THE BEST AUTUMN RUSES

Evening Star, Issue 22893, 26 February 1938, Page 21

THE BEST AUTUMN RUSES

Although it may he said of most of the modern roses that they bloom throughout autumn, it does not follow that they are all specially suitable for their autumn-flowering qualities. Many of our full roses which are excellent in the warm days cf summer do not open freely when the nights become chilly. The heavier dews cause some with petals of thin texture to “hall” and rot, others in pale colours to stain on the outer (petals. Conversely thin varieties of brilliant colourings give only fleeting enjoyment of their beauties, as they open quickly in warm weather, and the colours rapidly fade in strong sunlight. In the cooler autumn days they are seen at their best,, in all the rich glory of their colourings with more lasting properties (writes a contributor to “Popular Gardening,’ London).' In autumn, with the more _ violent fluctuations of, temperature, mildew is most prevalent, ana therefore our choice for autumn display must rest with those that are more resistant to this disease. To start with, Ophelia and her “ sports ” and seedlings, are seen to perfection in summar and autumn, as the earliest blooms often come misshapen. In the fall of the year, however, each flower comes perfect, and the colours are at their best. This everincreasing family includes Mme. Butterfly, Rapture, Lady Sylvia, in lovely pink shades, and Amber, Westfield Star, and Golden Ophelia in yellows. Roily is also good.

Yellow roses come into their own in autumn. In shades of this colour X recommend Aureate, Canary (a seedling from Shot Silk, with all its good qualities), Christine, Golden Emblem, Golden Gleam, Golden Glory. Julian Potin, Lady Forteviot and its “sport” Klondyke, Mme. Pierre S. du Pont, Mrs Beckwith, and Mabel Morse.

In pink shades Betty Uprichard, Caroline Testout, Dame Edith Helen, Lady Pirrie, Mrs A. B. Barraclough, Ethel Somerset, May Wettern, and Picture, and the newer Memory and Wm. Moore are very good autumn roses. Among the best of the red shades are Etoile de Hollande, Gipsy Lass, W. E. Chaplin, Mrs. Henry Winnett, and the more recent introductions, Col.. Sharman Crawford, Hazel Alexander, Sergent Ulmann, Southport, and Ivanhoe. Of those possessing many shades and combinations of colours (“ art shades”), there are many to choose from. The prime favourite is Mrs Sam M'Gredy, and among others I should pick would be President Herbert Hoover, Angele Pernet, Chas. P: Kilham, Edith Nellie Perkins, Frederico Casas, Gwyneth Jones, Heinrich Wendlend, Molly Darragh, Mrs Paul Goudie, Portadown Bedder, Mrs G. A. Van Rossem, and Shot Silk. Among newcomers the following are most promising:—M'Gredy’s Triumph, Caress, Jack M'Candless, Frazer Anneseley, Luis Brinas, and Heinrich Gaede. Two cerise-coloured rosee that do well in autumn are Mrs Geo. Geary and Flamingo. Whites are inclined to stain, but I find White Ensign and Swansdowii are best in this respect.

All tbe single roses do well in the cool of autumn, and the Poulsen family are then glorious (except possibly Else Poulsen, which soon “spots”), but Karen Poulsen, Kirsten Poulsen, Anne Poulsen, and Van Ness (a “ sport ” from Else Poulsen, but a richer pink with frilled petals) excel. Other gems are Dainty Bess, Betty Prior, Billy Boy, a good yellow, Vesuvius, crimson, Irish Fireflame, and Isobel.

To get plenty of autumn blooms all the spent summer flowers should be removed at once, and the stems that bore them cut back to a good plump bud' or eye, leaving enough dormant buda lower down for pruning to next spring.