Chapter XXXVI: The Best Roses to Plant

“YOU are quite right, Mother,” replied Billy, “but before we were given the lists, we learned a little more about the history and—

CLASSES OF ROSES

If we should go back many years, and give the names
of the old roses and follow their history until the
present time, you could scarcely remember their names.

Already you have heard of “Damask,” “China,” and
“Cabbage” roses, and have been told that they were
among the grandparents of the roses of to-day.

THE HOMES OF CERTAIN ROSES

Perhaps it would interest you to know that Damask roses
were found around Damascus, in Syria, and taken to
Europe in about the year 1573; that the “Cabbage”, or
“Provence”, rose is supposed to have been known to the
Romans, and later was grown extensively in Provence, in
the South of France; that the “China” rose was brought
to Europe sometime in the eighteenth century from
China, where it is a native or “wild” rose; that the
beautiful, fragrant and delicate Tea rose was brought
from China to England about 1815.

ABOUT HYBRID PERPETUAL ROSES

It is not necessary to tell what particular old roses
became the great-grandparents of our present roses.
Indeed, it would be a difficult matter, for commercial
rose growers have guarded well the secret of just what
roses they used to produce the new ones.

The term given to a new flower is _hybrid_, which means
a _mixture_. When, about the year 1825, a new class
of roses, called the Hybrid Perpetual, was brought
into existence, everybody was glad, because these new
hybrids bloomed longer than any of their parents; were
of good strong growth; and were perfectly _hardy_.

Perfectly hardy _means that they would live
out-of-doors over severe winter weather_.

Hybrid Perpetual roses are among our most prized roses
of to-day for these same reasons; but we now have a
still more valuable class of hybrids, with a longer
season of bloom, which were derived from—

TEA ROSES

Perhaps the loveliest of all roses are the Tea roses,
because of their beauty and enchanting fragrance; but
they are delicate. Very few Tea rose bushes can live
out-of-doors over _cold_ weather. Not only are Tea
roses most beautiful and fragrant, but they _bloom
almost continuously_ during the entire season.

ABOUT HYBRID TEA ROSES

So, as I have said, garden lovers who lived where the
winters were severely cold and bring snow, could not
have the lovely Tea roses in their gardens.

You can imagine their delight when another new class of
roses appeared—roses which bloom freely like the Tea
roses, and have much of their fragrance, yet are hardy
and can live out-of-doors in winter weather, except in
the “way north country.”

The name of this wonderful new class of roses is Hybrid
Tea; which means, as you already know, that the new
roses are the result of a mixture of Tea roses with
others.

Hybrid Tea roses are, in fact, a mixture of Tea roses
with Hybrid Perpetuals.

WHAT ROSES TO PLANT

For blooms for cut flowers, you will plant many Hybrid
Tea roses, and some few Hybrid Perpetuals; for, while
Hybrid Perpetuals bloom plentifully only in June, and
have a few blooms in the Autumn, they are so large
and magnificent that no one wishes to do without the
following:

Hybrid Perpetual Roses { Paul Neyron:
(Abbreviation: H. P.) {
{ One of the largest roses in existence;
Hybrid Perpetual Roses { a deep pink in color.
bloom profusely in {
June, and a few times { Frau Karl Druschki:
in Summer; quite well {
in the Fall. They are { Pure white, large and perfect in form.
very hardy. Prune after { Buds sometimes 3 inches long. Blooms well.
June blooming to get {
Autumn blooms. { Mrs. John Laing:
{
{ Soft pink, very fragrant and free
{ flowering; one of the best.
{
{ Prince Camille de Rohan:
{
{ Deep crimson maroon.

There are several other very desirable Hybrid Perpetual
roses, but the name of one only of each color has
been listed, because one has so much more pleasure in
cutting a half dozen buds of the same color and form
than a mixture of different kinds.

Even if one has space for many rose bushes, there is
a great deal more satisfaction in having two or more
bushes of the same variety than many different kinds,
for a bouquet of the same kind of flowers is so much
more beautiful than an assortment.

Perhaps you thought that the words Hybrid Perpetual
meant continuous blooming. Many a grown person has made
this mistake in looking over the seedsmen’s catalogs.
Probably the name Perpetual refers to the fact that the
plant lives over from year to year and has such a long
life. In England, however, Hybrid Perpetuals bloom for
a much longer time than in our country, for the climate
is better suited to roses.

