the wild rose 1871

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

1/48

http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org

The Garden : an illustrated weekly journal of gardening in all its branches.London :[s.n.,

http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/34135

v.55 1899: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/79340 Page(s): Page 423, Page 424, Page 425, Page 426, Page 427

Contributed by: UMass Amherst Libraries (archive.org)Sponsored by: UMass Amherst Libraries

Generated 20 November 2009 10:06 AMhttp://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/pdf2/001499800079340
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/34135http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/79340http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/pdf2/001499800079340http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/pdf2/001499800079340http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/79340http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/34135http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

2/48

This page intentionally left blank.

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

3/48

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

4/48

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

5/48

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

6/48

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

7/48

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

8/48

The following text is generated from uncorrected OCR.

[Begin Page: Page 423]

June 17, 1899.]

THE GAEDEX.

423

Rose Garden.

THE WILD ROSES.

In dealing with Roses as a whole one is im-

pressed chiefly with the vastness uf the sub-

ject. In all the range of cultivated plantsthere is no genus more confusing in its spe-

cies, its varieties, and even its nomencla-

ture. Many of the species have been cul-

tivated for centuries by civilised nations and

have broken into endless variations ; even in a

wild state they hybridise freely. Mr. W. Paul,

best worth growing for their beauty, grace andfragrance.

In writing about most hardy trees and

shrubs one is continually wondering and ex-

pressing one's wonder how it is that such

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

9/48

and such plants are "not more grown." I

really think that in no department of the

garden is so little advantage taken of the

splendid material at hand as among the hardy

trees and shrubs. The wild types of Rosa areno exception. I am afraid, indeed, they are

held rather in scorn by some. At any rate, they

have been to a great extent overlooked and ne-

Bosa repens {syn,, B. arvensis).

in the last edition of his " Rose Garden,"describes upwards of one thousand Hybrid Per-

petual and Tea Roses alone. An ordinary life-

time would not be too long to devote to the

thorough monographing of the genus Rosa. In

approaching the subject in a short paper, one

has either to confine one's self to some small

branch of it, or merely skim over the whole.The former appears tu be the more useful

course, and I propose now to devote a few notes

to drawing attention to what I consider the

best of the wild species and varieties looked

upon as purely garden plants in other words.

glected. This, no doubt, is partly because the

best sorts are not well known many of themdo not lend themselves to exhibition but more

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

10/48

perhaps because the wonderful beauty of the

Tea Roses, Hybrid Perpetuals, and others ofthat stamp have eclipsed their more modest

attractions. Probably the commonest criticism

respecting them is that they ilower for a com-paratively short time and only once a year.

There is no gainsaying this, but if we are going

to exclude all plants from our gardens that

flower but once a year we shall not have many; left. What we have to do is to consider them

on their own merits and not in comparison with

other Roses, and I am certain there are few

hardy shrubs whose grace, beauty and fragrance

surpass those of the best species of Rose. To

the beauty of the flowers of many species thatof the fruits also has to be added.

It is probable that in no well-known genus

does the estimate of the number of species vary

so much as in this. By some authorities it is

placed as low as thirty ; one author, however,

estimated the number of species at 250. As

species are reckoned now-a-days, there areprobably not many more than seventy of them.

In a wild state they are confined to the northern

hemisphere. They are most abundant in cool

temperate latitudes or altitudes, but some occur

in warm temperate regions. The great majority

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

11/48

of the species are hardy in Britain, and the

greater part of those that need greenhouse

treatment are not of great value, chiefly because

they do not flower well. It is with the hardy

ones only that I am going to concern myselfnow.

Clltivation. As a whole these plants are of

the simplest cultivation. A loamy soil such as

suits the garden types suits them, although, of

course, it need not be quite so rich. The Scotch

or Burnet Rose (Rosa spinosissima) is to someextent an exception in not requiring a soil of

more than moderate richness. Such pruning

as is necessary is of quite a difi'erent kind to

that practised on the Hybrid Perpetuals. It

is chiefly a matter of thinning. Little or no

shortening of the I growths should be done, but

the older, worn-out stems may be removedwith a view to letting light and air into the

bushes and giving them possibly a lighter and

more graceful aspect. These wild Roses are of

two types of growth the one rambling or

climbing, the other bushy and more or less

erect and sturdy. The climbing species, like

the Ayrshire and American Prairie Roses, can

be used for the same purposes to which mosthardy climbers are put. In the open ground

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

12/48

(away, that is, from walls, pergolas, etc.) a

good plan is to train them up three stakes putup pyramid fashion. These stakes should be,

it possible, rough, crooked branches of Oak, up

which the shoots may be loosely tied at first,but afterwards allowed to grow as freely as

they like. The positions in which the more

free-growing of these Roses (either climbing or

bushy) are seen to best advantage are thosewhere the plants can be allowed pretty much

their own way. They appeal to us most when

we see them as they are in Nature, growing

without restraint, and rambling over banks or

mounds, or even other shrubs. The stronger-

growing ones, therefore, are good for the wilder

parts of the garden. They are not suitable forsmall, trimly-kept beds or restricted borders,

and may indeed be said very often to appear

to best advantage in those positions worst

adapted for the purely garden types. With

regard to

Propagation, layering is the surest method.

I do not remember that it has failed with anyspecies or variety on which I have tried it. For

such Roses as R. lutea (the Austrian Brier

group) it is the only way to readily get them

on their own roots, for this and some other of

the Roses mentioned below are not easy to

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

13/48

raise from cuttings. Still, on the other hand,

a good number can be increased by cuttings.

