CHAPTER XXXVI

THE BEST ROSES TO PLANT

“YOU are quite right, Mother,” replied Billy, “but before we were given the lists, we learned a little more about the history and—

CLASSES OF ROSES

If we should go back many years, and give the names of the old roses and follow their history until the present time, you could scarcely remember their names.

Already you have heard of “Damask,” “China,” and “Cabbage” roses, and have been told that they were among the grandparents of the roses of to-day.

THE HOMES OF CERTAIN ROSES

Perhaps it would interest you to know that Damask roses were found around Damascus, in Syria, and taken to Europe in about the year 1573; that the “Cabbage”, or “Provence”, rose is supposed to have been known to the Romans, and later was grown extensively in Provence, in the South of France; that the “China” rose was brought to Europe sometime in the eighteenth century from China, where it is a native or “wild” rose; that the beautiful, fragrant and delicate Tea rose was brought from China to England about 1815.

ABOUT HYBRID PERPETUAL ROSES

It is not necessary to tell what particular old roses became the great-grandparents of our present roses. Indeed, it would be a difficult matter, for commercial rose growers have guarded well the secret of just what roses they used to produce the new ones.

The term given to a new flower is _hybrid_, which means a _mixture_. When, about the year 1825, a new class of roses, called the Hybrid Perpetual, was brought into existence, everybody was glad, because these new hybrids bloomed longer than any of their parents; were of good strong growth; and were perfectly _hardy_.

Perfectly hardy _means that they would live out-of-doors over severe winter weather_.

Hybrid Perpetual roses are among our most prized roses of to-day for these same reasons; but we now have a still more valuable class of hybrids, with a longer season of bloom, which were derived from—

TEA ROSES

Perhaps the loveliest of all roses are the Tea roses, because of their beauty and enchanting fragrance; but they are delicate. Very few Tea rose bushes can live out-of-doors over _cold_ weather. Not only are Tea roses most beautiful and fragrant, but they _bloom almost continuously_ during the entire season.

ABOUT HYBRID TEA ROSES

So, as I have said, garden lovers who lived where the winters were severely cold and bring snow, could not have the lovely Tea roses in their gardens.

You can imagine their delight when another new class of roses appeared—roses which bloom freely like the Tea roses, and have much of their fragrance, yet are hardy and can live out-of-doors in winter weather, except in the “way north country.”

The name of this wonderful new class of roses is Hybrid Tea; which means, as you already know, that the new roses are the result of a mixture of Tea roses with others.

Hybrid Tea roses are, in fact, a mixture of Tea roses with Hybrid Perpetuals.

WHAT ROSES TO PLANT

For blooms for cut flowers, you will plant many Hybrid Tea roses, and some few Hybrid Perpetuals; for, while Hybrid Perpetuals bloom plentifully only in June, and have a few blooms in the Autumn, they are so large and magnificent that no one wishes to do without the following:

Hybrid Perpetual Roses { Paul Neyron: (Abbreviation: H. P.) { { One of the largest roses in existence; Hybrid Perpetual Roses { a deep pink in color. bloom profusely in { June, and a few times { Frau Karl Druschki: in Summer; quite well { in the Fall. They are { Pure white, large and perfect in form. very hardy. Prune after { Buds sometimes 3 inches long. Blooms well. June blooming to get { Autumn blooms. { Mrs. John Laing: { { Soft pink, very fragrant and free { flowering; one of the best. { { Prince Camille de Rohan: { { Deep crimson maroon.

There are several other very desirable Hybrid Perpetual roses, but the name of one only of each color has been listed, because one has so much more pleasure in cutting a half dozen buds of the same color and form than a mixture of different kinds.

Even if one has space for many rose bushes, there is a great deal more satisfaction in having two or more bushes of the same variety than many different kinds, for a bouquet of the same kind of flowers is so much more beautiful than an assortment.

Perhaps you thought that the words Hybrid Perpetual meant continuous blooming. Many a grown person has made this mistake in looking over the seedsmen’s catalogs. Probably the name Perpetual refers to the fact that the plant lives over from year to year and has such a long life. In England, however, Hybrid Perpetuals bloom for a much longer time than in our country, for the climate is better suited to roses.