Of the many, many beautiful Hybrid Tea roses, you will
wish red, white, pink, and yellow; and you will be
pleased if you grow some of the following:

{Red:
{
{1. General McArthur.
{ A satisfactory bloomer, crimson scarlet.
{ Good for cutting.
{
{2. Gruss an Teplitz.
{ Bright crimson. Pretty foliage. Flowers in
{ clusters on a weak stem. A constant
{ bloomer, and very desirable for that
{ reason, and for the color and form of
{ foliage.
{
{White:
{
{1. Kaiserin Augusta Victoria.
{ Pearly white, tinged with light yellow. A
{ very satisfactory rose.
{
Hybrid Tea Roses {2. Innocence.
(Abbreviation: H. T.) { White. A good bloomer
{
Hybrid Tea Roses are {
free-blooming, hardy, {Pink:
and combine to a large {
degree the beauty of {1. Caroline Testout.
color of the H. P. { Very good for color and hardiness.
with the fragrance and { Fragrant; blooms freely.
continuance of bloom {
of the Tea roses. {2. Killarney.
{ A general favorite, because of good color
{ and form, and a continuous bloomer. Subject
{ to mildew.
{
{3. La France.
{ Excellent. Very fragrant. Charming in
{ color.
{
{Other excellent pink roses:
{ Lady Ashtown.
{ Killarney Brilliant.
{
{Yellow:
{
{1. Duchess of Wellington.
{ Deep yellow and orange. Excellent bloomer.
{
{2. Mrs. Aaron Ward.
{ Indian yellow; free blooming.
{
{3. Marquise de Sinety.
{ A magnificent rose of sunset shades, but
{ not so easily cared for, nor so free
{ blooming, as Duchess of Wellington.

In looking over these lists, perhaps you are wondering
why you do not find the name of the rose, American
Beauty, so dear to American hearts. The American Beauty
rose is not hardy, and is grown under glass, and as
we are considering only out-of-door roses, it is not
listed.

If you happen to live in the warm climate of the South
or in California, you can have the luxury of growing
the more tender roses, and I am giving you a list of
some of the best Tea roses.

Do not attempt to raise them if you live where there
is much snow in winter; a few of these might “winter
over” if well protected, but with the many exquisite
Hybrid Tea roses, it is only a waste of time for young
gardeners to experiment.

{Red:
{
{ There are no dark red tea roses, the
List of Tea (Scented) { nearest perhaps being Souvenir de
Roses { Catherine Guillet, coppery-carmine, shaded
{ with yellow.
{
Tender roses which {White:
require extraordinary {
winter protection in {1. Mrs. Herbert Stevens.
the vicinity of {
New York. { Beautiful in form. Sometimes tinged with
{ faint pink shadings.
Do not prune severely. {
{2. White Mamam Cochet.
{
{ White, sometimes tinged with pink.
{
{Pink:
{
{ Mamam Cochet.
{
{ Hardiest of all Tea roses; excellent for
{ cutting. Free blooming.
{
{ Duchesse de Brabant.
{
{ Most fragrant. Silvery pink.
{
{Yellow:
{
{1. Lady Hillingdon.
{
{ Reddish yellow; a beautiful rose.
{
{2. Souvenir de Pierre Notting.
{
{ Canary-yellow, deeper in center.

Below is a list of Climbing Roses. Climbing roses were
brought into existence in a way similar to any of the
other new roses.

{ Red:
{
{ Excelsa.
{
{ A great improvement on the Crimson Rambler,
{ the foliage being nearly free from mildew.
{ Blooms in June.
{
{ American Beauty Climbing Rose.
Hardy Climbing Roses {
(For places where the { Resembling the American Beauty in shade;
winters bring snow) { blooms are of quite good size, on weak stems,
{ but rather good for cutting. A desirable
{ rose, but not for showy effect.
{
{Pink:
{
{ Dorothy Perkins.
{
{ A splendid rose; grows very rapidly,
{ sometimes 20 feet in a season. Flowers in
{ clusters. Foliage charming. Blooms in June.
{
{ Debutante.
{
{ Fragrant, very desirable because blooming
{ sometimes in July, in September and October.
{
{ Tausendschön.
{
{ Sometimes called “Rose of a Thousand
{ Blooms.” Flowers early in large clusters.
{ Very hardy; beautiful foliage. Color, blush
{ pink and white.
{
{ American Pillar.
{
{ Grows very rapidly. A brilliant pink single
{ rose, borne in clusters. Foliage excellent.
{
{
{White:
{
{ White Dorothy.
{
{ Flowers at the same time as the Pink Dorothy
{ Perkins.
{
{Yellow:
{
{ Shower of Gold.