The best time to put them in is during July or

early August, using the better ripened portions

of the current season's shoots. They like aveiy gentle bottom-heat. Seeds, of course, are

produced by many species and can be used, but

where several species are grown together they

are very liable to hybridise, and some of the


424

THE GARDEN.

[June 17, 1899

best do not ripen seed here. There are some

species, as, for example, the Scotch Rose and

its varieties, R. lucida, R. Carolina, &c., which

can, by merely dividing the plants, be increasedquickly enough to meet the needs of most

gardens.

Of the sixty or so species of Rosa in cultiva-

tion, there are naturally a good many that have

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

14/48

no particularly distinctive qualities. Half a

dozen American Roses could be mentioned

which are so much alike in their general aspect,

that for ordinary gardens one species might

well represent the lot. In the following notesI propose only to mention such species as

possess an individuality of their own, and which

collectively may be taken to represent the

genus in all its leading forms, so far, that is, as

we are concerned from a purely horticultural

standpoint. Some of these species have been

cultivated for so long a period, and have variedand cross-bred so much, that they may now be

considered as constituting each a group of the

genus rather than as a single species.

I. Bush Roses.

R. ALBA is a Rose that is not known to be truly

indigenous anywhere, but which, although nowgrowing wild in Central Europe, is considered to

have been originally an escape from gardens. It

is in all probability a hybrid between R. gallica

and R. canina. The typical R. alba is a robust

Rose of free growth with large white flowers-

one of the prettiest of single Roses.

R. ALPiNA. This, the type of the 'BoursaultRose, is chiefly remarkable for its smooth, shin-

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

15/48

ing stems, very often entirely without spines

except when young. It grows 4 feet to5 feet high, and has rosy pink flowers followed

by orange-red, pendent, often curiously elon-

gated fruits. It is a native of the mountainousparts of Central Europe.

R. CAROLINA (Swamp Rose). For forming low,

dense thickets this is one of the best of wildRoses. It grows 4 feet to feet high, its

erect stems being armed with curved prickles.

The flowers are of a deep purplish rose and very

fragrant. It is a North American species, and

spreads rapidly in cultivated ground by its under-

ground rhizomes. The variety Nuttalliana is an

improvement on the type, the flowers beinglarger and produced later in the year up to

September.

R. LUCIDA is another American species of a

very similar type to the preceding. Like R.

Carolina, it forms a dense mass of erect stems,

but they diSer in being dwarfer and in being

armed with bristles rather than spines. Theleaves are also more glossy. There is a double-

flowered variety (flore-pleno) whose flowers arc

very pretty, especially in the bud state.

R. FERRUGINEA (or rubrifolia) is nearly allied

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

16/48

to the common Dog Rose, but is distinguished by

its reddish purple stems and leaves. It is pretty

at this season of the year, and is useful for plant-

ing in a mass for colour effect.

R. iiisi'iDA. Closely allied to the Scotch Rose

is R. hispida. There is a mystery as to the

origin of this plant. It has been described as a

native of North America, but none of the later

North American " Floras " include it. It has

also been described as Siberian, whilst Mr.

Nicholson puts it down as of garden origin. Ithink the probability is that it is a wild plant,

because it has come true from seed, a rare thing

with hybrids. Its habit is that of a strong Scotch

Rose and its flowers are of a lovely soft yellow.

It gets to be .5 feet or feet high.

R. INDICA and its varieties are the source, orpartly the source, whence many of the best and

loveliest of garden Roses have been derived.

Most important of these are the Tea Roses, whose

delightful fragrance, delicate colours and habit, of

flowering late in the season are giving them a

greater popularity every year. Thev originate

from R. indica var. odorata. The China Roses

come from R. indica also. Crossed with R. mos-

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

17/48

chata it has produced the Noisette Roses, and

crossed with R. damascena or R. gallica theBourbon Roses. As we get back to the pure R.

indica we find the plants rather tender, as, for

instance, many of the 'pure Teas, R. indica var.sanguinea, &c. But with a light covering most

of them are only cut back to the ground even in

bad winters. Some of the semi-double or single

varieties, such as sanguinea and diversifolia, areamong the deepest and richest coloured of all

Roses. Botanically interesting, although of no

decorative value, is the green-flowered Rose, a

variety of K. indica we call monstrosa.

R. LUTE A. The Austrian Briers, which are all

forms of Rosa lutea, make a very charminggroup, the colours of their flowers being some of

the very rarest among Roses. They are either of

a rich yellow or of a very distinct coppery

colour. Two varieties, the Persian Yellow

and Harrisoni, are double flowered. Unfor-

tunately, the Austrian Briers do not succeed to

perfection near London, more especially the

copper-coloured ones. The species is a native ofAsia Minor, Persia, &c., and has been known in

this country for more than 300 years. It is said

never to bear seed in a wild state, and I have

noticed that in trying to cross it with other Roses

it is very difficult to get pollen. Lord Penzance,

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

18/48

however, succeeded in fertilising the Sweet Brier

with it, and thus obtained the most beautiful and

striking of the Penzance Briers.

