ROSES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10104, 1 August 1893, Page 2

ROSES.

[BT BOEBET NAIRN.]

At this season of the year many are contemplating planting roses for next summer’s display; it is of the utmost importance that this work should not be delayed much longer if you wish to have a successful return for your labour. Many leave this important work till too late in spring, in fact, purchase their bushes when they are coining into leaf, and the result is their plants take all the summer to recover themselves, and give but a scant display of bloom. To grow roses successfully it is important that due attention should be given to working the soil, which should be thoroughly done; where the soil is poor and worked out it will be necessary to procure some deep loam and mix in the beet where you intend planting your roses. A heavy top-dressing of good rotten manure will give the best results, as roses are rank feeders, especially the strong growing kinds. For the production of good flowers it will be found necessary to give attention to the foregoing remarks, for many can testify to the fact that the soil has much to do with the quality of the blooms.

la pruning rosea no hard and fast rules can be laid down, as all cannot be pruned alike. To some pruning hard is necessary, while to others the knife is destruction. A knowledge of their habits and general character will be the best guide to the operator. Hybrid perpetual varieties generally need cutting well back every year, and there is not much likelihood of any amateur making great mistakes with them, but in the Tea and Noisette section the greatest attention must be given to the work. Some of these require hard pruning, but others need only the tips of the branches reduced and any weak and badly ripened wood thinned out. The climbers in these sections also need special attention to their wants, for I can, without fear of denial, say that many of these receive barbaric treatment from those who have the pruning o£ them 5 at this season of the year they are again undergoing the same, and the result will be a great amount of growth in summer and very little flower. If amateurs but understood that pruning has a double effect—that it may produce growth or bloom—they would prune accordingly, but many do not know this, and yearly cut their climbing roses hard back, with the result of a vigorous growth and little bloom; whereas, if after their plants have reached an advanced stage, and bloom is required instead of more growth, a careful thinning out of the weak wood and tying in of tho strong growths will give such results of bloom as will satisfy the most ambitious. I might mention that August is the best month to prune. Thstroses aresfcill popular there is not the slightest doubt, and the" Queen of flowers" is sure to remain so. At present much attention is being given to rosea by the hybridisers with very marked results, especially in the Tea and Hybrid Tea sections. During the last few years they have introduced some very charming novelties to the horticultural world, and every year are adding varieties of great excellence to the already large collections. For the benefit of those who intend' planting this season, and do not know which to choose, the following list of fifty varieties of proved excellence may be of some service. It will be quite understood that there are many others not here mentioned equally good, but are left out, as too fat a list would serve no good purpose to the amateur with a small garden:— Abbreviations —T., Tea Scented; H.T., Hybrid Tea ; N,, Noisette ; H.P., Hybrid Perpetual. Abel Carriere (H.P,) Colour, rich velvety maroon, shaded violet ; very striking; popular among those who like dark-coloured roses. Anna Olivier (T.)—Colour, a rosy flesh and buff; flowers large and full; very beautiful in bud; a good grower and free bloomer. „ . . A E. Williams (H.P,)—A carmine red changing to magenta; flowers large and full; a good exhibition rose. Alfred Colomb (H.P.)—Colour, bright fiery red; flowers large, full and of globular form ; sweet scented. This rosestill holds a premier place among the H.P. varieties. Alphonse Soupert(H.P.)—Colour, bright rose; large and full flower of good substance; very showy. Baron Adolph do Rothschild, (H.P.) — Colour, bright fiery red; flowers large and fail; a very effective variety. Bonle de Niega (H.P.)—Pars white flowers, which are borne in great profusion. A very pure and beautiful white rose when it comes true, but soih/Btimea is apt to develop badly; well worth growing in spite of this fault. Belle Lyonnaise (T.) Deep canary, yellow centre, outer petals nearly white; large and full; a climber of greejb merit. Baron de Bonatettia (H.P.)—Colour, red, black and crimson; most strikSksg, large and full; good dark variety. Bouquet d’d (N.)—Pale yellow, with coppery centre; large and full arid of flue form; a good climber. Catherine Mermet (T.) —A grand rose of full form, of a flesh colour. The Bride is a sport from this variety. Comtesse de Nadaillac (T.) Bright, rosy flesh and base of petals coppery

yellow. This is one of the most beantiffil roses, and is a very prolific bloomer. Charles Lafevre (H.P.) —Colour, bright crimson, centre purplish ; flowers large and full. This is one of the old roses, and still one of the best and most popular. Crown Prince (H.P.) —Bright purple, centre shaded with lurid crimson. A really good dark rose, and should be in every collection. a, Devoniensis (T.)—Creamy white, with } blush centre j flowers large and full, ancki borne in great profusion 5 a good rose to grow.

