DAINTY BUDS AND BLOOMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21242, 24 January 1931, Page 7

DAINTY BUDS AND BLOOMS

A SELECTION OF FREE-FLOWERING ' VARIETIES.

It is not every good garden rose that is suitable for buttonhole work or arrangement in vases. For example, such firstrate varieties as Hugh Dickson, Abol, or Dame Edith Helen are far too large for the lapel of a coat, while Elvira Aramayo is an excellent example of a rose which, while possessed of glorious _ colour, is so ragged in form as to be quite unsuitable for either of the purposes under consideration. Buttonhole roses must be of moderate size only, and should preferably have long, pointed buds, which, if cut in good condition, can be guaranteed to last in a holder containing water throughout an average English summer day. It is in the last point that such a delightful bud as that produced by Isobel falls short. I do not know any rose that has a longer or more shapely bud than this, but, unfortunately, Isobel is only a single, and very rapidly xipens in hot weather. Madame Butterfly haa all the qualifications of a decorative variety. This charming rose hardly ever throws an illformed bloom, while the graceful, longpointed buds and delicate colouring are unsurpassed for buttonholes. Madame Butterfly is also excellent for cutting and arranging in vases, as it is very free flowering, and inherits Ophelia’s habit of producing rather Jong stems. Indeed, if either of these roses has a fault, it is that for garden decoration they are a little tall and leggy. But length of stem is a matter of the greatest importance when flowers are required for cutting, and here Ophelia and all its offspring score heavily. Ivy May ig another member of the same family that canbe whole-heartedly recommended either for buttonholes or vases. It is smaller than either Ophelia or Madame Butterfly, but is more highlycoloured, its dainty blooms being of a warm rose-pink, shaded with copper. It is very sweetly scented, and so floriferous that fairly drastic disbudding is necessary if flowers of any size are required. Where the object is solely blooms for buttonholes, disbudding may be dispensed with, as the young flowers will be amply large enough, providing the plants are receiving good general treatment. Another glorious little buttonhole rose .is Emma Wright. This charming, pure copper variety would be worth growing for its shining dark green foliage alone, which, like the blooms, is not too large for • making up into small sprays. It is practically mildew-proof, a point of no little importance in town gardens, which are frequently more or less shaded by neighbouring buildings or trees. Like Ivy May. Emma Wright does not suffer from shyness, and may be counted upon to give an ample return in the way of bloom.

Violet Simpson first made its appearance at the Summer Show of the National Rose Society last year, when it was most attractively staged by the raisers, Messrs Laxton Bros., of Bedford. Since then abundant evidence has been forthcoming that it is a meritorious introduction. The long-waisted buds and deep salmon-pink colour are reminiscent of Mrs Alfred Tate, a comparatively old rose, which, for some reason or other, has never become very popular. Violet Simpson is quite as good when fully expanded as when in the bud stage, and so is equally fitted for vases and buttonholes. It should be obtained by everyone making a collection of roses 'for these purposes, as should Mrs Alfred Tate just referred to. Both are free flowering and satisfactory growers, and I have never been able to understand why the older rose has not been more widely planted. The ideal white buttonhole rose has yet to be raised. Mrs Herbert Stevens, perhaps, most nearly fulfils all requirements. It is, however, a _ tea-scented variety, the fragrance of which will not appeal to all, while its rather sprawling habit spoils its effect in the garden, and renders it a none too easy task to keep the blooms clean during very rainy weather. They are mostly produced at the ends of whippy shoots that are thrown out, in some cases almost horizontally, and bend under their burden until the blooms are perilously near the soil. The best method of preserving the flowers during wet weather is to place clean straw round the plants, much in a manner of a strawberry bed. Another white rose that has many good points is Marcia Stanhope. During the past season this has been, with me, the most satisfactory white, and has shown practically no sign of black spot, to which in some seasons it appears rather adThe blossOms.are pure in colour, which is more than can be said of certain other so-called whites, while in shape and fragrance they leave little to be desired. Marcia Stanhope is not a very vigorous grower, but is sturdy enough for all ordinary garden purposes. Two other roses which have particularly impressed me during the past summer are Lady Forteviot and Charles P. Kilham. Both are fairly new varieties, but have already collected a large following of admirers. Lady Forteviot is a golden-cop-per, shaded with apricot. It is not a very full rose, but the buds are long and pointed, and open at first in very pleasing formation. Even when fully expanded, and displaying a centre of golden anthers, the blossoms are most attractive in bowls or vases. The foliage is large and glossy. Charles P. Kilham is a variety of a very different class. Branching in habit and exceedingly free flowering, it is practically impossible to find a misshapen bud on this remarkable rose. These are not particularly large, but long, and delicately shaped. In colour they are orange cerise, the blooms expanding to show even more vivid carmine-red tints within. This is a rose which flowers consistently from the beginning to the end of the season, it being one of the latest from which blooms may be cut. Crimson roses for cutting are few in number. The best to date are probably Etoile de Holland, W. E. Chaplin, Mrs Henry Winnett —an American-raised variety, which is well worth trying—and Lord Charlemont. > Miss C. E. Van Hossem is also sometimes, exceedingly good, though it needs a reasonably rich soil and some disbudding. W. E. Chaplin is the newest of this set, and is almost certainly destined for a great future.—A, H„ in Amateur Gardening.