R. MiCRopHYLLA is a Chinese species allied toR. rugosa. It is a sturdy bush, noteworthy for

its large yellowish, very prickly fruits. Its stems,

on the other hand, have very few prickles, and

they are also distinguished by the peeling, loose

bark. The flowers are delicate rose, not very

large, but extremely fragrant. When it is in

bloom, the bees and flies swarm more to this Rosethan any other. I have never raised this species

true from seed although I have tried several

times. It was rarely that even a seed germi-

nated, and those that did have all produced plants

that have proved to be crosses. It can be in-

creased by layers. There is a variety with double

flowers (flore pleno) in cultivation. There is atKew a singularly fine hybrid Rose sent by M. de

Vilmorin. It is this species crossed with R.

rugosa, and the flowers, which are of a lively

rose, are larger than those of any single Rose I

have seen, being about ."5 inches across.

R. roMiFERA (the Apple Rose). Among the

Roses which claim our notice for the beauty ofthe fruits, none surpasses this old but neglected

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

19/48

species. It is worth growing for their sake alone.

Each fruit is 1 inch to IJ inches long, apple orsometimes pear-shaped, covered with bristles and

surmounted by a crown of large glandular sepals.

The colour is a bright red. This species isEuropean, but does not appear to be British, as

it was at one time thought to be. Nearly allied

to R. pomiferais

R. MOLLIS, which has somewhat similar and

very handsome fruits, but not so large.

R. RUBiGiNOSA is the Sweet Brier or Eglan-

tine, one of the most precious of English wild-

ings. Of the plant itself I need say nothing ;

many a hedgerow is now fragrant with its youngshoots. But in quite recent years a new group

of Roses has been put into commerce called Pen-

zance Briers. They were raised by Lord Penzance

by crossing the Sweet. Brier with other varieties

and species of Rose, using it as the seed-bearer.

Some of them are very pretty and distinct, more

especially those that have the various Austrian

Briers as pollen parent. Some, on the otherhand, are but little different from and no better

than the Sweet Brier itself. Still, a selection of

the best makes a very charming addition to the

Rose garden.

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

20/48

R. RUGOSA is now getting to be a well-known

plant. It comes from the coolest parts of .lapan,

and is one of the hardiest and most robust of all

Roses. It is even being used for covert planting.

Typically, its flowers are rosy crimson, but thereis also a white flowered variety. The flowers are

among the most fragrant in the genus. It is

valuable also for the beauty of its fruits, which

are large and bright red. A good deal of notice

is being given to this species now because of its

great value as a subject for cross-fertilisation.In parts of Europe where the climate is too

severe in winter for Tea Roses or even Hybrid

Perpetuals, it is found that when these are

crossed with R. rugosa the hybrids obtained are

not only hardy enough to thrive, but also retain

much of the beauty of their more showy parents.

I suppose we have now about a score hybridsand varieties of R. rugosa, amongst them Mme.

Georges Bruant, Blanche Double de Coubert

(two beautiful white Roses), and Mrs. Anthony

Waterer, with very fragrant red flowers.

R. SERicEA. This is one of the early-flowering

species, and is frequently in bloom by "the end of

May. It is a very pretty Rose both as regardsflower and leaf. It can be distinguished when in

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

21/48

bloom from all other Roses by the corolla con-

sisting very frequently of four petals, five being,of course, the normal number in this family. The

leaflets are small and numerous, not unlike those

of the Scotch Rose. In one variety at Kew theyoung stems are quite red. The species comes

from North India. The flowers are white. Among

the new plants discovered in Yunnan by the Abbe

Delavay is a remarkable variety of this Rose,which has been called pteracantha. It is dis-

tinguished by the winged spines, which are quite

thin, but are sometimes lA inches wide at the

base.

R. spiNosissiMA (R. pimpinellifolia). The main

features of this the Scotch Rose are its dwarfhabit, its very spiny, bristly stems, its small

leaves, and cup-shaped flowers. Typically, its

flowers are white and single, but cultivated varie-

ties range in colour from a delicate pink to red,

crimson, and yellow. Other varieties are double.

From a botanical point of view the variety altaica

(or grandiflora) is the most distinct. Whilst the

type is 1 foot to 2 feet high, this grows 6 feet oreven more in height. Its flowers are single and

of a beautiful creamy white. This species is one

of the first to flower generally in the first days

of June. It has been crossed with the Damask

Boseand a perpetual-flowering variety obtained

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

22/48

which blossoms from May till autumn. It is

called Stanwell Perpetual. R. rubella is sup-

posed to be a cross between the Scotch Rose and

R. alpina. lb is a dwarf bush with very pretty

pink flowers.

R. XANTHiNA (R. Ecfe). Although too rare as

yet to obtain a wide circulation, this species may

be mentioned as a charming plant for the rock

garden. Its flowers are small (only about 1 inch

across), but of a beautiful golden yellow. The

stems are dwarf, slender, and very prickly. Itwas originally given the above name by Lindley

in his "Monograph of Roses," but was introduced

by Dr. Aitchison from Afghanistan about twenty

years ago and re-named R. Ecrt. It flowers

annually on the rockery at Kew.

Finally, among the bush Roses brief mentionmay be made of the beautiful group known as

the

R. OENTiFOLi.B. They are R. damascena, or the

Damask Rose : R. gallica, or the French Rose ;

R. centifolia, i.he Provence Rose : and centifolia

var. muscosa, the Moss Rose. Some of these

have been grown in this country for hundreds ofyears, and would, I suppose, include the only

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

23/48

double Roses in early English g-ardens. More

than any do they represent the Roses of poetryand romance. It is from the Damask Rose that

the Hybrid Perpetnals the largest of the purely

garden groups have been mainly derived, butR. gallica, R. centifolia, and in some degree R.

indica also share in their origin. The books give

the date of the introduction of the Damask Rose

as 1573, yet, according to tradition, the York andLancaster Rose, which is a form of R. damascena,

was growing in the Temple Gardens when the

Wars of the Roses commenced 1'20 years before.

