HYBRID PERPETUAL OR REMONTANT ROSES.—This division of the Rose was
introduced to us about 15 or 16 years ago and according to the opinions
of good judges it originated between the perpetual Rose Du Roi and the
Bourbon Rose; they have been till very recently nearly all of a crimson
or dark red color. Florists and Rose-growers generally esteem these
the finest of all Roses, to which I would coincide, provided, they
were constant monthly bloomers, which they are not, giving only two
or perhaps faintly a third bloom with a meagre flower in the autumnal
months. They richly deserve special attention for their fine bold
flowers, rich foliage, and luxuriant shoots when on their own roots; or
if budded they make very admired standard Rose trees. But oh! what nicety
of eye, how critical the judgment to detect the difference of one half of
them. For my own pleasure and gratification I would not give a groschen
for ¾ths of them; but we are so led off our guard by “have you got so and
so,” we blush to own up, and buy nearly all, good, bad, and indifferent;
but pray who would grow Doctor Marx, Dr. Margolin, Madam Laffay, and
nearly 50 others; all red, rosy red, dark red, light crimson, and such
transpositions, meaning nearly the same in color and character? So be it.
I will not detail before your thousands of readers such equivocal terms,
but give off hand and full in my eye, a score that will please the most
fastidious.
Auguste Mie, clear waxy rose, cupped petals.
Baronne Hallez, dark purple crimson, fine form.
Baronne Prevost, rose color, very large.
Caroline de Sansal, large, rosy blush, pink centre, of remarkably strong
growth.
Duchesse de Montpensier, pale satiny rose, very fragrant.
Giant of the Battle, nearly bright scarlet. Is this not the rose of the
group? Everyone of your readers that wishes a rose bush that is perfectly
hardy, bright in color, and constant in bloom may chose this subject.
Julie de Krudner, a new rose, nearly white, very double, and agreeably
fragrant.
La Reine. I hesitate about this though a most superb flower; it has a
paucity of bloom not altogether to my fancy; the color too is undecided
being a rosy lilac, but extremely large and luxuriant in growth.
Lion des Combats, reddish crimson, shaded with scarlet, large, full, and
fragrant.
Louise Le Clerc, delicate blush, perfect form, very profuse and fragrant.
Madam Laffay, purplish lilac, inclining to crimson, very full regular
flower, plant of strong growth.
Madam Rives, quite a new variety, of a pale flesh or silvery blush color,
of great substance, very distinct and perfectly formed.
Marquis Boccella, pale blush, dwarf habit, a constant bloomer, very
distinct.
Pius 9th, crimson purple, very large, full and perfect, a profuse bloomer
of strong growth.
Patenotte, pale rose, very exquisite form, fragrant and profuse, quite a
new variety.
Queen Victoria, (Paul’s) blush white, shaded with pink or peach blossom
color, large, very full, and distinct from any other variety, quite new,
very desirable.
Robin Hood, bright carmine, beautifully globular, and a rampant grower.
William Griffith, satiny rose, distinct color, a large bold petaled
flower, quite new, and will rank amongst the best.
William Jesse, a favorite variety of a rosy crimson color, edged with
lilac, very large, full, and constant.
Yolande d’Arragon, pale rose, producing its flowers in clusters the whole
season, a strong grower. Sydonie, a newer variety, is very like this, and
I am doubtful if it is any improvement upon it, unless to a very critical
observer.
I have not seen a clear good white as yet in this group. Florists
and catalogues tell us of Blanche Vibert—white it is, but a sickly
looking flower and plant, at the best. Blanche Portemer has nothing
more attractive about it. A good white such as the old Madam Hardy is
much wanted, it would be a treasure. There are over 100 of these Hybrid
Perpetual varieties cultivated, one half of them are nearly facsimiles of
each other. They all require more stimulation in their culture than any
other roses; if a strong luxuriant growth is not produced a very meagre
show will follow; dark rich green foliage and strong shoots will produce
a corresponding bloom—but yellow foliage and weak growth produces similar
sickly blooms, deficient in color, size, and fragrance. Also, observe
that taking off one half of the buds in May and June, is beneficial to
a continuance of bloom during the season; in dry weather they should be
liberally supplied with rich water or soap suds, or if the ground has
been abundantly manured, water of any description will suit; observing
that one copious supply once a week is better than a small portion every
day.
NOISETTE ROSES are those clustering sorts that bloom from early in the
season till destroyed by frost; their flowers are generally small, though
there are now some of them nearly as large as any others, but the size
takes from their profusion. The growth of the family is of all grades,
from 1 foot to 20 feet in a season; unfortunately for us, however, the
finer kinds are rather tender, being nearly or entirely killed in our
severe winters. Those tender kinds of greatest splendor are Lamarque,
Cloth of Gold, Solfatare, La Victorieuse. These are hybridised with
the Tea Rose, making them more tender; but for milder climates than
Philadelphia the splendor of them equals any description. A friend writes
me from Texas, that Cloth of Gold reaches the 3d story, and is in bloom
9 months of the year, and its odor equal to the magnolia. In pruning
Noisette Roses, thin out the old wood, and shorten the wood of the
previous season. The young wood should always be allowed to have its full
growth, as it is most frequently terminated with a cluster of flowers;
the sorts without encroaching upon their beauties might be curtailed to
one full dozen, which would comprise as follows:
Aimie Vibert, pure white, very compact, a dwarf grower.
Cloth of Gold, a very luxuriant grower, requiring dry rich soil; flowers
quite large, frequently 5 inches in diameter, opening a bright lemon
yellow, and fading to a pale straw color; should be protected by covering
in winter.
Desprez or Jaune Desprez, flowers buff color shaded with pink, in profuse
clusters, very fragrant, plant vigorous.
Fellenberg, color pink, red, or crimson as the season may be; a constant
bloomer—does very well for a piazza or pillar, quite hardy.
Lafayette, this old fine pink rose must not be neglected; there are few
or none to equal it in color and profusion; a moderate grower, flowers
prettily cupped and quite profuse.
Odorata, pure white, very sweet, an abundant bloomer and perfectly hardy;
stood the winter of ’51, without any protection; of moderate growth.
Ophirie, color orange, orange and pink, pale yellow or bright yellow, all
according to the weather and season; blooms abundantly, especially in the
autumnal months, flowers very double, plant hardy and growing freely;
quite distinct, foliage of a pleasing lively green.
Philippart, dark pink, must be well established before its character is
fully ascertained; blooms in large clusters; exceedingly hardy and of
strong growth.
Pourpre de Tyre, not easily to decide whether this variety is a Bourbon
or Noisette; but florists place it where I now do. The flowers of medium
size, dark red or crimson color; plant of moderate growth.
Triomphe de la Duchere, one of the very best Noisette roses, flowers
abundant, large, full, of a rosy pink color and fragrant; plant strong,
but not rampant.
Vittelina, pure white, fine form, buds shaded with pink, very double,
medium size, growth moderate, very desirable.
Lamarque, flowers very large, white with a sulphur yellow centre, plant
of strong growth, requires a dry sheltered situation with a rich soil,
and to be protected during the severe weather about Philadelphia.
I have omitted many others nearly equal to the above, such as Solfatare,
Du Luxemberg, Phaloe, Boulogne, _Augusta_, &c. Of the latter I may say
that I have not yet conversed with a judge or no judge of roses, in
this vicinity, who pronounces it equal or nearly equal to the published
description of it. I paid a V. for my plant, and consider it fully paid.
If I was now to make out a list to send to my Florist, I would say Cloth
of Gold, Ophirie, Augusta, &c.
[_To be continued._]