced;  1857  I  think  was  the  year.  They  were  growing  in  a 
very  exposed  and  cold  situation,  but  were  good  specimens,  with  very 
thick  trunks  and  drooping  branches.  The  leaves  were  darker  than 
any  I  had  seen  previously,  which  may  be  due  to  the  age  of  the  tree  or 
to  the  calcareous  soil. 
Sequoia  sempervirens,  the  Californian  Redwood,  is  closely  allied 
to  the  Wellingtonia,  and  takes  the  second  place  in  size  among  the 
gigantic  coniferous  trees  of  North-West  America,  attaining  a  height  of 
nearly  300  feet.  It  is  not  quite  so  hardy  nor  such  a  general  favourite 
as  that  tree.  It  differs  greatly  in  its  young  state  from  the 
Wellingtonia,  and  much  resembles  the  common  Yew.  The  branches 
are  flat,  the  leaves  arranged  in  two  rows ;  they  are  long,  linear,  flat, 
and  spreading,  bright  dark  green  above,  lighter  green  on  the  under 
side,  and  rather  pointed.  In  its  native  country  the  trunk  is  covered 
with  a  thick  spongy  bark  tinged  with  a  reddish  colour,  a  hue  that 
also  pervades  the  wood,  whence  the  popular  name  of  the  tree.  Early 
planted  trees  in  this  country  also  have  their  trunks  covered  with  this 
spongy  bark.  Sequoia  sempervirens  is  a  quick  growing  tree  when 
planted  in  a  warm,  moist  situation  ;  it  should  be  protected  from  cold 
winds  and  spring  frosts,  as  it  starts  into  growth  early,  and  is  liable 
to  be  injured.  Indeed  many  Conifers  that  have  been  introduced 
suffer  more  from  late  spring  frosts  than  from  the  ieveritv  of  our 
winters.  The  Redwood  is  the  most  valuable  of  all  the  Californian 
timber  trees  to  the  inhabitants  on  the  coast  and  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  the  districts  where  it  abounds,  but  rather  on  account 
of  its  cheapness  and  abundance  than  from  any  superior  qualities  it 
possesse.-. — PiNUS. 
