FLOWER GARDEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21210, 3 December 1938, Page 17

FLOWER GARDEN

SOME FRAGRANT ROSES So many people lament the lack of scent in the modern rose that anyone unacquainted with roses might be pardoned for believing that practically all varieties were scentless. It is a sad fact, however, that many roses of fine form and exquisite colouring are almost without fragrance. This is to be regretted, as a beautiful rose without scent is like a beautiful woman without charm. The most outstanding perfumes of the rose include those of the Damask, the Musk and the Tea groups, each epitomised in the following old roses: General Jacqueminot, The Garland and Madame Bravy. Francis Bacon, 15611626, appears to have been a lover of the Damask Roses (Rosa damascene), but lamented that they did not give out perfume as many other flowers did: “Roses, damask and red, are fast flowers of their smells, so that you may walk by a whole row of them and find nothing of their sweetness.” The Clay Challenge Cup is awarded each year to a new rose of good form and colour which posses the true scent of the Provence or Cabbage Rose, such

as General Jacqueminot, Marie Baumann or General McArthur. Dame Edith Helen, introduced in 1926, was awarded the Clay Cup, adn possesses a fine perfume, but it is not everyone's idea of a good rose. The flowers are very heavy and somewhat lacking in grace although the rich pink colour is pleasing. Vigorous in growth, it is, despite its drawbacks, a good garden rose. Memory is another pink rose which was awarded the Clay Cup for fragrance. The large flowers are carried on strong stems, and in colour are silvery-pink with a darker centre. Memory is a useful variety for bedding or exhibition. Barbara Richards, also a Clay Cup winner, introduced in 1930, is a good rose for garden or exhibition. The flower is of pointed shape and in colour is bright maize-yellow, with a buff reverse. It is free-flowering and should be included in a collection of scented roses. It is not a variety which has become very well-known. Bedford Crimson, yet another Clay Cup winner, is a good, unfading crimson rose introduced in 1926. It is a vigorous grower, very free-flowering, and makes a good bedder. Another fine and scented Rose is William Orr. This bears shapely blooms of deep velvety-crimson, which weather well, and are very fragrant. Abol is a strong-growing variety with a fine perfume; the buds are white, edged with pink, later opening to white. Of the above Clay Cup winners, probably only Dame Edith Helen has

achieved widespread popularity, which gives cause for thought. One of the newest roses to receive the Clay Cup is Hector Deane. This variety produces long-pointed buds, opening to blooms of medium size and fine form; the colour is a charming combination of orange, cochineal and salmon-pink, flushed with veined saffron-yellow.

Among the more popular roses there are several which possess a very distinct perfume, not necessarily of the true Damask type. Probably the best scented white rose is Marcia Stanhope (gold medal, 1924), a seedling from the unscented Frau Karl Druschki. It is more compact in growth than its parent, is a good bedding variety, and has become very popular. Shot Silk, a variety which has attained immense popularity, and deservedly so, possesses a sweet fragrance. It was raised by Messrs A. Dickson and Sons, Ltd., and received a gold medal in 1923. This variety is too well-known to require a description. George Dickson, introduced in 1912, is a very fragrant variety, with dark, velvety-crimson flowers of fine I form and substance. It is a vigorous grower and free flowering.

Lady Barnby is not too well-known but is very sweetly scented and worthy of recommendation. The blooms are large and of a bright pink shade. Other fragrant roses include General McArthur, Etoile de Hollande, Rev F. Page Roberts, La France, Mrs John Laing, Daily Mail Scented and Mrs Henry Winnet.