THE POINTS OF A GOOD GARDEN ROSE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 24, 11 December 1912, Page 41

THE POINTS OF A GOOD GARDEN ROSE.

Roses are generally exhibited at flower shows as single blooms, and when thev happen to be very tine in shape, size, or colour the temptation to buy these varieties for the garden i s strong. The temptation is one to be resisteel, for such method of exhibition offers no criterion of suitability for the purpose. Those varieties may be weak in habit; they may be very susceptible to diseases’; they may' require considerable skill and experience to get them to produce flowers, and then only very sparsely for a short time; and, as in the case of many' teas, the few flowers may droop so much on their thin stems that they cannot bo seen properly. Good colour is essential in the garden—as much of it as passible and for as long a time as possible; size and shape, though not unimportant, are secondary considerations. The best way to choose roses is to see them growing and flowering—if it can be managed, under unfavourable conditions, or at least under conditions no more favourable than can be provided for them. Where that is impossible, the points to be insisted on are vigorous habit, floriferousness, length of flowering period, and freedom from disease. Frau Karl Druschki may be taken as a type of good garden rose. It grows strongly In most soils; it holds up well its large white flowers; it produces them abundantly in autumn as well as in summer; and, though sometimes attacked by mil-

dew, is otherwise healewy. There an many varieties which have some of these qualities in a higher degree, but nom which is superior in all. The one defect of this fine rose is that it is scentless

Roses That Flower Twice iu a Season.

The duration of flowering being an important factor in the selection of rose* for the garden, a list of some of the Lest varieties has been drawn tip by the National Rose Society. It includes the following hybrid perpetuals: Frau Karl Druschki (white); Mrs. John Laing and M.'rs. R. G. Sharman-Crawford (pink); Suzanne M. Rodocanachi (rose); Ulrich Brunner (cherry red); Captain Christy (crimson); and Fisher Holme(dark crimson). To these the fine crimson, Hugh Dickson, might be added. Tinhybrid teas are: Viscountess Folke stone and Souvenir du President Carnot (blush); La France, Caroline Testout. Killarney and Madame Abel Chatenav (pink) ; Marquise de Salisbury and Gruss an Teplitz (crimson); and Gustave Regiand Madame Ravary (yellow). The beautiful coppery rose and yellow Betty should certainly be added. The te’given are: White Maman Cochet and Souvenir de S. A. Prince (white); Ann Oliver (buff); Maman Cochet (pink an,l rose); Coralina (crimson); Marie van Houette, Souvenir de Pierre Notting ami Madame Hoste (yellow). 'Then there are several climbers: Madame Alfred Cai riere (white); Longworth Rambler. Reine Olga de Wurtemburg, and Fran cois Crousse (crimson) : and William

Allen Richardson, Gloire de Dijon, and Rove d’Or (yellow and buff). In any selection of continuous flowering rose-

some of the China and dwarf polyantha should be included, and here it is not easy' to go wrong. They are excellent, either for growing by themselves or f,> i bordering beds of taller varieties.