No part of my garden affords me more pleasure than my bed of Tea
Roses. I cut dozens of flowers from it nearly every day from June to
the coming of cold weather, for buttonhole and corsage bouquets, and
for use on the table, and in the parlor. One fine rose and a bit of
foliage is a bouquet in itself. If I could have but one bed of
flowers, it should be a bed of Tea Roses--and yet, I should want a bed
of Pansies to supplement the Roses; therefore, a bed of each would be
a necessity.
If you want to give a friend a buttonhole nosegay that shall be "just
as pretty as it can be," you must have a bed of these Roses to draw
from. A half-blown flower of Meteor, with its velvety, crimson petals,
and a bud of Perle des Jardins, just showing its golden heart, with a
leaf or two of green to set off the flowers--what a lovely harmony of
rich color! Or, if your taste inclines you to more delicate colors,
take a bud of Luciole, and a Catherine Mermet when its petals are just
falling apart. Nothing can be lovelier, you think, till you have put
half open Perle des Jardins with a dark purple or azure-blue Pansy.
When you have done that, you are charmed with the manner in which the
two colors harmonize and intensify each other, and you are sure there
was never anything finer for a flower-lover to feast his eyes on. Put
a tawny Safrano or Sunset bud with a purple Pansy and see what a royal
combination of colors you have in the simple arrangement. Be sure to
have a bed of Tea Roses, and make combinations to suit yourself.
In order to make a success of your bed of Tea Roses--though perhaps I
ought to say ever-bloomers, for probably your selection will include
other varieties than the Tea--you must have a rich soil for them to
grow in. When a branch has borne flowers, it must be cut back to some
strong bud. This bud will, if your soil is rich enough to encourage
vigorous growth, soon become a branch, and produce flowers. It is by
constant cutting back that you secure new growth, if the soil is in a
condition to help it along, and only by securing this steady
production and development of new branches can you expect many
flowers. All depends on that. If proper treatment is given, you need
not be without flowers, unless you cut them all, from June to October.
If I were to name all the desirable varieties, I might fill several
pages with the list. Look over the catalogs of the florists and you
will see that the variety is almost endless. If you do not care to
invest money enough to secure the newer varieties, tell the dealer to
whom you give your patronage what you want the plants for, and he will
make a selection which will include some of the best kinds, and which
will be sure to give you as good satisfaction as you would get from a
selection of your own. Better, in most instances, for you make your
selection from the description in the catalog, while he would select
from his knowledge of the merits of the flower.
By all means have a bed of these most sweet and lovely Roses. If the
season happens to be a hot and dry one, mulch your rose bed with grass
clippings from the lawn. Spread them evenly about the plants, to a
depth of two or three inches, in such a manner as to cover the entire
bed. By so doing, you prevent rapid evaporation and the roots of the
plant are kept much cooler than when strong sunshine is allowed to
beat down upon the surface of the bed. When the mulch begins to decay,
remove it, and apply fresh clippings. About the middle of the season
give the soil a liberal dressing of fine bone meal, working it well
about the roots of the plants; or, if you can get it, use old cow
manure. Whatever you apply, be sure it gets where the roots can make
use of it.
While the above illustrations show Mr. Rexford's interests in
the affairs of home life and demonstrate his simple, direct
way of saying what he wishes us to know, yet they do not
manifest that finer literary sense of which he is possessed.
They are scientific thought, clearly and directly expressed,
but he has that sentiment of the heart and that keen
appreciation of the relation of sound to sense which marks
him as the poet and song writer.
His first book publication of a poetic nature is a long
narrative poem entitled "Brother and Lover." It is a story of
Civil War times and is rich in the sentiment of friendship
which, to his mind, endures not merely through this life, but
abides throughout all time. The plot of this story is very
simple, involving but three characters, a young woman, her
brother, and her lover.
Mr. Rexford's last collection of poems appeared in 1911 under
the title "Pansies and Rosemary." He explained this title in
the following quotation: "Pansies--for thoughts, and
Rosemary--that's for remembrance." Many of the thoughts in
these poems seem to be such as come to us at eventide, for
they reflect many sentiments concerning death. It would seem
that Mr. Rexford has cherished those occasions which bring a
community in humility and close sympathy, to point the
significance of the great lesson of hope, in the most
beautiful language that he commands.
In a few of these poems, dialect has been chosen as the form
of expression. One of this type has been selected for this
reading. It illustrates the fact that in these simple acts of
community effort to do the constructive, there always comes
more joy than can come from the polished product of practised
art.
Naturally we expect one who loved the beauty of the landscape
and the color of petal and the fragrance of flower to be more
or less of a Nature poet. To him Nature is the great teacher
of God's handiwork, and imparts to us solace and joy. Mr.
Rexford has also chosen to disregard the life of the city for
the life of the country village, where every individual to
the youngest school child may know him and reverence him for
his kindly helpfulness. He loves the humble worker in the
common walks of life. "The Two Singers" given later will
illustrate his theory of usefulness.
He does not conceal the presence of evil, nor does he condone
it, but he does show the great strength which may be attained
through resistance of it. The unfruitful tree illustrates
this point.
Mr. Rexford has always been a great lover of music. He has
led the village choir and he has played the organ at the
church service for many years. He has written not merely the
words that he sings, but he has also set many of his little
lyrics to music. When the village school has needed a song
for a special program, when the church service has been in
special need, or when the Memorial Day program could be
rendered more sacredly helpful by his music, Mr. Rexford has
always been ready to assist. He has kindly consented to our
publishing his famous song, "Silver Threads Among the Gold,"
and its sequel, "When Silver Threads are Gold Again."