28 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  12,  1900. 
liegis,  Madame  Pernet  Ducher,  Gloire  de  Polyantha,  W.  A.  Richardson, 
with  the  lovely  single  Roses  Bardou  Job,  Macrantha,  and  scores  of 
( thers  I  could  name,  will  increase  in  popularity  as  time  goes  on,  both 
in  the  garden  and  in  the  show  tent.  I  advise  everyone  to  grow  them, 
and  to  hope,  if  they  bec(  me  exhibitors,  that  the  committees  ot  the 
gieat  Rose  and  Horticultural  Societies  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland 
will,  when  forming  their  prize  list,  give  this  class  of  Rose  the 
attention  it  de-serves.  I  hardly  think  that  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  offers  prizes  half  substantial  enough  to  induce  exhibitors  from 
any  distance  to  compete  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster,  when  we  take 
into  consideration  the  expense  of  time,  trouble,  and  money — not 
including  the  detraction  from  the  beauty  of  one’s  Rose  garden — 
entailed  in  cutting,  staging,  and  conveying  eighteen  or  thirty-six 
distinct  bunches  cf  beautiful  garden  Roses,  amongst  others,  in  these 
days  of  excessive  railway  rates,  to  shows  150  miles  away,  and  similar 
to  those  held  at  the  Drill  Hall,  to  compete  for  a  30s.  or  £3  first  prize 
eighteen  or  thirty-six  bunches  of  lovely  flowers  ! — H.  Y.  Machin, 
Oateford  Hill. 
- - 
Tlie  Nature  of  ttje  Beast. 
It  must  be  several  years  since  I  wrote  to  the  Journal  on  this 
subject,  a  matter  in  the  judging  of  Roses,  in  which  I  found  that  I 
differed  from  some  of  my  confreres,  and  whereon  I  sought  to  obtain  a 
consensus  of  opinion.  As  far  as  I  can  remember  there  was  no  answer 
to  my  letter;  the  matter  has  never  been  argued,  that  I  know  of, 
before  the  N.R.S.  One  of  the  N.R.S.  regulations  seems  to  favour  my 
view,  and  one  to  be  against  it,  and  I  have  lately  gathered  that  seme 
first-class  judges  are  even  more  opposed  to  my  principles  than  ever. 
The  matter  arose  thus.  I  was  judging  at  the  Crystal  Palace 
with  the  late  T.  ^V.  Girdlestone,  and  we  came  to  Jules  Finger,  T. 
(I  think  it  was  a  triplet).  He  was  for  giving  it  full  points,  but  I 
objected  that  not  only  were  the  blooms  flat-topped  or  “  bull¬ 
headed,”  but  that  (owing  to  their  being  a  little  too  old)  they  had 
passed  to  that  horrid  livid  hue  which  is  characteristic  of  the  variety 
under  such  circumstances.  His  reply  was,  “  Oh  !  that  is  the  nature 
of  the  beast,”  as  if  that  was  a  reason  for  making  allowance  for  it. 
My  original  question  to  the  Journal  was,  “Are  we  to  judge  each 
bloom  according  to  the  nature  of  the  beast — that  is,  according  to 
our  knowledge  of  wdiat  should  he  the  best  type  of  the  variety  -  or 
are  we  to  judge  each  bloom  (as  I  maintain)  without  any  reference  at 
all  to  what  variety  it  is,  in  comparison  with  a  beautiful  Rose  previously 
chosen  as  a  three-point  standard  for  the  class  being  judged  ?” 
As  I  have  said,  no  answer  was  given,  and  I  do  not  know  that  the 
matter  was  ever  argued;  but  I  believe  it  was  after  this  that  t  e 
following  was  added  to  Method  of  Judging,  par.  5,  page  13,  of  the 
Is. R.S.  Schedule  and  Report: — “A  typical  bloom  of  a  three-point 
Rose  (which  may  be  carried  by  one  of  the  judges)  should  be  selected 
and  referred  to  as  necessary  in  order  to  keep  up  a  uniform  standard 
throughout  the  exhibits.” 
This  is  a  strong  pronouncement  against  “  the  nature  of  the  beast  ” 
method  of  judging.  I  should  like  to  see  it  read  “  which  slmll  be 
carried.”  I  suspect  it  is  seldom  that  the  standard  Rose  is  referred  to. 
