April  6,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
279 
catalogue  Cheshunt  Hybrid  and  Thomas  Mills  as  “  robust,”  Gustave 
Piganeau  as  “vigorous,”  and  note  that  the  description  “moderate” 
not  considered  necessary  when  applied  to  the  growth  and  habit  of  a 
Rose  tree,  then  I  shrug  my  shoulders  and  say,  “  Well  !” 
We  will  suppose  a  case  in  point.  We  have  often  seen  a  couple  of 
dear  ladies  of  uncertain  age  at  the  local  Rose  Show  intensely  interested, 
examining  closely  through  their  glasses  each  flower.  “Maria,  do  look 
at  this  one,  did  you  ever  see  such  delicacy  in  colour  and  form  ?  Please 
note  it  down,  Pll  spell  it  out  while  you  write.”  It  is  at  last  written 
down,  “  Marguerite  Boudet.”  This,  with  several  others  w^hich  have 
attracted  the  eyes  of  these  good  ladies  are  duly  jotted  down.  Now, 
Maria  and  her  maiden  sister  are  nothing  if  not  practical,  and  so  they 
take  in  between  them  a  gardening  paper;  they  digest  what  they  read, 
and  being  warned  to  grow  only  vigorous  growing  Roses,  turn  to  the 
printed  catalogue  of  the  local  nurseryman  and  find  perhaps  marked  as 
“vigorous”  the  Marguerite  above  mentioned,  also  Louis  Van  IJoutte, 
Marie  Pinger,  Horace  Vernet,  Xavier  Olibo,  and  others  of  Gueen 
Flora’s  beauties.  Twelve  months  later,  and  how  great  is  the  disappoint¬ 
ment  !  I  can  personally  vouch  for  many  such  disappointments  during 
a  j^eriod  of  nearly  thirty  years’  experience  within  the  Rose  ring. 
One  of  the  most  accurate  catalogues  in  which  the  habit  of  each 
Rose  is  most  fairly  described  is,  to  my  mind,  that  issued  by  Messrs. 
Wm.  Paul  &  Son,  of  Waltham  Cross.  For  instance,  he  classes  among 
the  moderate  growers  the  following :  A.  K.  Williams,  Duchess  of 
Bedford  (one  of  this  firm’s  own  raising),  E.Y.  Teas,  Gustave  Piganeau, 
La  France.  Louis  V.  Houtte,  Marie  Finger,  Victor  Hugo,  Sultan  of 
Zanzibar,  Xavier  Olibo,  and  others.  This  is  ns  it  should  be,  and  yet 
in  one  catalogue  referred  to  the  1st,  2nd,  5tb,  7th,  8th  and  9th  of  the 
above  are  generally  described  as  jmssessing  a  vigorous  habit. 
About  Teas.  ;  •  >  .  • 
To  change  the  subject,  or  rather  cross  the  road,  for  we  grow,  our 
Teas  on  the  other  side,  on  the  high  land  looking  towards  the  ijpigh- 
bouring  county  of  Kent,  in  which  the  Rev.  H.  B.  ,,Rirpo.  Ij.yegp  and  f 
from  whom  I  will  again  cite  as  follows:  “With  Teas  ,p^i;o]^er  it  .s.pems 
the  wisest  plan  is  only  to  remove  the  very  weak  or  crowded  sljpots. 
Many  years  I  have  adopted  this  method,  and  have  found  it  better  than 
either  close  or  even  moderate  pruning.  It  is  impossible  to  say  fnan 
what  part  of  a  Tea  Rose  a  good  shoot  will  spring.  Often  they  appear 
from  an  old  piece  of  wood  with  no  perceptible  eye"  (again  my  italics). 
I  think  these  words  would  lead  to  an  interesting  discussion  in  your 
pages,  and  practical  evidence  given  in  time  for  the  pruning  of  our 
Teas  this  month.  With  the  concluding  words  of  the  paragraph  I  am 
quoting  I  quite  agree.  “  The  more  wmod  a  Tea  Rose  has  the  belter 
the  flowers  are.  I  may  here  say  that  I  heard  lately  from  one  of  our 
most  successful  'I'ea  growers  that  he  would  have  no  more  hard 
pruning.”  Is  it  possible  that  this  grower  lives  in  Ceylon  ? — J.  A.  W. 
New  Seedling  Pedigree  Hoses. 
On  page  237  of  the  Journal,  of  Horticulture  I  gave  the  names  of 
five  new  Roses  to  be  sent  out  in  the  coming  May.  Other  novelties 
seen  last  season  are  also  to  be  distributed,  but  the  following  are  of 
such  extra  merit,  and  so  indispensable  to  all  exhibitors,  that  a  note 
should  at  once  be  made  of  them,  and  so  save  time  in  the  near  future, 
this,  of  course,  applying  particularly  to  tho.-e  who  had  not  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  some  of  them  exhibited  last  season. 