Of the many, many beautiful Hybrid Tea roses, you will wish red, white, pink, and yellow; and you will be pleased if you grow some of the following:

{Red: { {1. General McArthur. { A satisfactory bloomer, crimson scarlet. { Good for cutting. { {2. Gruss an Teplitz. { Bright crimson. Pretty foliage. Flowers in { clusters on a weak stem. A constant { bloomer, and very desirable for that { reason, and for the color and form of { foliage. { {White: { {1. Kaiserin Augusta Victoria. { Pearly white, tinged with light yellow. A { very satisfactory rose. { Hybrid Tea Roses {2. Innocence. (Abbreviation: H. T.) { White. A good bloomer { Hybrid Tea Roses are { free-blooming, hardy, {Pink: and combine to a large { degree the beauty of {1. Caroline Testout. color of the H. P. { Very good for color and hardiness. with the fragrance and { Fragrant; blooms freely. continuance of bloom { of the Tea roses. {2. Killarney. { A general favorite, because of good color { and form, and a continuous bloomer. Subject { to mildew. { {3. La France. { Excellent. Very fragrant. Charming in { color. { {Other excellent pink roses: { Lady Ashtown. { Killarney Brilliant. { {Yellow: { {1. Duchess of Wellington. { Deep yellow and orange. Excellent bloomer. { {2. Mrs. Aaron Ward. { Indian yellow; free blooming. { {3. Marquise de Sinety. { A magnificent rose of sunset shades, but { not so easily cared for, nor so free { blooming, as Duchess of Wellington.

In looking over these lists, perhaps you are wondering why you do not find the name of the rose, American Beauty, so dear to American hearts. The American Beauty rose is not hardy, and is grown under glass, and as we are considering only out-of-door roses, it is not listed.

If you happen to live in the warm climate of the South or in California, you can have the luxury of growing the more tender roses, and I am giving you a list of some of the best Tea roses.

Do not attempt to raise them if you live where there is much snow in winter; a few of these might “winter over” if well protected, but with the many exquisite Hybrid Tea roses, it is only a waste of time for young gardeners to experiment.

{Red: { { There are no dark red tea roses, the List of Tea (Scented) { nearest perhaps being Souvenir de Roses { Catherine Guillet, coppery-carmine, shaded { with yellow. { Tender roses which {White: require extraordinary { winter protection in {1. Mrs. Herbert Stevens. the vicinity of { New York. { Beautiful in form. Sometimes tinged with { faint pink shadings. Do not prune severely. { {2. White Mamam Cochet. { { White, sometimes tinged with pink. { {Pink: { { Mamam Cochet. { { Hardiest of all Tea roses; excellent for { cutting. Free blooming. { { Duchesse de Brabant. { { Most fragrant. Silvery pink. { {Yellow: { {1. Lady Hillingdon. { { Reddish yellow; a beautiful rose. { {2. Souvenir de Pierre Notting. { { Canary-yellow, deeper in center.

Below is a list of Climbing Roses. Climbing roses were brought into existence in a way similar to any of the other new roses.

{ Red: { { Excelsa. { { A great improvement on the Crimson Rambler, { the foliage being nearly free from mildew. { Blooms in June. { { American Beauty Climbing Rose. Hardy Climbing Roses { (For places where the { Resembling the American Beauty in shade; winters bring snow) { blooms are of quite good size, on weak stems, { but rather good for cutting. A desirable { rose, but not for showy effect. { {Pink: { { Dorothy Perkins. { { A splendid rose; grows very rapidly, { sometimes 20 feet in a season. Flowers in { clusters. Foliage charming. Blooms in June. { { Debutante. { { Fragrant, very desirable because blooming { sometimes in July, in September and October. { { Tausendschön. { { Sometimes called “Rose of a Thousand { Blooms.” Flowers early in large clusters. { Very hardy; beautiful foliage. Color, blush { pink and white. { { American Pillar. { { Grows very rapidly. A brilliant pink single { rose, borne in clusters. Foliage excellent. { { {White: { { White Dorothy. { { Flowers at the same time as the Pink Dorothy { Perkins. { {Yellow: { { Shower of Gold.