In warmer parts of the country there is a great variety
of beautiful climbing roses, among which may be named:

{Pink:
{
{ Climbing Bridesmaid.
Climbing Roses for the{
South and Pacific { Rose pink with crimson shadings, very
Coast { fragrant.
{
{White:
{
{ Climbing Devoniensis. (“Magnolia Rose.”)
{
{ Large creamy white roses with pink center.
{Yellow:
{
{ Marechal Niel.
{
{ This well-known magnificent climbing rose
{ bears masses of double fragrant blooms which
{ are excellent for cutting.

There is another class of roses about which you should
know:

WICHURAIANA ROSES (EVERGREEN OR MEMORIAL ROSES)

These roses will live in our coldest climate.

The first were brought from Japan in 1892. The
Wichuraiana roses are highly valued where the winters
are severe or where the plant cannot receive special
care, as in a cemetery. (For this reason they have been
called “Memorial.”) Once planted, they seem to care for
themselves. They trail along the ground, or over rocks,
and often climb over any support.

Do not plant them in the rose garden where you need
space to grow bushes for blooms which are lovely for
cutting.

Wichuraiana roses bloom in June and July and sometimes
later. Insects do not trouble the beautiful shiny
foliage, which stays green nearly all winter.

The single roses, if not cut, become red berries in
the Autumn. “_Wichuraiana_” is the catalog name of the
single variety.

Blooms of the Wichuraiana roses are small compared
with the Hybrid Tea or Hybrid Perpetual, but some are
beautiful.

{ Gardenia.
{
The Best Wichuraiana { Sometimes called “Hardy Marechal Niel,” bears
Rose { lovely yellow buds which open into double
{ flowers of cream color, resembling a Cape
{ Jessamine.

Suppose you live at the seashore or in the mountains;
suppose you have very poor soil for roses; then you
will be glad to plant—

RUGOSA ROSES

Sometimes Rugosa Roses have been called, “Ironclad,”
because of their thick leathery foliage, which is
seldom, if ever, troubled with insects; and because of
their wonderful hardiness and ability to live under
trying conditions.

They bloom early, in large flowers, some of which
resemble large single wild roses; others resemble large
“double wild roses,” if you can imagine such roses.
Many make the Autumn gay with their brilliant red seed
berries.

Do not make the mistake of planting Rugosa among the
rose bushes you are growing for cut flowers.

They are used where heavy growth is needed; as among
shrubbery or for a hedge. A single plant looks well on
a lawn or at a corner of a house. The Rugosa roses grow
from four to six feet tall.

In case you wish one or two of these, the following are—

The Best Rugosa Roses {White:
(Ramanas, Japanese) {
{ Blanc Double de Coubert.
Of very hardy heavy {
growth, with large { Pure double white blooms.
single or semi-double {
flowers, many bearing {Pink:
red seed pods in {
Autumn. { Conrad F. Meyer.
{
{ Silvery rose; double; one of the best.

“There,” said Billy, looking up from his book, “isn’t that a long lesson? Well, the reason for it all is this: Miss Gardener and Professor Weed are rose enthusiasts—‘rose crazy,’ we boys called them.”

“Their love of roses was an excellent thing for you boys,” said his mother, “for I believe you know more on the subject than most grown-up people.”

“Just listen!” exclaimed Mary Frances, “Billy, don’t you feel repaid for giving us the lesson? What comes next?”

“Next comes—let me see,” replied Billy. “Oh, yes, it’s about planting and caring for roses, I remember.”

“When will you give us that?” asked Eleanor.

“Does it tell about ‘Tree Roses?’” asked Mary Frances eagerly before Billy could answer Eleanor.

“I’ll tell you _now_,” he said, “about—

TREE ROSES

Tree Roses are Hybrid Perpetual or Hybrid Tea or other
roses, budded or grafted high up on strong stock, or
wild growth, and cut or pruned to the form of trees.

They are very attractive in a formal or “set out”
garden, or for edging walks, but such great care must
be taken to keep them warm during cold weather that it
is best not to try them except in places where there is
little snow in winter.

For winter bed covers, place boards around the plant
and fill with earth.

“Miss Gardener said,” went on Billy, “that English and Irish rose growers are constantly sending new varieties of roses over to Americans, but the new roses have to be tested in our climate before we can be certain if they will do well here. That’s all the lesson for to-day,” he declared. “Come to-morrow morning for the next lesson—that is, if you want to. The day after, you know, we go on the Wild Flower Picnic.”