Mr. Baker thinks that this group consists pro-

bably of forms of one variable species. There is

at any rate a strong resemblance among them all,

and although certain botanical characters are


June 17, 1899.]

THE GARDEN.

425

allotted to each of the three reputed species, it isoften not easy to tell to which of them some of

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

24/48

the garden forms belong.

II. Climeixg or Ramblixg SrECIES.

R. MOSCHATA (the Musk Rose). There is a very

old specimen of this Ros^ growing in a shrub-

Rosa spinosissima.

bery near the Cactus house at Kew. Being about

1.") feet high, it is the finest specimen I know.

The musky scent, to which the name refers, is

not very perceptible, except after rain or when

the atmosphere is fresh and moist. But without

this the beauty of its great clusters of flowers,with white petals and striking clusters of yellow

stamens, gives it a place among the very finest of

wild Roses. According to my experience, it is a

plant that requires a sheltered position when

young ; the long succulent shoots it makes in

summer are very apt to be cut back during the

winter if exposed. In the case of old plants the

shoots are not so coarse and appear to ripen upbetter. It is an excellent Rose for a mixed

shrubbery given a position where it can scramble

over neighbours that can give it at once support

and shelter. It is a native of the countries

between South Europe and India.

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

25/48

R. MrLTiFLOKA (R. polyantha). For certain

purposes this is one of the most useful of the wild

Roses. It is a wide-spreading bush of very

graceful and luxuriant growth, its stems archingout in every direction from the centre, and the

whole ultimately forming a great mass S feet or

so high and much more through. The flowers

are amongst the smallest of all Roses, but are

produced very numerously in abundant clusters.

When well in flower a plant becomes simply a

fountain of white blossom. It is a quick andluxuriant grower and is admirable for clothing

steep banks. If these are not very high the

plants may be placed at the top, whence the

shoots will hang down and soon hide the bank

with a charming curtain, which is especially

beautiful in June when this Rose is white with

flower. There are numerous varieties and hybridsthat belong to the multifiora group. They show

their relationship to the type in the dense

clusters of small flowers, but more particularly

in the more or less fringed stipules. One of the

most noteworthy of these varieties or hybrids is

Crimson Rambler. Everyone, I suppose, knows

this Rose now, no plant of recent introduction

having more quickly reached so prominent aplace. It was introduced from Japan (of which

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

26/48

country, as well as China, the type also is a

native) and was at first known as " EngineerRose," but it was not until it came into the

hands of Mr. Turner, of Slough, and was given

the pleasanter name it now bears, that it obtainedmore than very local notice. The Dawson Rose

is a beautiful cross between R. multifiora and the

H.P. General Jacqueminot. Its flowers are a

soft rose colour and semi-double, so much like

those of Crimson Rambler in size and form as to

suggest that the latter may be a cross between

R. multiflora and some fine deep crimson H.P.

R. REi'ENS (or R. arvensis) is the type of the

Ayrshire Roses. It is a free growing plant, butrequires some support to get it oft' the ground at

first. We train it up stout Oak branches and get

it a few feet high, then

let it ramble at will.

There are several double

forms of it offered by

nurserymen which are an

improvement on the type,licingof sturdier habit and

lasting longer in flower.

i"or covering roots, banks,

mounds, pillars, &c., these

Ayrshire Roses are excel-

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

27/48

lent, forming ultimately

huge tangled masses of

the greatest beauty and

elegance when in bloom.

The flowers are white orpale pink.

R. SETiGERA (the Prairie

Rose). There is no doubt,

I think, that of the spe-

cies native of North Ame-

rica this is the best andmost useful in English

gardens. It is a climbing

plant of vigorous growth,

the leaflets, of which there

are three to each leaf, being among the largest in

the genus. It blooms in July and August, and is

thus one of the latest of all the wild Roses toflower, a character which enhances its value. The

flowers are large and showy and of a deep rose, but

have little or no fragrance. This Rose is probably

seen to best advantage planted in a large mass,

and, given a few rough posts to climb over, it will

eventually form a large impenetrable thicket.

R. WionuuAiANA is a new species from Japan.Closely allied to R. multiflora, it is still one of the

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

28/48

most distinct of Roses, being a perfectly prostrate

plant, sending out each year thick succulentshoots which branch freely the following season

so profusely as to resemble drifts of snow at a dis-tance. As a close, dwarf covering for sunny banks

j it promises to be useful.

I There are, of course, many other beautiful

species I have not yet mentioned. No Rose,

for instance, is more beautiful than the Chero-

kee Rose (R. hevigata or sinica) in the far

south-western counties, whence correspondents

occasionally send it. But it is not hardy enough

to thrive well even as far south as London.Then there are R. sulphurea, one of the love-

liest of yellow Roses, and R. simplicifolia (or

j berberidifolia), another yellow-flowered spe-

! cies ; but both are so difficult to cultivate and

so rare that they are practically non-existent in

gardens. It seems to be the rule throughoutthe genus that the yellow-flowered species are

the most difficult, indeed, the only difficult ones

to accommodate.

In conclusion, it may be useful to mention

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

29/48

that, although few of the trade establishments

pay much attention to these wild species and

varieties of Rose, Mr. G. Paul, of the Cheshunt

Nurseries, takes a special interest in them.

Most, or all of those I have alluded to arecultivated in his nursery. W. J. Bean.

Arhoretum, Keiv.