In warmer parts of the country there is a great variety of beautiful climbing roses, among which may be named:

{Pink: { { Climbing Bridesmaid. Climbing Roses for the{ South and Pacific { Rose pink with crimson shadings, very Coast { fragrant. { {White: { { Climbing Devoniensis. (“Magnolia Rose.”) { { Large creamy white roses with pink center. {Yellow: { { Marechal Niel. { { This well-known magnificent climbing rose { bears masses of double fragrant blooms which { are excellent for cutting.

There is another class of roses about which you should know:

WICHURAIANA ROSES (EVERGREEN OR MEMORIAL ROSES)

These roses will live in our coldest climate.

The first were brought from Japan in 1892. The Wichuraiana roses are highly valued where the winters are severe or where the plant cannot receive special care, as in a cemetery. (For this reason they have been called “Memorial.”) Once planted, they seem to care for themselves. They trail along the ground, or over rocks, and often climb over any support.

Do not plant them in the rose garden where you need space to grow bushes for blooms which are lovely for cutting.

Wichuraiana roses bloom in June and July and sometimes later. Insects do not trouble the beautiful shiny foliage, which stays green nearly all winter.

The single roses, if not cut, become red berries in the Autumn. “_Wichuraiana_” is the catalog name of the single variety.

Blooms of the Wichuraiana roses are small compared with the Hybrid Tea or Hybrid Perpetual, but some are beautiful.

{ Gardenia. { The Best Wichuraiana { Sometimes called “Hardy Marechal Niel,” bears Rose { lovely yellow buds which open into double { flowers of cream color, resembling a Cape { Jessamine.

Suppose you live at the seashore or in the mountains; suppose you have very poor soil for roses; then you will be glad to plant—

RUGOSA ROSES

Sometimes Rugosa Roses have been called, “Ironclad,” because of their thick leathery foliage, which is seldom, if ever, troubled with insects; and because of their wonderful hardiness and ability to live under trying conditions.

They bloom early, in large flowers, some of which resemble large single wild roses; others resemble large “double wild roses,” if you can imagine such roses. Many make the Autumn gay with their brilliant red seed berries.

Do not make the mistake of planting Rugosa among the rose bushes you are growing for cut flowers.

They are used where heavy growth is needed; as among shrubbery or for a hedge. A single plant looks well on a lawn or at a corner of a house. The Rugosa roses grow from four to six feet tall.

In case you wish one or two of these, the following are—

The Best Rugosa Roses {White: (Ramanas, Japanese) { { Blanc Double de Coubert. Of very hardy heavy { growth, with large { Pure double white blooms. single or semi-double { flowers, many bearing {Pink: red seed pods in { Autumn. { Conrad F. Meyer. { { Silvery rose; double; one of the best.

“There,” said Billy, looking up from his book, “isn’t that a long lesson? Well, the reason for it all is this: Miss Gardener and Professor Weed are rose enthusiasts—‘rose crazy,’ we boys called them.”

“Their love of roses was an excellent thing for you boys,” said his mother, “for I believe you know more on the subject than most grown-up people.”

“Just listen!” exclaimed Mary Frances, “Billy, don’t you feel repaid for giving us the lesson? What comes next?”

“Next comes—let me see,” replied Billy. “Oh, yes, it’s about planting and caring for roses, I remember.”

“When will you give us that?” asked Eleanor.

“Does it tell about ‘Tree Roses?’” asked Mary Frances eagerly before Billy could answer Eleanor.

“I’ll tell you _now_,” he said, “about—

TREE ROSES

Tree Roses are Hybrid Perpetual or Hybrid Tea or other roses, budded or grafted high up on strong stock, or wild growth, and cut or pruned to the form of trees.

They are very attractive in a formal or “set out” garden, or for edging walks, but such great care must be taken to keep them warm during cold weather that it is best not to try them except in places where there is little snow in winter.

For winter bed covers, place boards around the plant and fill with earth.

“Miss Gardener said,” went on Billy, “that English and Irish rose growers are constantly sending new varieties of roses over to Americans, but the new roses have to be tested in our climate before we can be certain if they will do well here. That’s all the lesson for to-day,” he declared. “Come to-morrow morning for the next lesson—that is, if you want to. The day after, you know, we go on the Wild Flower Picnic.”