One  hears  ‘  Oh  !  that  bloom  is  not  big  enough  for  an  Ulrich  Brunner ; 
that  one  is  not  grand  enough  for  Horace  Vernet.”  But  I  maintain 
that,  provided  the  bloom  being  judged  is  up  to  the  standard  three- 
];ointer  chosen  in  shape,  colour,  and  size,  it  is  worth  three  points, 
whatever  its  name  may  be.  And,  vice  versa,  that  no  allowance 
should  be  made  for  natural  defects,  rarity,  or  diflSculty  of  growing 
in  the  variety  to  make  up  for  any  deficiency  in  comparison  with 
the  standard. 
But  now  I  must  confess  that  the  “  definitions,”  page  14  of 
schedule,  are  against  me.  For  definition  5  runs — “Size  shall  imply 
that  the  bloom  is  a  full  size  representative  specimen  of  the  variety.” 
Surely  a  little  reflection  will  show  that  this  is  absurd.  By  it  can  you 
not  only  find  no  fault  with,  say,  Duchesse  de  Caylus  in  comparison 
with  Gustave  Piganeau  in  point  of  size,  provided  the  former  is  a  “  full 
size  representative  specimen  of  the  variety  but — to  make  a  reductio 
o.d  absurdum — the  same  may  be  said  of  William  Allen  Richardson, 
(  r  even  Perle  d’Or.  It  may  be  said,  perhaps,  “these  are  not  exhibition 
Roses;”  but  I  have  never  heard  that  we  are  limited  in  the  mixed 
classes  to  Roses  in  the  N.R.S.  exhibition  list.  I  have  seen  many  that 
never  are  or  have  been  in  that  list  in  the  champion  seventy-two’s  at 
the  Palace.  Already  this  year,  in  judging  by  myself,  I  found  a  very 
fine  Rainbow  in  one  of  the  stands,  and  had  no  hesitation  in  awarding 
it  full  points.  I  purpose,  therefore,  at  the  next  N.R.S.  general 
meeting  to  move  that  definition  5  shall  be  amended,  so  as  to  read — 
“  Size  shall  impJy  that  the  bloom  does  not,  in  respect  of  size,  fall 
below  the  standard  three-point  bloom  chosen  (as  in  method  5).” — 
W.  R.  Raillebi.  . 
IJose  Beauty. 
The  various  sections  of  Roses  vie  with  each  other  in  producing 
charming  effects  of  graceful  growth  and  beauty  of  colouring  in  leaf 
and  flowtr.  Large  size  and  absolutely  perfect  fl  ash  of  individual 
blooms  are  seldom  found  on  plants  allowed  to  grow  with  more 
than  ordinary  freedom,  but  this  is  more  than  compensated  by  the 
profusion  of  flowers  they  present.  The  formality  of  growth  and  the 
paucity  of  flowers  necessary  to  secure  exhibition  blooms  constitute 
one  lorm  of  beauty  reaching  its  climax  in  the  shape  of  a  fully 
developed  and  perfect  flower.  Such  Roses  are  coveted  and  admired 
because  they  show  what  a  Rose,  bloom  is  capable  of  attaining  to — 
size,  beauty  of  form,  substance  of  petal,  and  depth  of  colouring  or 
richness  of  shade  and  tint.  A  half-opened  Rose  bud  developed  to 
that  condition  by  the  genial  influences  of  moisture  and  food  in  the 
soil  and  warmth  in  the  atmosphere  is  a  revelation  of  extraordinary 
beauty  and  purity,  especially  when  the  freshness  of  the  morning  dew 
is  upon  it.  Its  beauty  is  transient,  but  impressive.  A  number  of  such 
blooms  equal  in  quality,  when  arranged  together  in  a  tasteful  fashion,, 
form  a  unique  combination,  especially  if  various  colours  are  suitably 
blended. 