Ulster. — A  grand  variety  in  every  way  as  regards  habit  of  growth 
(which  is  robust)  and  freedom  of  bloom.  It  is  a  H.P.,  with  blooms  of 
an  intense  pink;  large  size  and  perfect  form.  Judging  from  the 
plants  in  bloom,  this  should  succeed  where  Her  Majesty  fails.  This 
variety  was  awarded  a  gold  medal  in  1897. 
Bessie  Brown. — This  charming  Hybrid  Tea  has  met  with  admira¬ 
tion  wherever  shown,  and  deservedly  so,  for  nothing  more  beautiful 
could  possibly  be  seen,  the  shell-like  broad  petals,  of  a  flesh-hke  tint, 
almost  looking  artificial,  either  by  day  or  night. 
Mrs.  Mawley. — Wherever  this  lovely  Tea  variety  was  seen  last 
last  season,  there  was  only  one  opinion — viz.,  that  it  had  come  to  stay. 
The  blooms  are  of  the  finest  size  and  form,  and  the  growth  is  excellent. 
The  colour  is  of  a  soft  pink,  with  lighter  shades  of  pale  gold  running 
through,  giving  the  flower  a  graceful  appearance.  The  two  latter 
were  awarded  gold  medals  in  1898. 
Shandon. — Another  H.T.,  somewhat  after  the  style  of  the  popular 
Countess  of  Caledon,  sent  out  in  1897.  This  new  variety  has  soft 
rosy-pink  shell-shaped  petals,  silver  tipped,  with  slight  reflex,  and  is 
highly  perfumed. 
In  addition  to  the  above  four  I  had  the  pleasure  of  thoroughly 
testing  the  behaviour  of  other  new  seedlings  not  seen  outside  the 
exhibition  board. 
Mildred  Grant. — This  is  a  lovely  pure  Tea  variety.  Anvthing 
more  free  blooming  I  have  not  liad  the  pleasure  of  seeing,  flowers 
measured  being  4  inches  deep  and  7  inches  in  diameter. 
Alice  Grahame. — This  flowers  profusely.  The  colour  is  almost 
pure  white,  save  for  t'ae  faint  lemon  tinge. 
Duchess  of  Bortland.—Th\9,  has  been  by  some  persons  considered 
identical  with  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria,  but  growing  side  by  side 
one  had  not  to  look  twice  to  see  the  difference.  The  Duchess  has 
a  more  robust  habit,  whilst  the  flowers  are  of  a  more  intense  canary 
yellow. 
Countess  of  Anncsley. — This  is  a  fine  variety  of  a  beautiful  delicate 
flesh  tint. 
Mrs.  David  McKee. — This  is  a  free  growing  variety  of  a  creamy 
white  shade  with  a  pink  centre. 
Many  continental  varieties  were  on  trial,  and  several  of  promise 
were  noted,  but  as  my  notes  on  new  seedling  pedigree  Roses  are 
written  with  a  view  to  drawing  attention  to  the  varieties  which  are 
likely  to  be  seen  in  fine  condition  during  the  present  season,  I  must 
leave  the  Continental  and  other  sections  until  I  can  see  them  again. 
One  thing  that  we  must  admire  in  Messrs.  Dicksons  is  the  thorough 
earnestness  they  jmt  into  their  work,  and  the  courtesy  extended  to  all 
visitors. — A  Visitor. 
WINTER  GREENS. 
The  brevities  which  appeared  under  this  heading  by  “E.  D.  S.f 
page  ‘2:^15,  were  interesting  as  well  as  {iractical,  but  I  could  not  help  being 
struclj  with  the  mixture  that  supports  the  text — “Winter  Greens.’ 
Cauliflowers  and  Broccoli  certainly  might  take  offence  at  such  a  title, 
for  they  have  an  aristocratic  bearing  quite  unknown  to  the  more  humble- 
cottagers’  and  servants’  hall  vegetable,  and  gardeners,  as  a  rule,  would 
not  know  or  recognise  them  described  as  “  winter  greens.”  The  latter 
term  cannot  be  taken  to  represent  comprehensively  the  varieties  of  the 
Brassica  family,  because  from  all  time  it  has  been  taken  as  descriptive  of 
the  various  sorts  ol  Borecole.  That  these  are  a  splendid  vegetable  for 
everyday  use  no  one  can  dispute,  for  they  do,  when  purposely  treated,, 
withstand  tbe- frosty  elements  better  than  most  vegetables,  and  supply  the 
table  when  others  tail,  and  when  variety  is  by  no  means  extensive. 
