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Marechal Niel Rose

Marechal Niel MARECHAL NIEL, who conquered the Malakoff at Sebastopol in 1855, helped to gain the Battle of Solferino in 1859, and filled the post of Minister of War in the French Government in 1867, is commemorated in the name of the finest of all yellow roses, which very nearly satisfies the immense requirements of one that may be characterised as the best of all the roses in the world. When well grown, and in perfection of flower, it is not within the power of the most learned rosarian to name a better variety; but that does not settle the question. One fault it has, and the only one we shall dare to name: it is not sufficiently hardy, and only in specially favoured places will it give complete satisfaction without the aid of glass. This point must be kept in mind by the amateur. It is not here declared that glass is absolutely needful, for in truth we know of hundreds of gardens in which it is not only prosperous, but profitable, on open walls-as, for example, the famous Calcot Gardens, near Reading, where flowers are cut in great plenty for Covent Garden Market at a time when the value of each flower is represented by a silver coin, and not many are required to touch gold. But the fact remains, that though in some districts hardy enough, yet in many places, even in the south of England, the Marechal Niel rose requires the help of glass. The golden Marechal was raised by M. Pradel, a great rose-grower of Montaubon, and first appeared in this country in the year 1864. To this gentleman the rose world is indebted for many exhibition roses-as, for example, Due de Nassau, Madame Ristori, Vicomtesse de Cazes, and others. The Marechal Niel rose is certainly tinctured with the blood of the famous Gloire de Dijon, raised by M. Jacotot, of Dijon, and made known in this country in 1853. It is less hardy than the Dijon splendeur, but of similar growth, being vigorous to a wonder, noble in leafage as well as in flower, profuse in its liberality of bloom, of fine form, delightfully sweet, and though varying from creamy primrose to something like an orange, as influenced by circumstances, having for its proper colour a rich buttercup yellow, a delight always, even in a ribbon for a brunette.

For complete success in the cultivation of this rose a spacious house and a good border are necessary. It must have free warren in a rich deep soil for its roots to forage, and plenty of room to run next the glass, with free ventilation at all times, and sufficient heat in winter to exclude frost. It will submit to moderate forcing for an early bloom; but the cultivator must be cautious to use always the least possible amount of artificial heat for the purpose in view, for there are no roses, whether hardy or tender, that can endure a high temperature, except it be in summer, when growth is vigorous and air can be admitted freely. The result of injudicious forcing must always be a plague of insects first, and mildew to follow, with a bloom wanting in quality, and more especially wanting in colour.

The choice of the roots for any rose is always a matter of importance. This fine variety, in common with many others, thrives on its own roots; therefore when raised from cuttings is likely to prosper. But it does not thrive on the generally useful Manetti stock that is so largely employed in the propagation of useful garden roses. In all rose gardens the practice of the propagator is to bud Marechal Niel on the English briar; and it appears to be well situated for healthy growth on briar stocks of three to five feet high. The amateur is, therefore, warned against experiments that may end in disappointment. There may be many suitable stocks for Marechal Niel in addition to the English briar, but we do not know of them. The reader who is disposed to find a better may, for a first trial, try Mr. Bennett's grand rose Her Majesty, for that appears adapted to serve as a stock for the most vigorous-growing roses, such as the Marechal, Gloire de Dijon, and the race of vigorous hybrid Bourbon roses.

The grave question of the pruning comes in here. In a few words we shall be enabled to combine a general with a particular lesson. In the first place, then, those who do not know exactly how to prune should not prune at all. This applies to fruit trees, roses, and to trees and shrubs of all kinds. Generally speaking, fruit trees bear earlier and more abundantly when left entirely unpruned, for Nature is generous, and prefers her own modes of management. In the next place, when pruning is to be done, the manner of the growth should give the key to the method. The more vigorous the growth the less severe must be the pruning, for it is evident that long rods are required, and if we shorten them with a bold hand we may promote wood growth, and have no flowers. But roses that make but a moderate growth may be cut in rather closely. It suits Marechal Niel, and Gloire de Dijon, and all other vigorous-growing roses, to be left their full length; but when any long rod becomes exhausted, it should be cut clean out from the base, and its place will soon be supplied with a vigorous young cane, which will, if allowed, accomplish all that is required of it.