Part 13 (1/2)

Dr. Rouges. _Vve. Schwartz_, 1894. Red, yellowish centre, irregular form.

Francois Crousse. _Guillot_, 1900. Fiery crimson red.

Gruss an Teplitz. _Geschwind_, 1897. Brightest scarlet crimson.

Lina Schmidt-Michel, 1906. Bright lake rose.

Longworth Rambler. Liabaud, 1880. Light crimson, semi-double.

Mohrenkonig.

Monsieur Desir. _Pernet pere_, 1889. Crimson.

Morgenroth. _P. Lambert_, 1903. Bright crimson, white centre, single.

Noella Nabonnand. _Nabonnand_, 1900. Velvety crimson.

Progress. Bright carmine, semi-double.

Reine Marie Henriette. _Levet_, 1873. Deep cherry red.

Reine Olga de Wurtemburg. _Nabonnand_, 1881. Vivid red. Semi-double.

Souv. de Madame Metral. _Bernaix_, 1888. Cherry red.

Waltham Climbers. 1. 2. 3. _Wm. Paul & Son_, 1885.

Shades of crimson; 1, brightest, 3, darkest.

CHAPTER VI

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 a.s.sume 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.