TEA ROSES, _R. Indica odorata_.
THE popular fallacy which universally prevailed forty to fifty years ago
with regard to the extreme delicacy of Tea roses, has happily been
exploded by the experience of later years. It was then supposed that no
Tea rose could possibly stand the English winter if planted out of
doors. And so firmly was this belief fixed in the minds of all amateurs,
that if they were so reckless (in their own eyes) as to plant a Tea rose
anywhere except in a greenhouse, the careful treatment they bestowed on
the unfortunate specimen went far to prove the rule. For not only was it
pruned in the autumn: but so coddled and smothered up in straw and
matting that it could not breathe; and as every bud was made doubly
tender by this means, when at last it saw the light again it was pretty
sure to die of absolute anaemia. The older gardeners of the fifties would
look in amaze on our glorious beds of Tea roses, flowering in some cases
up to Christmas, and beginning again as happily as ever the next June.
While to us of the present day, a rose garden without Tea roses would be
no garden at all.
It is not that the modern Tea rose is hardier than its ancestors; for
some of the old ones, such as _Souvenir d'un Ami_, grow as cheerfully in
the garden as a Hybrid Perpetual. But experience has shown that Tea
roses, with a very few exceptions, may be safely grown in the open
ground, if a few simple precautions are observed in their treatment.
The first of these is, of course, that no pruning should be done till
April.
The second, that a few fronds of bracken should be drawn through the
branches. This in most cases will be found quite sufficient to ward off
frost. But as an extra precaution in the event of very severe weather,
the earth may be drawn up some four or five inches round the stems, so
that if by chance a hard frost should cut the upper part of the shoots,
the base may still be kept alive. Great care, however, must be exercised
in uncovering the plants, the protecting material being removed
gradually, so that growth may not be unduly forced on--only to be cut by
the first cold wind--or, on the other hand, that the plant may not
receive a shock by sudden and complete exposure.
Standard Tea roses may be protected by straw tied lightly round the
heads, care being taken not to break the shoots by tying them in too
tightly.
The history of the Tea rose in Europe began just 100 years ago. The
original "Blush tea-scented rose," _R. Indica odorata_, was brought from
China in 1810. In 1824, the "Yellow China or Tea rose" was introduced
from China by Mr. Parkes. And the French growers at once began to raise
seedlings from these fruitful parents; for both in France and Italy the
Yellow Tea rose seeded freely, which was not the case in England. By
about 1830 the reputation of the Tea rose was firmly established; and in
the next twenty years many varieties were raised: but mainly in France,
though the finest of all, _Devoniensis_, was raised by Mr. Foster of
Plymouth in 1838. The real culture of the Tea rose by English growers,
however, did not assume much importance until a far later period.
Some few of these early Tea roses still hold their own among the host of
their brilliant successors--_Bougere_, 1832; _Adam_, 1833; _Le
Pactole_--now extremely difficult to procure; _Devoniensis_, 1838;
_Safrano_, 1839; _Mme. Willermoz_, 1843; _Niphetos_, 1844; _Souv. d'un
Ami_, 1846; _Mme. Bravy_, 1846. But of some dozen or more others in Mr.
Rivers' list of 1843, not a trace remains.
In 1853 a great development took place, when Jacotot introduced an
absolutely new type into the race with his _Gloire de Dijon_. This rose
is so distinct, with its strong constitution, vigorous growth, and large
foliage, that one cannot but imagine some other strain, such as the
Noisette, must have helped in fertilizing the seed parent of _Gloire de
Dijon_.
Since that notable date, the raising of new Tea roses in England, France
and Luxembourg, has developed in an extraordinary manner. And in the
last few years Germany and America have added many fine novelties to the
bewildering list. Among the chief growers in England who have devoted
themselves in the last fifty years to the production of Tea roses, we
find Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, of Waltham Cross; Ben Cant, of Colchester;
Paul, of Cheshunt; Prince, of Oxford; Frank Cant, of Colchester; Alex.
