The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-12-11
FINEST ROSE IN
5 YEARS GETS
MEDAL
:. Quincy Hill, Grower, Was
Born in England
in 1647,
BY RICHARD THORNBURGH,
International News Service.

RICHMOND, Ind, Nov 11.-New
Iaurels have just been added to
honOrs on e. Quincy Hill, grand
old man of American rose growing,
with the presentation Of his new
creation, America"
For fifty years Hill has been grow
ing roses and other flowers at his
greenhouses here and has captured
many prizes for roses.
Five years ago his rose "Colum-
bia" won the prize for the best rose
brought out during the preceding
five years. His Premier" captured
one of the annual prizes soon after.
This year, in three exhibitions, his
America. carried off the gold
medals given by rose growers So
rose developed since 1919, awarded
by the American Rose Growers Or
ganization, also went to Hill on this
rose.
The America" is peach pink In
color. It is. just tint of cream
color. 1t is large and has stem
large enough to carry it well and
not let 1t drOop, as many roses do.
It may be compared in size to the
American Beauty, although an en-
tirely different type of flower. It
has not been out long enough to
test its hardness, but if 1t stands
all other tests it is very likely that
1t will be put on the market for
growing in gardens.
Admired Friends.
Hill was born in Rochdale, Eng.
land, in 1847, and his father
brought him to the United States
in 1851 He was born near the
homes Of John Bright and John
Joseph Quincy, then famous
Friends, and was named after the
latter. Although his father was a
member OF the Church OF England
he always was a great admirer of
the Society of Friends. When he
married later in the United States
his wife was a Friend, and for this
reason he joined the Friends
Church in America.
During the early days of his life
he was connected with the firm Of
r. G. Maxwell & Brothers, in the
nursery business at Geneva, n. Y.
There he received his eafIy train.
ing in flower culture and grew to
love the queen Of flowers above
all others
About fifty years ago he removed
to Richmond, where he has been in
business since. 1t was not until
1904 that he found two roses
which he felt were high grade
enough to present to the world.
These were the General Mac
Arthur and the Mrs. Theodore
Roosevelt" In 1905 he sent out
the Richmond" rose. An interna.
tional honor came in the Paris gold
To-
tested in the Ragatelle Gardens,
has increased steadily.
Known In Europe.
He is a welcome figure in the
rose gardens of both sides of the
world. The Orient knows him as a
champion grower, and France
knows him as a winner and picker
Of winners. for it was he who Sc
seltecd the "Ophelia" and developed
it.
Beyond the best" is the way
Journey" Hill described america
before 1t was brought out. And
those who have seen the new rose
in the Cincinnati and New York
rose shows, where it won high
honors, declare there isn't any doubt
but that Hill knows what he is
talking about.
He has eighteen greenhouses at
his plants west Of Richmond. In
these various houses the roses are
developed and grown. One house
is set aside for experimental pur-
poses, and there the various seed
lings from many kinds of roses are
worked together and tried out.
Hill has been five years developing
America" There isn't a new rose
anywhere which isn't tested by Hill
and tried in various combinations
with others.
Credits Sister.
But all the credit for the great
work done in the Hill greenhouses
isn't taken by Hill. His sister, Miss
Sarah HILL, is the real brains" of
the organization, he says, and is the
best informed woman in the world
on roses.
Rose growing is a recreation for
him, but, as an added pleasure, he
thinkers" with hedges and bushes
in his spare time. These he has
used to make his grounds around
his home and greenhouses more
beautiful.
He is very anxious that Ameri-
cans could learn the art of making
their home grounds more beautiful.
His own yard might be taken as d
model, for everything there seems
to be as nature had intended. That
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