I  In  ihese  there  is  a  great  diversity  of  character,  and  much  stress  and 
importance  comes  from  any  slight  or  variab:e  character  that  the  hjbridist 
may  impart  ;  but,  after  all,  a  little  more  curl  or  other  slight  variation 
do  not  make  their  appearance  any  better  on  the  table  when  cooked,  and 
there  would  seem  to  be  as  many  flavours  as  there  may  be  retjuired  to 
suit  everyone.  There  is  not,  to  my  mind,  any  among  new  or  old,  tall  or 
dwarf,  curled  or  plain,  that  can  surpass  the  old  Cottagers’  Kale  in  point 
of  quality,  freedom  in  production,  or  hardy  constitution.  I  will  not  say 
that  this  supplies  every  need — certainly  it  does  not — for  its  seasoii  of 
usefulness  does  not  extend  late  into  the  spring,  and  iherclore  it  requires 
a  companion  to  carry  on  the  supply  when  the  old  Cottager  persists  in 
supplying  flowers  instead  of  edible  “greens” — a  feast  lor  the  e^'e  instead 
of  the  body.  Variety,  however,,  affords  a  measure  of  interest  to  almost 
every  gardener,  more  or  less,  according  to  the  means  at  his  disposal,  and 
will  always  remain  so. 
I  take  it  to  be  a  matter  of  opinion  whether  drill  or  broadcast  sowing 
is  adopted.  “E.  D.  S.”  evidently  favours  the  latter  course,  judging^  by 
the  advice  he  gives  in  his  notes  under  notice.  There  may  be  exceptions 
taken  to  both  practices,  and  while  one  may  argue  in  favour  ot  the  one, 
another  would  stand  by  the  other  wdth  the  same  self-satisfaction.  It  is, 
therefore,  unnecessary  to  raise  any  debating  argument  in  favour  of  one, 
or  against  the  other.  ■  Personally  I  adopt  both  when  circumstances 
require  it,  but  in  the  ofien  border,  when  the  maincrops  are  sown,  and 
there  are  many  varieties  to  deal  with,  I  prefer  drills,  because  1  think  it 
is  simpler,  and  the  sod  can  be  kept  free  from  weeds  so  much  more  easily. 
Thinly  sown  in  beds  broadcast  better  rooted  plants  may  be  drawn  for 
planting,  provided  they  are  kept  weeded,  but  when  both  are  allowed 
to  grow  together,  weeds  give  one  the  impression  of  having  greater 
priority  of  space,  and  the  plants  in  their  effort  to  rise  to  the  occasion 
become  sometimes  long-legged  and  awkward  for  planiiug  purpeses.  In 
drills  greater  facilities  are  afforded  for  dealing  adversely  with  the  one, 
and  beneficially  to  the  other  by  the  occasional  or  frequent  use  of  the- 
Dutch  hoe. 
In  small  sowings  of  early  vegetables,  for  which  selected  spots  are 
sought,  broadcast  sowing  is  most  suitable,  and  the  same  occur  with 
the  latest  Winter  Greens,  Broccoli,  Savoys,  and  Cauliflowers.  They  are 
thus  more  easily  protected  against  insect  and  other  interferences,  and 
neither  late  nor  early  sowings  are  permitted  to  stay  so  long  in  the  seed 
bed  as  maincrops  often  do,  simply  because  in  each  case  vacant  ground  is 
more  easily  found  for  planting  them. 
Just  as  germination  commences,  if  not  before,  protection  must  be 
given  against  birds,  says  “E.  D.  S.,”  with  which  I  entirely  agre^ 
After  various  disappointments  I  now  put  on  nets  at  the  time  of^  seed 
sowing,  from  which  comes  greater  esse  of  mind  and  better  results.  Slugs, 
however,  are  not  so  easily  kept  at  bay,  at  least  I  have  not  in  my  past 
experience  found  it  to  be  so,  and  large  earthworms  are  in  showery  weather 
almost  as  troublesome  as  slugs. 
Early  sowings  outdoors  of  Brussels  Sprouts,  Cauliflowers,  and  l  urnip 
have  felt  the  pinch  of  the  present  wintry  weather,  even  in  positions 
specially  favoured  by  warmth  from  sunshine  and  protective  and  lofty 
walls.  The  frost,  though  severe,  was  not  so  destructive  until  the  snevv- 
storms  supplied  moisture  to  the  soil.  'Bender  seedlings  endure  the  cold 
but  on  their  moistened  leaves  frost  takes  a  seiious  advantage,  so  much  so 
that  their  future  usefulness  cannot  be  easily  guaged. — \V .  8.,  Wilts. 