Dickson, of Newtownards; Piper, Bennett, etc.
In France, Luxembourg and Germany, the famous houses of Pernet-Ducher,
Nabonnand, Bernaix, Bonnaire, Cochet, Chatenay, Guillot, Verdier, Levet,
Chauvry, Dubreuil, Godard, Mari, Lacharme, Leveque, Soupert et Notting,
Lambert, Schwartz, etc., are now household words among rose lovers.
The influence of the old Yellow Tea is to be found among a large
proportion of these lovely roses, in the golden and sulphur base which
adds such richness to the endless shades of pink, crimson, copper and
white. But a pure yellow Tea rose is still a rarity. And its production
is the goal towards which many of the greatest rose-growers are still
working.
What we all desire is a Tea rose for bedding of as pure a yellow as the
dear old _Persian Briar_, or _Marechal Niel_, and one that will stand,
as that glorious rose does, the hot rays of the sun without changing
colour. For, charming as many of the so-called Yellow Tea roses are when
they are in bud, the open flower quickly turns white in the sun.
To this object, as I have said, some of the greatest rose-growers have
been devoting their energies for years; while others are striving as
eagerly and with far greater success, after the development of deep
crimson and scarlet Tea roses. And though they may not yet have attained
the absolute perfection they were seeking, both sets of experiments have
resulted of late in some truly magnificent roses, of various rich shades
undreamt of even twenty years ago.
In the following lists the roses will be found grouped in colour, as
this may be useful to amateurs who are unacquainted with some of the
names. Many of those mentioned, while they are not included in the
National Rose Society's list, are still well worthy of cultivation in
our gardens; and others, hardly known in England as yet, have proved
most valuable in my own Hampshire collection and perfectly hardy.
Among roses that are little known in English gardens are _Baronne de
Hoffmann_, a vigorous grower, vivid copper-red, with yellow base; and
the invaluable _M. Tillier_, which I first saw in the Paris Exhibition
of 1900. I have grown it largely since, and every one is attracted by
the bushes, set thickly with medium-sized imbricated flowers of carmine
and brick-red, borne on upright stems in such numbers that they make a
brilliant mark in the garden from a distance. It is perfectly hardy, and
I have gathered good blooms at Christmas. _Amabilis_ is a useful china
pink rose for decorative purposes, either in the garden or to cut for
the house; it is strong and hardy. So is _Marquise de Querhoent_, a
strong grower, of vivid coppery salmon and china red. Ducher's _Coquette
de Lyon_ is another admirable bedding rose, which is not much grown in
England. The flowers which cover the plant are full, well-shaped, of
medium size, a pale canary yellow, and last long in water.
I would also call attention to other roses which, though well known to
collectors and exhibitors, might be more generally cultivated by the
ordinary amateur.
These are the delightful _G. Nabonnand_, _Duchesse Marie Salviati_,
_Mrs. B. R. Cant_--an admirable rose--_Madame Constant Soupert_, a new
and most brilliant variety; _Souvenir de Pierre Notting_--best on a
standard, but excellent in every way; _General Schablikine_, absolutely
invaluable, as it is covered with bloom from June to November; _Innocent
Pirola_, one of the best creamy whites; _Peace_, a newer and very
beautiful rose, pale lemon, carrying its fine flowers singly on strong
erect stalks; and the older _Souv. de S. A. Prince_, a pure white sport
from _Souv. d'un Ami_.
The climbing Tea roses will be found in another chapter.
PINK, ROSE, SALMON, PEACH.
Archiduchesse Marie Immaculata. _Soupert et
Notting_, 1887. Brick red.
Adam. _Adam_, 1833. Rose, shaded salmon.
Baronne H. de Loew. _Nabonnand_, 1889. Tender
rose, yellow centre.
Boadicea. _W. Paul & Son_, 1901. Pale peach,
tinted rose.