SOME GOOD ROSES FOR MASSING

That garden Roses are gaining the ascendancy

over the strictly speaking show varieties cannotbe doubted, and the continuous-flowering kinds,

even if the blooms are in themselves transient,

become more numerous and more popular each

season. There may be such a thing as fashion in

flowers, but, after all, what is natural, graceful,

and refined has far more influence with the

patrons of gardening than mere fashion. Thereseems a danger that continental raisers will give

us varieties that meet the demand for artistic

tints, but with the loss of vigour that alone can

permanently retain any Rose in our collections.

M. Guillot achieved a great success when he

obtained Mme. Laurette Messimy and Mme.

Biosa luiea {the Audrian Brier),

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

30/48

and make a dense carpet over the ground. Eugene Resal, two of the loveliest for massing,

It is one of the latest flowering of all the but some of his later introductions among Teas,species of Rosa and likes the sunniest possible although beautiful in colour, appear to lack the

position. The flowers are white and borne , vigour that one would like to see them possess-

in clusters, and the foliage is the glossiest at least, that is the impression I have obtained ofamong Roses, the surface shining as if varnished, i Mme. Rine Gerard and Souvenir de J. B. Guillot.

In the United States it is described as flowering ! It is true there has hardlv been time to suffi-


426

THE GARDEK

[June 17, 1899.

ciently test them, and I hope I may be mistaken.

Of course much depends upon the treatmentaccorded. I have seen Mme. Eugfene Resal, when

planted in good prepared beds of fresh loam,

make most extraordinary growths some 3 feet in

height in one season. If Roses are expected to

grow well they must be provided with good soil.

It would be difficult for anyone to define the dis-

tinction between China Roses of the type of Mme.

E. Resal, Mme. L. Messimy, &c., and a Tea-scented variety. The point, however, is not so

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

31/48

very important, excepting that one is liable to

look upon these recent introductions among ChinaRoses as being as free and hardy as the common

Blush, and this they are not ; indeed, I do not

think any of the China Roses, save Hermosa, areequal to the Old Blush in vigour and hardiness.

This latter variety is really the type of massing

Rose we want in a good variety of colours. M.

Nabonnand has been peculiarly fortunate in obtain-ing good free growers, and unquestionably some

of his introductions will remain great favourites

for many years to come. After a lapse of nearly

fifteen years, the Rose-growing public are only

now becoming alive to the merits of that free-grow-

ing and lovely Rose, Marie d'Orleans. Other good

garden Roses of M. Nabonnand's raising areGeneral Schablikime, of a beautiful coppery red

colour ; Comtesse Festetics Hamilton, a gem of

somewhat similar habit to the last named, but

with more carmine colour in its blossoms ; and of

course G. Nabonnand, a Rose that should be

found in every garden in the land. Another kind

that appears promising is Am^lie Polonnais ; it

has a beautiful bud of a soft salmon-ross colour.Mme. P. Perny is not nearly so much grown as

it deserves to be ; its saffron-yellow buds and

almost white, semi-double flowers are produced on

good vigorous growths and always furnish a

supply of useful Roses. Francisca Kruger, another

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

32/48

variety from the same source, remains to this day

one of the hardiest of yellow Roses for our climate.

When one speaks of Roses for massing, those

kinds that produce a showy effect when planted

in a group are of course intended. The list ofsuch varieties is not a large one if we confine our-

selves only to those that are as beautiful in

autumn as they are in summer. The exquisite

refreshing softness of a large plantation of

Camoens is to me far more enjoyable than a

gorgeous display of Crimson Rambler. But this

of course is a matter of taste. Those individualswho prefer a showy mass of colour would find

Cramoisi Superieur and Fabvier among the

Chinas, Marquise de Salisbury and Gruss au

Teplitz among the Hybrid Teas, Prineesse de

Sagan from the Tea-scented, and Gloire de

Margottin and Victor Hugo from the Hybrid

Perpetuals to be the best for brilliancy. TheseRoses flower well no matter how hard they are

pruned. I think many growers spare the knife

too much with these garden Roses. There can

be no question that those shoots that spring

from the lower part of the plant produce the

showiest clusters. I have sesn Marquise de

Salisbury when sparsely pruned a most un-

attractive Rose, but what a difference when itsends up from the base its young, prickly hedge

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

33/48

hog-like shoots. Then we obtain the true

character of this brilliant kind. Another pointto remember is that Roses like transplanting

now and then even if returned to the

same position. Take the work in hand earlyin October, and a marvellous change will be

effected if the ground be trenched and some bone-

meal mixed in at the same time, for Roses are

exceptionally fond of phosphates.

Of the lighter red shades. Captain Hayward,

Ulrich Brunner, General Jacqueminot, and Dr.

Andry are good, and Longworth Rambler and

Fellenberg, although inclined to ramble, afford

quite a brilliant display. Of the rich pink Roses

we have a beauty in Mrs. W. J. Grant, but itswonderful freshness in the early summer is not

maintained in autumn. Mme. Lambard, always

good, and one of the hardiest Teas ; Mme. Abel

Chatenay, one of the loveliest of modern Roses,

and as fragrant as beautiful ; Grace Darling,

Grand Due de Luxembourg, a splendid variety ;

Helen Keller, Caroline Testout, Mme. Eugl-neResal, already mentioned ; Gloire des Polyanthas,

the showiest very dwarf Rose we have, and

Camoens, one of the grandest decorative varieties

in existence, are worth growing if room can be

found for them. Supposing the space cannot be

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

34/48

afforded for beds of a kind, I would suggest

clumps or groups of each, say five or six plants

jjlanted together. This, to my mind, is better

than planting large mixed beds of various Roses

of one shade of colour. The diversity of habit isso great that there is sure to be an incongruous

grouping. I remember when the late Mr. Ben-

nett's Roses first became known, a gentleman

procured five or six of each kind the fin-t season.

