Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-08
Roses-The Class to Plant.

BY PETER HENDERSON,.
Every years experience in the cultivation of
the rose confirms me In the opinion that the
tender or monthly varieties-embraced under
the heats Of Tea, Bourbon, Bengal and MOI
sette-are such as are best suited for our hot
summers. The hardy varieties known as Hy-
bird Perpetuals, although the flowers are gene
rally finer in their first and almost only bloom
in June, are entirely wanting in the perpetual
character that their name indicates. In fact.
the term perpetual applied to that class is,
for us, complete misnomer, and one which
brings upon us florists no little odium. Then
why give 1T that term, or why hold to it? NAV be
asked. The term is an English one, and may
be applied properly enough in England, for in
their lower summer temperature and humid
grow without check from June to October, and
consequently bloom as they grow. Here n our
tropical summer the bloom in june is succeeded
usually by dry atmosphere, and temperature
running from .5 degrees to 95 degrees in the
shade for two months, and to which 50 to speak,
the old-bl0oded nature of the Hybrid Per-
petuaf refuses to respond, and stagnates less
autumn arrive. So with US It is far from being
perpetual, as it gives US only one full bloomiue
in June, with few struggling flowers in Sep
But the perpetual class being the fayorite in
Europe, the great majority vi new roses we i'm
port are from that class. Thus we keep on year
after year pandering to this "perpetuaP' story,
first partly deceiving ourselves, and then wholly
deceiving our customers. Our patrons in the
northern states usually ask US for hardy rose
that will bloom monthly, but let it be fully
understood that there is NO ever blooming rose
that in ordinary conditions of shelter will star nd
in any section where the thermometer falls
down 10 zero, unless protected. This protection
is very simple matter-any mHlching of leaves,
inches deep around the roots of the plants, will
keep enough Of them alive to give splendid
plants the next season. The important point is
that 1t should not be done too early in this sea
son; II need not be done until the middle OF
December. Ii done too early, it would rot the
stems.
Hardness in any rose in the northern states
can only be had at the expense of everblooming.
or, In other words, all plants, roses or others,
that Will endure our winters without protection
with few triiing exceptions, bloom fully only
once in the season. True, there may be cases,
as we have before said, owing to special con-
ditions Of soil or shelter, were some Of the true
monthly roses will stand year after year and be
hardy, but these exceptions are rare ones A
knowledge of this fact would prevent much
disappointment among the lovers Of flowers.
and save us who are dealers world of time in
explanations.
Apropos of this subject, a well-known German
florist related to me the other day, in a high
state of irritation, his troubles in this way. He
said: 81 have 50 much drouble with the ladies
him hardy, dey wants him doubles, dey wants
him moondly, .dey wants him fragrand,- dey
wants him nice gouler, dey wants him cherry
dings in one rose. hopes / am not what you
calls one uncallant man, but have sometimes
TO say to dat ladies: Madam, never often sees
dat ladies dat was beautiful, day was rich, dat
was good tember, dat was youngs, Diet was
clever, dat was perfection in enc ladies. I sees
her much noti"-Americdn Agricalfurist.