Bedding, Roses

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22504, 22 August 1936, Page 10 (Supplement)

Bedding, Roses

Bright Summer Beds

Modern roses are numbered by the thousand, but really first-class bedding varieties are few and far between. Many faults can be forgiven an exhibition rose, or a particular favourite, for in the first case quality of bloom is the primary consideration, while in the second, personal fancies will count more than such essential points as perfect habit, freedom of flowering and stoutness of constitution. All of these, the bedding rose must possess to a marked degree. Strong, growth is. not sufficient, for many of the stoutest growers are so ungainly and untidy as to be sadly out, of place in truly formal beds. In addition to vigour, the habit must be upright and even. Few of the modern varieties can be reproached on the score of their being shv in producing their blooms, for raisers would hesitate to introduce any varietv with such a fault, were it not of outstanding value in the exhibition world, but many otherwise good roses fail when constitution is .taken into .account. No finer yellow roses than Golden Emblem at its best could be wished'for, but as many growers know to their cost, it is always liable to die back with exasperating suddenness during the winter months. It is true that the blanks are easily filled, but one or 'two maiden plants scattered throughout a bed of two or three year olds will give it a gappy appearance. Yet another example of a really splendid rose with just one fault, is to be found in that old favourite Henry Morse. In good health it is without peer among tb6 multitudinous pink varieties, but the plain fact remains that it is a martyr to mildew, and in wet sum-

mers may easily prove the means of introducing this disease. Form of flower cannot bo called a first essential, though it certainly is on attraction which must not be discounted when two varieties, of balanced merits in other respects are weighed one against the other. JNot a few of the finest bodders are quite below standard in this respect, as is instanced in the case of Betty Uprichard and Shot Silk. Both fall short of being classed, as full roses, and in the case of Shot Silk, form is not all that could be desired. But among bedders they must bo looked upon as in the first flight and they havo the attraction of unique and delightful colouring. The glowing coppery pink and salmon of Betty Uprichard and the indescribable sunset hues of Shot Silk form a high light in the most artistically and harmoniously designed plans. Mrs. Henry Bowles is one of the few varieties which combines flowers of the highest exhibition standard with an impeccable habit. It is sometimes claimed as the finest rose in commerce to-day, and high praise though this may be, it will not sound extravagant to growers who have seen it at its best in the South. An immediate choice among reds is that old favourite Etoile de Hollande. Many crimson roses have been raised'and introduced as improvements on this' grand variety, but none has displaced it. and few have stood the test of comparison. In colour, it has !?.■ just that shade of lovely velvety crimG< ? n peculiar to roses, and its scent K-: *lone is an attraction. Ik