The  Hybrid  Perpetuals  are  noted  for  their  rich  and  velvety 
colouring,  the  darkest  blooming  Roses  being  found  among  them.  The 
'I'ea-scented  class  possesses  some  of  the  choicest  Roses  in  delicacy  of 
tint  and  shade  of  colour.  In  beauty  of  form  and  fragrance  they  equal, 
if  they  do  not  surpass,  all  others.  Standard  Roses  having  a  good  head, 
of  growth  and  bearing  blooms  freely  may  often  be  met  with,  and  they 
usually  constitute  a  beautiful  feature  in  old-fashioned  gardens.  Dwarfs, 
if  kept  low  and  bushy,  and  clothed  with  healthy  foliage  to  the  ground, 
have  a  special  claim  to  be  termed  beautiful  when  studded  with  bloom 
buds  in  various  stages.  Beds  of  dwarfs  comprising  one  variety  only 
should  be  made  a  special  feature  in  large  Rose  gardens.  All  the  plants 
will  flower  together,  and  enhance  the  effect  for  the  time  being. 
Mas^ing  varieties  of  one  colour,  or  approximate  colours,  in  one  bed, 
would  give  many  beautiful  shades,  and  a  considerable  amount 
of  interest.  There  are  many  varieties  of  red,  dark  crimson,  light 
crimson,  rose,  white,  pale  blush,  and  yellow  Roses  adapted  for  the 
purpose.  Large  or  small  beds  of  each  of  these  coLurs  would  give  a 
superb  display. 
Beauty  can  also  be  found  in  trained  climbers.  The  branches  may 
present  at  various  seasons  some  formality  of  arrangement,  that  being 
necessary  to  secure  well  ripened  growth,  but  freedom  may  be  allowed 
the  new  growth  during  the  blocming  period,  so  as  to  display  to  the 
fullest  advantage  the  blooms,  singly  or  in  clusters,  according  to  the 
variety.  Certain  classes  of  Roses  are  seen  under  the  best  possible 
conditions  when  encouraged  to  climb  and  ramble  at  will,  giving  them 
suitable  space  on  which  to  do  so,  such  as  walls,  fences,  tree  stumps,, 
trelliswork,  and  pillars.  The  Polyantha  Rose  Crimson  Rambler  likes 
^■pace  and  freedom.  Evergreen  and  Ayrshire  Roses  love  to  ramble 
in  wild  profusion.  Some  of  the  Noisettes,  including  Aimee  Yibert, 
Alister  Stella  Gray,  are  wonderfully  prolific  in  flowering  under  these- 
conditions,  while  the  single  Roses  would  lose  ha  f  their  charm  if 
Hstricted  to  formal  types  of  training.  Though  the  flowers  are  hot. 
large,  a  number  of  them  produces  a  pretty  effect. — H.  T. 
- - 
Feeding  Roses. 
The  season  has  now  arrived  when  trees  and  bushes  in  the  open- 
air  need  abundance  of  stimulating  food  to  enable  them  to  develop  fine 
flowers  and  keep  insects  at  bay.  In  the  case  of  the  H.P.,  many  of 
the  early  flowers  are  over,  but  successional  buds  are  coming  on 
rapidly,  and  wi  1  supply  plenty  of  flowers  for  the  next  few  w'eeks. 
Many  of  the  Teas,  su  .h  as  the  Hon.  Edith  Gifford,  Madame  Lambard,. 
and  Niphetos,  are  such  continuous  bloomers,  thatgeod  trees  are  seldom 
without  flowers  throughout  the  season,  and  it  is  theie  ore  essential 
that  regular  feeding  be  practised.  Up  till  the  present  time  the  weather 
has  been  wet,  so  that  mulching  even  on  light  soils  h  s  not  been 
necessary,  but  a  change  seems  to  have  come  at  last,  and  in  those  cases 
where  mulching  is  not  objectionable  on  account  of  appearances  it 
should  be  done  at  once.  Before  doing  this  a  little  guano  or  chemical 
manure  should  be  scattered  upon  the  surface  of  the  soil  and  hoed  in.. 
If  a  3  or  4-inch  layer  of  stable  or  cow  manure  is  then  spread  evenly 
over  it,  and  the  whole  is  given  a  thorough  watering,  the  roots  are  kept 
cool  and  moist  for  a  long  time,  and  the  glossy  leaves  and  well  coloured 
flowers  show  that  the  treatment  is  productive  of  improved  results. 
I'uring  the  prevalence  of  hot  weather,  if  liquid  manure  is  given  once 
a  wetk  the  trees  will  be  kept  in  vigorous  health  throughout  the^ 
summer.  In  light  soils  one  may  get  plenty  of  Roses,  but  to  obtaiii 
fine  blooms  I  have  always  found  continuous  feeding  necessary. — H.  D.> 