Bridesmaid. _May_, 1893. Clear pink.
Catherine Mermet. _J. B. Guillot fils_, 1869.
Light rosy flesh.
Cecile-Charles. _Schwartz_, 1907. Pale rosy
salmon, edged carmine, fragrant.
Comtesse de Breteuil. _Pernet-Ducher_, 1893.
Salmon rose, peach centre.
Comtesse de Nadaillac. _Guillot_, 1871. Peach,
shaded apricot, salmon base; an exhibitor's rose.
Dr. Grill. _Bonnaire_, 1886. Clear rose, centre
salmon.
Duchesse Maria Salviati. _Soupert et Notting_,
1890. Rosy flesh, shaded chrome, fragrant.
Ernest Metz. _Guillot_, 1889. Soft carmine-rose,
reverse of petals deeper.
Ethel Brownlow. _Alex. Dickson_, 1887. Bright
salmon-pink, yellow base.
Franciska Kruger. _Nabonnand_, 1879. Copper,
shaded peach.
G. Nabonnand. _Nabonnand_, 1889. Pale flesh,
shaded yellow.
Homere. _Robert_, 1859. Rose-edged, salmon centre.
Jean Ducher. _Ducher_, 1874. Salmon yellow, shaded
peach.
Lena. _Alex. Dickson_, 1906. Glowing apricot.
Madame Antoine Mari. _Mari_, 1902. Rose, washed
with white.
Madame Cusin. _Guillot_, 1881. Rose, lighter
centre.
Madame Georges Durrschmidt. _Peletier_, 1895.
China rose, cerise centre, fragrant.
Madame Lambard. _Lacharme_, 1877. Bright rose.
Madame Jules Gravereaux. _Soupert et Notting_,
1901. Chamois yellow, rosy peach centre.
Madame Philemon Cochet. Clear rose, shaded salmon.
Maman Cochet. _Cochet_, 1893. Carmine, shaded
salmon-yellow.
Mathilde Liegeard. _Nabonnand_, 1907. Pearly rose,
touched carmine.
Mrs. B. R. Cant. _B. R. Cant_, 1901. Deep rose
outer petals, inner petals silvery rose.
Mrs. Edward Mawley. _Alex. Dickson_, 1899. Bright
carmine, shaded salmon.
Morning Glow. _Wm. Paul & Son_, 1902. Rosy
crimson, suffused orange and fawn.
Nellie Johnstone. _Paul & Son_, 1906. Pure rose
pink.
Paul Nabonnand. _Nabonnand_, 1878. Hydrangea pink.
Rainbow. _Sievers_, 1891. Sport from Papa Gontier,
pink, striped crimson.
Rose d'Evian. _Bernaix_, 1895. China rose outside,
lined carmine.
Souvenir d'un Ami. _Defougere_, 1846. Salmon-rose.
Souvenir de Paul Neyron. _Levet_, 1872. Salmon,
edged rose.
Souvenir de William Robinson. _Bernaix_, 1900.
Fawn, shaded pink and yellow.
Sunrise. _Piper_, 1899. Outer petals carmine,
shading to pale fawn and salmon within.
YELLOW, BUFF, AND APRICOT.
Alexandra. _Wm. Paul & Son_, 1901. Copper yellow,
streaked with orange.
Anna Olivier. _Ducher_, 1872. Buff, flushed pink.
Antoine Devert. _Gonod_, 1881. Clear straw colour.
Belle Lyonnaise. _Levet_, 1869. Deep lemon,
climbing.
Billiard et Barre. _Pernet-Ducher_, 1899. Deep
golden yellow.
Blumenschmidt, _J. C. Schmidt_, 1907. Bright lemon
yellow, edged pink.
Comtesse Alexandra Kinsky. _Soupert et Notting_,
1905. White, centre apricot yellow.
Comtesse de Frigneuse. _Guillot_, 1886. Fine
canary yellow.