36 Darling and Lady iMary Fitzwilliam were

of the number, and he planted these in small

separate beds upon a lawn. Whether they weretreated extra carefully, being new ones, I know

not, but they were a wonderful sight, the huge

blossoms of Lady Mary Fitzwilliam being really

marvellous. Of the lighter pink colours good

for massing, Captain Christy, Viscountess

Folkestone, La France, Mrs. Sharman Crawford,

Sylph and Mme. L. Messimy are splendid. Wehave also some good white, or nearly white,

Roses that must not be overlooked. Perhaps

the best are Augustine Guinoisseau, Hon.

Edith Gifford, Mrs. Bosanquet, Souvenir de la

Malmaison, White Lady, Gloire Lyonnaise,

Baronne de Maynard, Zephyr, Souvenir de S. A.

Prince, White Pet, Anna Marie de Montravel,

and Mme. E. A. Nolte. There are many othergood kinds, but in endeavouring to distinguish

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

35/48

between them I have kept in mind the salient

feature of a massing or bedding Rose and that iscontinuous flowering as near as it is possible

in Roses. But there are still some light Roses to

mention of cream, buff', and yellow shades. Ihave said yellow, but I should like to be able to

mention a really good pure yellow bedding Rose.

First in this list comes Mme. Hoste, perhaps the

best in its colour. Enchantress will run thiskind rather close, but its colour is more inclined

to buff in the centre. Marie van H jutte, Safrano,

Queen Mab, Mme. Pernet-Ducher, Perle d'Or,

and Anna OUivier are also uood. We still

require a good yellow with a bloom as large as

Mme. Hoste or even White Lady and the growth

of Viscountess Folkestone. Philomel.

Pruning Roses. Do we prune our old-

fashioned Roses too much ? Generally speaking,

I believe this is the case. I came across some

plants the other day that had not been pruned in

any way this season, and the fine growths ema-

nating from the ends of the one-year old wood

were wonderful. The foliage was the picture ofhealth, and the flowers equally so. These grand

old-fashioned kinds should be well oared for and

every endeavour made to discard the old worn-

out growths and encourage the plants to produce

sound young wood that will give the most satis-

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

36/48

factory results. Instead of pruning year after

year in the old orthodox style, cut the plants

back very hard now and then, even if a season's

blossom is sacrificed. The young vigorous shoots

resulting from this drastic treatment may be left,as I said before, entirely unpruned the following

year, or if pruned at all, let it be very moderately

done. Such growths will flower freely. P.

Rose Mrs. Robert Garrett. We now and

then obtain a good novelty in Roses from the

United States, although some kinds do not cup to their lavish descriptions. I believe the above

Rose will become very useful. It has been de-

scribed as a sport from Caroline Testout. Cer-

tainly it bears out this statement in its vigorous

growth and free flowering, but the blossoms are

quite different in form. The buds of Mrs. R.

Garrett resemble those of a Tea Rose, and thehalf open flowers are of the most exquisite shape.

The centre is hollow, which condemns it as an

exhibitor's variety, but this would most likely

enhance its value as a garden Rose. The colour

as seen under glass is much paler than in Caroline

Testout. It looks as though we should f

have a numerous race of Roses emanating fromthe latter kind. Of course, this was to be ex-

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

37/48

pected, for unquestionably it is one of the

grandest Roses of its colour ever raised, althoughone could wish it had more fragrance.

Rose Hermosa. This Rose is far superior tothe common blush China in its individual flowers,

although similar in habit. The flowers are double,

but not so much so as to be difficult to open, and

in consequence are much more lasting than thoseof the semi-double blush. The colour is silvery-

pink. Many gardeners find this old Rose very

useful to furnish large quantities of blooms of one

colour for cutting. A hedge of this kind would be

excellent feature in any garden, and, like the

common blush, it is one of the best for grouping or

to plant in lines by carriage drives. A quantityof this variety together with a good crimson kind

like Cramoisi Superieur and a white such as Little

Pet potted up into .5 inch or 6 inch pots would come

in extremely useful for many purposes during

winter and early spring. This Rose has many

synonyms, being known as Armosa, Melanie Le-

maire, and Mme. Newman.

EARLY GARDEN ROSES.

Some very pretty garden Roses were put up at

the Epping show on June 9. Doubtless the few

hot days during the first week of June were

responsible for even these kinds appearing thus

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

38/48

early. Two or three very lovely bunches were

seen of that little-known hybrid rugosa Fim-

briata. It looks perhaps prettier when cut and

bunched than it does on the plant ; the fimbriated

pale pink flowers are more like Dianthus bloomsthan Roses. Another little beauty named Mme.

