THE BEST OF THE NEWER ROSES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20389, 21 April 1928, Page 3

THE BEST OF THE NEWER ROSES.

AS SELECTED BY H. H. HAZELWOOD, N.S.W. A WELL-KNOWN ROSARIAN EXPERT.

(From the Garden Lover.) No. I.

In , making his selection of the best of the new roses that have come into prominence during. the last few years, Mr Hazelwood says that “ almost every rose lover has an inborn desire to possess at least one plant of the best new varieties. This desire is easily understood, and it' is only a fair and reasonable proposition, for the care and attention bestowed on ‘ plants should he met by the greatest" possible return in number and quality or blooms. Unfortunately,’ it is not the easiest matter to select just those sorts"'which will give the great©st return,' and which ‘ will please a dis* criminating enthusiast 'in the many phases of colour, shape, size; fragrance, habit, freedom’of bloom, and disease resistance. Mr Hazelwood explains that the object of his article is to give the average rose lover a hint or .two to enable him or her to get the best, possible respite. It is pot in any, way intended for the exhibition grower, for these enthusiasts frequently overlook (and overcome) faults which are fatal to the average gardener. Undoubtedly the outstanding introductiiui of the last five years is Dame Edith Helen.'; This silvery pink variety possesses almost all ’the qualities in a very high degree, and for genera] all-round excellence stands ' supreme. Its, Colour is attractive, and lasts well without fading; and in 'all other’ respects' this variety closely ‘ approaches the all-found standard of the garden ’ideal;’ "’lt Hi quite safe to say that thefe will be 'ft serious 'shortage of this variety towards the end 6f the season, and growers wHI be well advised to’ order early.

1 Another' high-class variety is r Charles P.' Kilham.’ The outstanding 1 feature is without doubt the rich coppery red colour, and .in any company this newcomer would score almost a possible in this respect. Added -to this quality one finds good shape, good growth, .and a free-blooming character. This > s another variety, sure of an , enormous sale, and the hint as to early booking in, the previous, sort must be"repeated. ; In Lady Helen Maglona, Alexander "Dickson and Sons have scored another success, and lovers of rich red roses will welcome' this variety with open arms. It is a colour fit to rank ’ with Lord CharleraOht aiid Etoile de Hoilande, and greater praise is not possible. It is sweetly scented, and won the Clay Cup" for fragrance in 1925. This Clay Cup (value £100), is presented each year to stem -the tendency to ignore fragrance in dew roses, and it certainly has achieved its donor’s object. Lady Helen Maglona is much better to date'than Sir David Davie (which came out last year) and presents, a high standard of all the garden qualities embodied in one variety.

In Lady Margaret Stewart, there is a moderate growing variety of rich , and very varied colouring. In the bud stage the outer petals show orange-veined crimson, but when the bloom opens, on the inner face of the petals appears more apricot, while sometimes they show old gold tints. The blooms are not extra largßj and often show confused centres, but it should prove one of the Best in this colour for garden purposes. In pinks, Briarcliff promised very well. It is a sport from Columbia, and has many of the superb qualities of the parent. It does not appear to show the deformed petals of the original to nearly the same extent, while in all Other respects it reaches a. very high standard Growers of Mrs ,W. -C. Egan, will wel come a variety ,of somewhat similar type in Mrs Lovell Swisher. The colour, is variable but at its best, shows a decided lilac tint in the inner petals, while the genera,) colour is .pink. - The variety is a very good grower, and fully, worth a trial in any garden.

Ophelia and Madame Butterfly have been responsible for a number of seed lings and sports, some of which are too, close to the original to stay long in public favour. One of the daintiest of these is certainly Ivy May, and with the exception of a tendency to mildew, this variety is quite high class in every re spept. The colours embrace rose pink, amber and gold in a beautiful combination. ■ It may be planted with perfect as being different, and yet losing none of the qualities of the -parent. Its mildewing faults can be easily overcome by a liberal use of wood ashes applied to the soil. ■