AUSTRALIAN-RAISED ROSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3864, 3 April 1928, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN-RAISED ROSES.

By

H. H. Hazlewood.

No. I. When the first botanists landed in Australia they found themselves in a veritable botanical paradise. It is quite a feather in the cap of the present-day explorer to discover a plant new to science, but to suddenly come into a domain where every herb and tree were new, was an experience to be envied. The first repoits spoke of the wonderful variety of the flora and its remarkable distinctiveness. True, there were a few evidences linking up the island continent at some earlier time with the Asiatic mainland, but on the whole our Australian native trees are in a class peculiarly their own. After the first Hush of enthusiasm hadpassed, the botanists began to take stock. There was the lordly Waratah, the curious Banksiae, the lovely Boronias, Epacris, Bland fordias, flannel flowers, and hun dreds of others, but not one single individual member of the rose family This appears strange, in view of the widespread nature of the rose in other lands. In Europe, Asia, and America, the rose species are most abundant, while Africa has also a few representatives. In Aus tralia, however, no indigenous rose has ever been discovered.

The early colonists, however, soon brought out their favourite flower .amongst many other exotics, and roses of many species and types soon bloomed in the new countiy. Since the earliest days of colonisation regular importations of the latest rose novelties have been made, and it may be said without fear of contradiction that Australian rose growers, in the youngesi country in the world, maintain a standard of culture equal to that of any other land.

Until quite recently all the varieties grown in Australia were importations from the Old World. It is inevitable, how ever, that this practice must gradually decline. The conditions obtaining in most of the other rose-producing countries are so different from those in Australia that most thinking growers are realising that best results will onlv follow when new roses are raised locally for our special climate.

For example, the type favoured in overseas circles is the- semi-double bloom, which will open with a minimum of sunshine. The full-bodied bloom, which takes longer to develop generally, spoils before it can fully expand. European hybridists are therefore concentrating on a typtf which is generally too fleeting tn Austra’ia’s sunshine, and neglecting-, just those factors which make for the best results out here. Since it is out of the' question to ask English growers to brtfed specially for a limited Australian demand, it is incumbent on our own hybridists to produce novelties which will satisfy our peculiar requirements.

If ever a climate was specially made for rose hybridising, then Australia’s claim must certainly be first. Temperate in every sense, with practically no danger of severe cold in winter killing the young plants, and with the possibility of a really all-the-year-round blooming, our climate is ideal. Some work has been done already, and the available varieties are mentioned. To some it may appear as an uninteresting list, but to the real rose lover much will be conveyed. So that lists may be oven more interesting they are divided according to the States in which they ware produced. QUEENSLAND. Penelope (Tea), Star of Queensland (H.T.), E. J. Moller (H.T.), Pride of Runcorn (H.T.), Miss Pollock (H.T.), Mrs E. E. Bernaya (H.T.), Mrs A. Norton

(H.T.), The Allies (Poly), Mrs Woodroffe (lea), Lottie Foster (Poly.), Catherine Blackburn (Poly). Cranbrook (Poly). There is little of real merit amongst these varieties when viewed from a general standpoint, though they do well in coastal Queensland climate. At the same time, many new seedlings are being tested out in the north, and there is no reason whv real winners should not be produced in the near future. NEW SOUTH WALES. Australie (H.T.), Austral Queen (H.T.), Australian Beauty (11. T.), Clb. Maman Cochct (T.), Clb. White Maman Cochet (I'.), Clb. Georges Schwartz (T.), Clb. Laurent Carle (H.T.), Clb Radiance (H.T.), E. N. Ward (Polv.). Mrs J. H. Beatson (H.T.), Midnight Sun (H.T.), Mrs B M. Finch (Poly.), Salmon Spray (Hyb. Poly.). Beyond the climbing sports, the only varieties which cal] for special mention are Salmon Spray and Mrs R. M. Finch. In cool climates these varieties are really first class, and their freedom of bloom and vigorous growth have earned them honours from the Royal Horticultural Society in England. VICTORIA. Clb. Cecil Brunner (Poly.), Clb. Mme. Segond Weber (H.T.), Ella Scott (Wich.), Florence Russ 'H.T.), Miss Marion Manifold (H.T.), Mrs J. C. Manifold (H.P.), Nora Power (H.T.), Rev. T C. Cole (T.). Omitting climbing sports, the outstanding variety is certainly Miss Marion Manifold. When Australian hybridists can regularly supply novelties of equal merit to this variety, there will be no need for importing the new roses' from overseas.—Garden Lover.