E. A. Nolte was there, its charming apricot-colou red

buds being most interesting. H. B. Hayes, an-

other name for the well-known Reine Olga de

Wurtemburg, was noticed as bright as usual and

served to show how useful a Rose it is as an early-

flowering climber. Unlike some of the doubleclimbers, such as Gloire de Dijon and Cheshunt

Hybrid, which are being forced out before their

time, this Rose seems to revel in heat. I also

noticed growing on houses in the neighbourhood

a very pretty red climbing kind, which I took to

be Fellenberg. Cooling's Single Crimson has a

bold petal, and will doubtless prove useful onaccount of its dwarf habit. Of course the Copper

Austrian R. lutea was shown. How effective

the double white Scotch Rose can be was well

exemplified in the long sprays exhibited, and other

double kinds as well as the beautiful singles of

this tribe were shown in baskets. The beautiful

little miniature Provence de Meaux was well re-

presented. It appears to be a day or two earlierthan Spong, another variety of this tribe. Car-

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

39/48

mine Pillar is effective during the early days of

the month. The newer variety Dawn will doubt-less be useful and perhaps the forerunner of a good

strain of Roses.

I certainly think with Mr. Girdlestone that a

valuable race of Roses might be evolved from the

single varieties that have good vigorous mildew-

proof constitutions, and the last-named kindappears to be such an one. It does not follow

that the progeny will all be single. Princess

Bonnie was represented by a good handful. It is

an attractive fragrant variety, with large semi-

double flowers of a rich crimson colour, the buds

being especially long and handsome. Gustave

Regis is sure to be one of this early group, forwhen fully blown it is almost a single Rose.

Marquise de Salisbury was well to the front. A

Rose very seldom seen, but very pretty is Papillon.

Its buds are wonderfully pretty, being rose,

shaded with copper and yellow, and, as its name

suggests, the open flowers appear like numerous

butterflies. Sbanwell Perpetual is sure to be

represented, and even two weeks ago I couldhave cut some of its fragrant blossoms, which

resemble in perfume the Cabbage Roses. Rugosa

Roses, such as Belle Poitevine and Blanc Double

de Courbet, are becoming now well established

favourites, and Mrs. Anthony Waterer is more

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

40/48

effective on the plant than when cut. Visitors to


Jdxe 17, 1899.]

THE GAEDEX.

427

Kew should not fail to look out for a grand mas3

of the first-distributed plants of this variety ; they

provide a marvellous eflfect with their rich crim-

son blossoms^ Visitor.

XOTES AND QUESTIONS. ROSES.

Bose 111 Sylphide. Your correspondent asks

where he can nrocure the above old Eose, which was

introduced by M. Vibert abont sixty years ago. I do

not think he would find it for sale in this country, but

Messrs. Ketten Freres, of Luxemburg, have it intheir Ust. X.

Eosa gallica, a pretty. Few varieties of these

iuteiesting, though flat garden Roses are more lovely

than the one named Sarpasse Tout. Perhaps in its

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

41/48

bud the chief beauty lies, and for providing some

early button-holes the buds ate most valuable. Toe

colour is a rich rose, something the shade of John

ily rather deeper in tint.

Books.

oue gardens.*

Whoever brought home the finest plants or

discovered the best ways of culture, or made

the most conspicuous improvements in flowers,there is no doubt whatever that the man who

has cheered us most by his writings for many

years past is the author of this book. It is a

very pretty book as regards piinting and

binding and pictures, and it will be welcomed

by all who enjoy the Dean of Eochester's

good humour and inimitable ways of sayingthings, while it makes for tbe true art of

gaTdeniD;4. It is one of a series known as

the Haddon Hall Library, edited by the Mar-

quess of Granby and Mr. George A. B.

l)ewar. It is divided int') chapters, but in

the main the enjoyments of a garden and ihe

formation of a garden are described. Xo

one has felt the enjoyments of a gardenmore than Dean Hole, no one knows

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

42/48

better how to make a garden, and those who

might disagree with him on some minorpoints will not fail to be ciptivated by his

witty and uncontroversial way of setting

forth his ideas. The book abounds withsprightly jest and humorous instances. How

clergymen might help td spread the humanis-

ing influence of gardening is told in the fol-

lowing reminiscence of the Dean's own eailyefforts in that direction :

Clergymen may co-operate by their sympathy,

their commendations of successful culture, and

their intercessions with those who can give

material help. I have lived to see good results from

a custom, which I observed some fifty years ago,of taking the boys of my Sunday school for walks

by the brooks, and in the fields, to gather wild

flowers in the summer-tide, and to arrange them

in posies. I took with me the small volumes by

Anne Pratt, with coloured illustrations, and from

these we learned the names and habits, with other

information, of the specimens we collected. In

the interval between that time and this I 1been much gratified to meet with those

associate the love of flowers, which has never left

them, with our Sunday evening walks. In cities

and towns, far from the meadow and the wood,

they have cherished in small gardens, window-

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

43/48

sills, and flower-pots the old affection. Not long

ago, after responding to a toast at a city banquet,

with some allusion to this floral fidelity, I noticed,

as I sat down, that the toast master, a stately and

august personage, with much dignity of mannerand power of voice, silently placed a little card

on the table before me, on which was written,

" As a boy, I captured first prizs for wild flowers

in my native county Devon." In a moment my

thoughts sped away from the brilliant lights, the

gay costumes, the exotics, and the strife cftongues to the merry faces of the lads with the

Campion, and the Meadow-sweet, and the Honey-

suckles, and the Roses in their hands.

A chapter describes the Rose garden.

The Dean's devotion to Eoses is well known.

He once told Sir John Millais, '-with theimpudence of a fiiend," that he could not

paint a Rose. He replied, " I can reproduce

that which I see " ; and then hs added, " but

you know too much about Roses.'' In

another cflapter the Dean describes the rock

garden as it ought to be. " Eeware," he

write.?, " of sham and counterfeits ; do not ,

daub with uutempered mortar ; do notcover bricks with cement in the hope

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

44/48

that your friends will believe them to be

rocks ; have nothing to do with tricks or

with trash The stones must be stones,

and they must be placed, not on their sides,

nor on their ends, like acrobats standing on

their heads, but in their natural form, sunk

few inches in the ground, and with an

abundance of congenial soil, loam inter-

mixed with sand and grit, around, within,

and wherever they are situated, higli or low.