Georges Schwartz. _Schwartz_, 1900. Deep canary
yellow.
Goldquelle. _Lambert_, 1899. Clear golden yellow.
Harry Kirk. _Alex. Dickson_, 1907. Deep sulphur
yellow.
Hugo Roller. _Wm. Paul & Son_, 1907. Lemon yellow,
edged crimson.
J. F. Giraud. _Ketter_, 1907. Golden yellow,
centre saffron.
Jean Pernet. _Pernet_, 1869. Clear yellow.
Lady Mary Corry. _Alex. Dickson_, 1900. Deep
golden yellow.
Lena. _Alex. Dickson_, 1906. Glowing apricot,
edged primrose.
Madame Barthelemy Levet. _Levet pere_, 1880.
Canary yellow, climbing.
Madame Chauvry. _Bonnaire_, 1887. Nankeen yellow.
Madame Chedanne Guinoisseau. _Leveque_, 1880.
Clear bright yellow.
Madame C. P. Strassheim. _Soupert et Notting_,
1898. Yellowish-white in summer, turning sulphur
and buff in autumn.
Madame Constant Soupert. _Soupert et Notting_,
1906. Dark golden-yellow, strongly-tinted
peach-pink.
Madame Edmond Sablayrolles. _Bonnaire_, 1907.
Clear yellow, orange centre.
Madame Falcot. _Guillot_, 1858. Deep apricot
yellow.
Madame Pol Varin-Bernier. _Soupert et Notting_,
1907. Melon-yellow shaded; a "yellow Richmond."
Mrs. Dudley Cross. _Wm. Paul & Son_, 1907. Pale
chamois yellow, with touches of rose and crimson
in autumn.
Perle de Lyon. _Ducher_, 1873. Deep yellow.
Perle des Jardins. _Levet_, 1874. Deep
straw-colour.
Perle des Jaunes. _Reymond_, 1904. Deep orange
yellow, tinted salmon.
Rose Gubert. _Nabonnand_, 1907. Tender bright
yellow, deep centre.
Safrano. _Beauregard_, 1839. Bright apricot.
Souvenir de Pierre Notting. _Soupert et Notting_,
1903. Apricot-yellow, blended copper-yellow.
Souvenir de Stella Gray. _Alex. Dickson_, 1907.
Deep orange, veined yellow, apricot, and crimson.
Sulphurea. _Wm. Paul & Son_, 1902. Sulphur yellow.
Sunset. _Henderson_, 1884. Deep apricot.
CRIMSON AND COPPER-RED.
Albert Durand. _Schwartz_, 1906. Coppery carmine,
shaded flesh.
Amabilis. China red.
Bardou Job. _Nabonnand_, 1887. Glowing crimson.
Baronne de Hoffmann, _Nabonnand_, 1887. Copper and
crimson.
Baronne Henriette Snoy. _Bernaix_, 1898. Petals
carnation inside, outside carmine pink.
Beaute Inconstante. _Pernet-Ducher_, 1893.
Coppery-red, shaded carmine and yellow.
Betty Berkeley. _Bernaix_, 1904. Bright red,
shading to crimson.
Christine de Noue. _Guillot fils_, 1891. Deep
purple red, shaded pink.
Corallina. _Wm. Paul & Son_, 1900. Deep rose.
Empress Alexandra of Russia. _Wm. Paul & Son_,
1898. Lake, shaded orange and crimson.
Francois Dubreuil. _Dubreuil_, 1895. Deep crimson.
Frau Dr. Thelka Schlegelmilch. _Welter_, 1902.
Bright red, shaded velvet crimson.
Freiherr von Marschall. _Lambert_, 1903. Dark
carmine.
General Schablikine. _Nabonnand_, 1879.
Coppery-red.
Lady Roberts. _Frank Cant_, 1902. Rich apricot,
copper-red base.
