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Lyon Rose (Description page erect stem so)

(Description page 87) erect stem so much desired in roses, and the best varieties open slowly and keep well after being cut. During the past two years a new class has come into existence-Pernetianas, introduced by the great French hybridist, Pernet-Ducher. The first were crosses between Lutea and the Hybrid Perpetuals, and have been classed as Hybrid Teas and Hybrid Austrian Briars in many catalogues. While possessing many such characteristics, they are, nevertheless, often distinct as to foliage, and on account of their breeding should be classed separately. Many have the fault of losing their foliage early, Lyon Rose being a great offender in this respect. The new introductions vary greatly in value, but the best, Madame Edouard Herriot, is indispensable; and from the improvement shown it is evident that this new class will have great bearing on the future of the outdoor rose. Already traces of the new cross may be noticed in many of this year's introductions, especially in the foliage and color. Many seedlings with Pernetiana blood are so distinct that they may be readily picked out from other seedlings. The foliage is beautiful and distinct while it lasts, and undoubtedly a cross will soon be made which will show even greater improvement than Madame Edouard Herriot over Lyon-the latter rose is already nearly obsolete.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to find roses well suited to our climate. The winters are more severe and the summers hotter than the conditions to which imported roses and their forbears have been accustomed, so that many of the roses which flourish in Europe are worthless with us.

The main classes are grown in two ways, as dwarfs and as standards. Standards differ from dwarfs or bushes (ordinary form) in that they are generally budded on strong Briar and other stocks from two and one-half to four feet from the ground. They are most attractive and some are more easily reached than the dwarfs, as the blooms grow about the level of the eye, while all of them are adapted to formal gardens and landscape work. However, they cannot be recommended unless absolute winter protection is given, and this is best accomplished by placing boards around the plant, encasing it from the ground to above the bud and filling in with earth.

In the case of some of the climbers, which are used as standards, an attractive effect is produced by allowing the trailing shoots of such plants to grow downwards, more or less like the weeping willow tree, and these are called weeping standards, otherwise they are the same as the regular standard. In the case of some of the Teas, which are grown very close to the ground in this way, they can be more thoroughly protected in cold winters than they could be if grown as the usual standard. It is believed that Teas are especially prolific when grown in this manner. One well-known writer states that he has seen such a Tea with seventy-five blooms on it at one time.

Standards usually require more room than dwarfs and this is another reason why they are not planted so extensively. If used, the varieties contained in the main list are strongly recommended. Dwarfs are budded close to the root of the stock and the bud is planted below the ground level, hence they are hardier and much more easily handled in winter than standards. In experiments with standards they have been found to be most uncertain; sometimes they last for several years and again fully fifty per cent. die. An average of ten per cent. would be a conservative estimate for winter loss, unless most thorough winter protection is given.

Every year the commercial rose growers in England and the Continent bring out their new varieties; before a satisfactory verdict can be reached as to their adaptability to this country they must be tried for at least two years. In many cases new varieties are shipped as such small grafted plants that for the first year it is almost impossible to test them properly, and a year later larger plants must be procured. Very probably these small plants would do well abroad, but here they run the risk of being passed upon as worthless when many may be first-class varieties.

Owing to the difference in our climate, even the color of imported roses may vary somewhat from the European catalogued description. The average rose is generally somewhat lighter in color, owing to our extreme heat in summer. Killarney is an exception which proves this rule. This rose is catalogued in the European lists as "Flesh-shaded white, suffused pale pink"; in this country it is a solid light pink, the shade depending on the sunlight, being deeper in bright, hot weather. In the early spring and in the autumn the color of most roses is darker than in the summer, some varieties that usually have a slight yellow tint becoming almost pink under frosty nights and warm days. Mainly for the first reason given it is a lottery for the average rose grower to order new varieties; the greater part will prove utter disappointments, a waste of money, space, time and care, and the catalogued description must be more than discounted.

This book should guide the American purchaser to order those roses which will give him the best results. To secure a perfect list of such roses, every variety found in the best catalogues has been carefully tested, and in the lists at the end of this chapter FIG. 14