Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-16
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Rosebushes are sending forth their
leaf buds these days, under the infiu-
ence Of comparatively benign air, filled
with plenty Of sunshine and some
water.
The ever-reliable Dr. Van Fleet, that
excellent climber, which adorns fences
and houses and garages with its great
pink-White blossoms in May, is one of
the first of the roses to send forth its
leaves.
We examined cur one DIR. Van Fleet
the other day, and discovered the leaf
buds were quite fat, ready to uncurl at
almost any time, depending upon the
exact amount of natural aid.
This bush is planted in pure sand,
on the east side of the house. It was
from this direction, of course, that the
memorable rain of several days ago
came
This was the first time in many
months-almost a year, in fact-that
this particular bush had received any
real amount of water. AS the result of
its abstinence, the bush was rather
scraggly in character, but still very
much of bush
Has one a right to call climber a
bush? We think so. 1t is a sort of
generic name for the rose plant, even
for climbers, which, unless kept severely
trimmed back, do not form what, in the
strict sense, would be called bushes.
X \
It is welcome news to lovers of this
grand rose that some growers are
introducing this Spring a new ever
blooming Van Fleet, which is said to
bear roses continually during the grow
ing season.
Most of us will take the word Con
tinually" with several grains Of salt.
We suspect that it means more than
one burst Of bloom. Even two would be
swell, as the youngsters say, in view Of
the true beauty of this rose.
What is prettier, in its season, than
a fine DR.. Van Fleet? It's stout canes,
its glossy foliage. its general appearance
of health, and above all its unsurpassed
flowers put it in the A No. l class with
Pauls Scarlet and precious other few.
1t does not show mildew, as so many
of the Older climbers do Take Hia-
watha. Or Dorothy Perkins. 1t has
become the fashion, in recent years, to
sheer mildly at these things. but they
remain good roses. But they will mil
dew. Not last year, of course. owing to
the lack of moisture. And 1t would
seem, alas, not this season, eitherl So
mildew becomes deSirable
DR.. Van Fleet can show more aphids,
or plant lice, per running foot of branch,
than any other rose in captivity. The
wholesome thing is that it withStands
their ravageS better than Others owing
TO the tough bark, or whatever you call
the covering Of the branches.
There are several new climbers on
the market, notably one which was
first introduced in this country last
year, but it is safe to say that it will
be years before Dr. Van Fleet and Paul's
Scarlet are superseded in the general
fancy of the public at large.
There are few persons who see the
latter in full bloom who do not stop to
inquire what it is. 1t is the reddest
rose in the world, yet without being Of
fenSive about it. Its peculiar tone, and
one can call it nothing else, is dis
tinctiYe without being repellent. Every
fence in the world ought to have at
least one Paul's Scarlet and one DR..
Van Fleet.
What noble memorials these roses are
to the men whose names they bear!
Many monuments of granite will perish
from the earth while these things still
twine their glories around the homes of
generations to come.
In many ways a rose is like a book.
Under modern methods and circum-
stances Of distribution, named roses be-
come events at their publication" to
the rose-growing world. Many editions
are called for, with the result, as with
books, that the price is likely to de-
cline, and thousands who first held off
because they felt the price was too high