L'Ideal. _Nabonnand_, 1887. Yellow and metallic
red.
Ma Capucine. _Levet_, 1871. Bronzy yellow, shaded
red.
Monsieur Desir. _Pernet pere_, 1889. Crimson.
Monsieur Tillier. _Bernaix_, 1892. Carmine and
brick-red.
Mrs. Reynolds Hole. _Nabonnand_, 1900. Dark purple
pink, centre crimson.
Papa Gontier. _Nabonnand_, 1883. Rosy crimson.
Princesse de Sagan. _Dubreuil_, 1887. Deep cherry
red, shaded maroon.
Salmonea. _Wm. Paul & Son_, 1902. Bright crimson
with light salmon centre.
Souvenir de Catherine Guillot. _Guillot_, 1896.
Coppery carmine, and orange.
Souvenir J. B. Guillot. _Guillot_, 1897.
Nasturtium-red, shaded to crimson and rose.
Souvenir Therese Levet. _Levet_, 1882. Brownish
crimson.
WHITE AND PALE LEMON.
Caroline Kuster. _Pernet_, 1872. Pale yellow.
Chateau des Bergeries. _Ledechaux_, 1886. Very
pale canary yellow, centre darker.
Comtesse Eva de Starhemberg. _Soupert et Notting_,
1891. Cream, centre ochre.
Comtesse de Saxe. _Soupert et Notting_, 1905.
Porcelain white.
Coquette de Lyon. _Pernet Ducher_, 1872. Pale
canary yellow.
Devoniensis. _Foster_, 1838. White, touched lemon.
Tender.
Enchantress. _Wm. Paul & Son_, 1896. Creamy white.
Etoile de Lyon. _Guillot_, 1881. Deep lemon.
Grand Duchess Olga. _Leveque_, 1897. Creamy white.
Golden Gate. _Dingee & Conard_, 1892. Creamy
white, yellow base.
Hon. Edith Gifford. _Guillot_, 1882. White, centre
flesh.
Innocent Pirola. _Ducher_, 1878. Creamy white,
shaded yellow.
Isabella Sprunt. _Verchaffelt_, 1866. Pale
sulphur.
Ivory. _America Rose Co._, 1902. Ivory-white sport
from Golden Gate.
Le Pactole. Sulphur yellow, pointed buds.
Madame Bravy. _Guillot_, 1846. White, centre
tinted pink.
Madame Carnot. _Pernet_, 1894. Yellowish white on
deep yellow ground.
Madame Hoste. _Guillot_, 1887. Primrose yellow.
Madame de Watteville. _Guillot_, 1883. Salmon
white, petals edged bright rose.
Marie Van Houtte. _Ducher_, 1871. Canary yellow,
petals tipped rose.
Marquis de Moustier. _Dubreuil_, 1906. Ivory,
reflexed pearly white.
Medea. _Wm. Paul & Son_, 1891. Lemon yellow,
canary centre.
Mrs. Miles Kennedy. _Alex. Dickson_, 1906. Silvery
white, shaded buff, pink centre.
Muriel Grahame. _Alex. Dickson_, 1898. Pale cream,
flushed rose.
Niphetos. _Bougere_, 1844. Pure white.
Peace. _Piper_, 1902. Pale lemon.
[Illustration: TEA.
WHITE MAMAN COCHET.]
Reine Natalie de Serbie. _Soupert et Notting_,
1886. Creamy flesh.
Rubens. _Robert_, 1859. White, delicately tinted
rose.
Souvenir d'Elise Vardon. _Marest_, 1854. Creamy
white.
Souvenir de Gabrielle Drevet. _Guillot_, 1865.
Salmon white.
Souvenir de S. A. Prince. _Prince_, 1889. Pure
white sport from Souv. d'un Ami.
The Bride. _May_, 1885. White sport from Catherine
Mermet.
White Maman Cochet. _Cook_, 1898. White sport from
Maman Cochet.