It is a fatal mistake to suppose that these

small (alpine) plants will flourish in a shallow

Many of them will make roots more

which a brief sketch of old and modern

methods of gardening is given. The doings

of the Romans and Saxons, the development

of ornamental culture during the three cen-

turies after the coming of the Normans, and

later when " The most deplorable feature of

these ancient gardens wai the hewing andthe hacking, the lopping and the clipping of

evergreen trees and shrubs. The mistakes

of the Creator were to be rectified by the

gardener's shears," are all mentioned, as well

as the opinions of various men of letters

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

45/48

of the period upon the results of the method

of horticulture then obtaining.

On the " Formation of a Garden " the

Dean has wise words to utter as to wherethe architect and gardener should part, the

necessity for a natural congruity and variety.

He says : " It might be inferred, from an

inspection of the majority of our gardens,

that no novelty had been introduced into

this country for the last sixty or seventy

years, and that straight walks through hugeclumps of evergreens (chiefly Laurels) and

their boundless continuity of shade left

nothing to be desired."

Orchids.

ORCHIDS AT THE TEMPLE.

than a foot in length, as tourists have dis- Axyose interested in Orchids who went to the

covered to their surprise, and to the trial of , Temple show thinking to see new and striking

thtir patience in their first efforts to trans- , spe=f^,^>^das"'-^dly have gone away disap-

, ^ Ki , ii. i- V tv 'pointed. But, none the less, the display was

plant them_ from their native homes on ^^^^ l^ ^^^îx^^t orê, ?.nî m?.ny very fine varieties

mountains." oi^ and well-known kinds were shown. As

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

46/48

There are also chapters on tlie water usual, our continental friends showed grandly

garden, the wild garden, the cottage garden, the superb forms of Odontoglossum crispum,the children's garden, the town garden, and | and there have been few finer exhibits of O.

" other gardens." The last chapter is headed (Miltonia) vexiUarium than tjiat put up by the

"Farewell," but as the Dean, like the gar-

dener he mentions, is not yet quite an " octo-

geranium," we shall hope to see his name on

the cover of many more delightful books tocome. The fun comes in often, as in this :

In every garden there must be, wherever there

Messrs. Linden. M. Jules Hye always shows

well, and the lovely form of Lailio-Cattleya

Aphrodite in this case was one of the finest

coloured varieties ever seen. Looking roundour own amateurs' groups, I could not help

thinking that as a whole they compared very

favourably with those of former years, espe-

Uy in the way of arrangement, but I should

By S. l!eynolds-Hole. London :

may be, seclusion quiet retreats for rest and j J^ suggest that it would be' a great dealretirement, for contemplation made. Our garden K^l ? r i j- ;oto^

should be our Jerusalem, "the vision and posses- I bf ter if some of our leadmg growers, instead

sion of peace." I must have a place to flee unto I of falhng up valuable space year after year with

when I know that the great landau of the plants that have been exhibited agam and

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

47/48

Wopperton-Wickses is on mv avenue, because again, would try and get a httle more

one of their gigantic horses, a little touched in ! variety. It would, of course, be invidious

the wind, is loudly expressing his disappros-al to name any one plant, but there are

of a sudden rise in the ground, and because 1 1 several specimens that grace the Temple show

catch a glimpse through the trees of the gorgeous year after year in one grower's group in par-liveries, the cockades, and the calves, and the ticular. Remarkably fine specimens they are,

elaborate armorial bearings of the Woppertons y^^^ j.gjîi g jg ^ little tired of seeing them

and the Wickses mixed. 1 am fond of my fellow- 1 ^j j^ ^j^^ ^^^^ j^^^ The pretty little

men. I am a gregarious and not a solitary snipe. ^jj ; ^ ^ yj^ rp^.gôr

Jf'^-ceraif c3V; Î^tXT^^t^ Lawrence .Le f ulf of inferest^ for lovers ofshrubberies like rabbits by the covert-side on the these very quaint and delightful plants, sorne

approach of visitors : but there are a few persons, of the tiny Masdevallias, for instance, and the

querulous tattlers, accusers of the brethren with ! fiery -looking Habenaria rhodochila being

harsh voices, which startle one with a sudden ! exquisite. This last I did not consider so well

horror, like the trombone player in the village ' grown as usual. Among the trade groups

band who spoiled their chief performance at the crowding was the order of the day, but even

"penny reading'' by a sudden note of terrible ' },ere I thought there was a slight improvement,discord, which made the whole audience jump. I rpj^g well-known Bush Hill firm, for instance,

Asked for an explanation by his indignant leader, I ^^^ ^ crroup teeming with good things, but so

he replied, " I came all at once on a note as Id jjg^^^^ ; ^.g^g so^g of these that it was

never met afore, and I hadn't time to see as

wor only a fly-mark, and so I played un."

Two very interesting chapters are III. andIV. "The Pioneers" and "Progress" in

7/29/2019 the wild rose 1871

48/48

hedged

difficult to discover them. The first-clas

certificate awarded to the fine Cattleya MossiieBeauty of Bush Hill was well deserved.

Sprinkled here and there were many tine forms

the wild rose 1871

Documents