Duke of Edinburgh (H.P,)—Brilliant scarlet crimson; flowers large and full; free flowering. One of the best old roses. Dr Andry (H.P.)—Colour dark red; large, fall, and free flowering; strong grower; a good exhibition rose. ‘ Duchesse d’Auarstaedt (T.)~A new and vigorous climbing rose; deep yellow flowers with nankeen centre; large and full. A decided acquisition. E. Clair (H.P.)—A bright fiery red colour; good form, large and full; good habit, A distinct variety, Earl Dafferin (H.P.) Rich velvety crimson-shaded maroon, large and full 1 This variety received the prize as the best dark rose in the show at the Sydney Bote Show of 1891.

Grace Darling (T.) —Creamy white, shaded pinkish peach; very large and fall flowers, and excellent in form; one of the most striking roses, and good as an exhibition flower.

Gloire de Dijon (T.)—Yellow and buff, shaded salmon; large and full; a good climber. The tints in this variety are very charming during autumn. Grand Mogul (H.P.)—Colour, deep crimson, shaded scarlet and black. A splendid flower, and much admired by those who are lovers of dark roses.

Jean Ducher(T.)—Brightyellow, salmon and coppery, with deep peach centre* largo and full; a very striking variety. Jean Rosenkrantz (H.P.)—Bright coral red; large and full; one of the best of its colour. Highly recommended. La Prance (H.T.)—Pale peach colour, reverse of petals deep rose; large and full. This is one of the very beet exhibition roses, and should be in every collection. Lady Mary Pitz william (H.T.)—Colour bright clear rose ; large and full flower ; of great merit; habit dwarf and slow grower. Lady Helen Stewart (H.P.)—Bright crimson scarlet colour; very effective flower; highly perfumed'; good grower.

Marie Yan Hoatte (T.)—Pale yellow, the petals often tinted with rose ; flowers large and full, and borne in great profusion throughout the summer and autumn. An old but still much esteemed variety, considered by many to be the best and most useful tea rose.

Mareohal Neil (T.) Eioh golden yellow, with large and full flowers, borne in great profusion, if grown in a sheltered position. This variety is rather tender, and requires shelter and sunshine to grow it successfully. Mrs J. Laing (H.P.)—Colour, soft pink; large flower, finely shaped; splendid show flower. A variety which is admired by all. Madame Lambard (T.)—Salmon pink, shaded rose, often varied, sometimes much deeper in colour than its recognised shade; a very free flowering variety; very popular. Madame Falcot (T.)—-Deep apricot yellow ; very beautiful in bad, but rather thin when it expands. For button-holes or specimen glasses this variety is not excelled.

Mdlle. Marie Cointet (H.P.J—Bright rose, changing to delicate rose; very upright grower, after the character of Baroness Rothschild.

Madame de Watteville (T.) —Creamy white, each petal edged with rose, like a tulip; stout petals which are often thrown back, giving this variety quite a character of its own. Very beautiful and exceedngly fragrant. Mrs Harry Turner (H.P.) —Dazzling crimson scarlet; large and full flower, of great merit. A striking variety, Madame Eugene Yerdies (I').—Chamois yellow, with deep orange centre; large and fall; a free and vigorous climber; quite distinct.

Niphetos (T.)—Perhaps the best white rose, certainly the most useful white variety for cutting; its great beauty is tho long beautiful buds which are tive mixed with other roses; free flowering, but not very vigorous in growth. Prince Camille de Rohan (H.P.) Maroon crimson, shaded black; one of the very best dark-coloured roses. Very effective.

Princess of Wales (T.)—Outer petals rosy yellow, golden centre; large and Sollf considered to be one of the very best tea roses, but not a strong grower. Reine Maria Henrietta (T.)— Bright, rosy cerise, sometimes crimson (a red Gloire de Dijon) ; a vigorous climber.

Reve d’Or (N.)—‘One of the best climbers grown; colour deep yellow, with coppery tint; free flowering and very effective.

Silver Queen (H.P.) -- Silvery-blneh shaded, delicate rosy pink; large and full; a grand rose. Safrano (T.)—Deep apricot colour; good only in the bud; cannot be beaten as a button-hole rose; very free flowering. Souvenir d'Elise (Yarden), (T.)— Creamy white, with yellowish centre ; sometimes tinted with rose; large and full. Sunset (T.)—Deep apricot; large and full; a really good rose, but not a very vigorous grower. '

The Shah (H.P.)—Pure crimson; a very distinct rose; large and full; good exhibition variety. The Bride (T.)—Sometimes a pure white with outer petals tinged with pink, but generally pure white; fine form and great substance. This is one of the finest roses grown, popular with all. William Liorval (H.P.)—Colour, bright red; large and fall flower; a really good exhibition rose.

W. Allan Richardson (N.)—Colour, orange-yellow; flowers small, but delightful, especially in the bud; free flowering, and vigorous climber. Xavier Olibo (H.P.) —Deep velvety black, shaded with amaranth ; large wad full flower; very popular. .