Chapter 15 - New And Noteworthy Roses

Experience has taught me that restraint is necessary in recommending new varieties on brief acquaintance. In discussing some of the most recent ones in this chapter I am therefore not especially recommending any, though I have selected those varieties which I consider to be among the best.

Of red roses, there are six which have certain claims to be called noteworthy—Chrysler Imperial, Josephine Bruce, Karl Herbst, Bacchus, Brilliant and Mme Louis Laperriere.

The first, which hails from America as one would expect from its name, has attained a certain popularity in this country. Growth is good and leafy and the shapely blooms are borne erect. The only objection I have heard is that the color is not maintained as the blooms age. A very dark red rose of satisfactory growth has always been rather elusive, but Josephine Bruce, although a little sprawly, is fairly good. The blooms are of an even shade of deep crimson throughout, not large but like the previous one I have mentioned, very fragrant. It is susceptible to mildew, but its beauty in my opinion outweighs this drawback. Brilliant is one that is esteemed by exhibitors and there have been some most beautiful blooms of it shown from time to time. In my garden it has not been a great success; whether that is due to my treatment or growing conditions, it would be hard to say. However, nearly all my friends are loud in their praises of this rose, so its shortcomings are probably due to me. It does not possess any fragrance, a failing also of Karl Herbst. Here again the qualities which go to make a first-class exhibition rose are present. As a garden rose it is perhaps a little dull, although one cannot fault it on the score of being niggardly with its blooms. It has a decided preference for fine, sunny weather, the blooms failing to open in continuous wet spells.

The bright red Bacchus is one for which I have a warm spot. It reminds me of a more intense Lady Inchiquin which seems to have dropped out of cultivation. The growth is upright and healthy and the blooms are held erect on good stems.

Etoile de Hollande has been very popular since its introduction in 1919, and now it is challenged by the new Mme Louis Laperriere. What a pity it was not given a name that tripped easier from the tongue. This rose possesses many good points and grows into a handsome, well-clothed bush. It has the fault of the older variety of hanging its head.

Of pure yellow roses I am afraid there is still a dearth, though we have some very good examples which are basically yellow—Beauté, Belle Blonde and Ethel Sanday being orange yellow and Burnaby, Diamond Jubilee and Dorothy Peach a creamy yellow.

Isobel Harkness, of my own raising, a pure golden yellow, should prove to be a welcome addition to roses of this colour. Growth is strong and the plants are healthy and free flowering. Its only failing is that it could do with a few more petals.

A good companion to Isobel Harkness is Beaute. In fact the only difference in the bloom is its color which is a particularly charming shade of orange yellow. Why this rose has not leapt into popularity I do not know as, except for lack of petallage, it is as near perfection as one might require. Belle Blonde, although rather similar in color, is quite distinct, having a sufficient number of petals, but as so often happens it is inclined to produce a number of blooms with double centres.

For those interested in the perfectly formed rose whether for its intricate beauty or exhibition, Ethel Sanday should certainly be the choice. The color is inclined to be variable, sometimes a deep orange yellow and at others several shades paler.

If I were asked to name the rose with the most perfect habit of growth, I would unhesitatingly name Diamond Jubilee. This rose is the most free flowering one I know, and the most continuous in its blooming capacity. It is a pity that its flowers are not of a more exciting colour, being of a buff yellow. The form of the bloom is, at its best, all that can be desired, but there is one great drawback and that is the blooms are prone to attacks by thrips, especially during the first blooming period. Those who in the past have grown Barbara Richards and have been troubled with black spot, a malady to which it was particularly disposed, will find in Diamond Jubilee a rose that very closely approximates to it, a much more satisfactory rose both for garden decoration and exhibition.

After consideration, however, my selection of the yellows is in favour of Dorothy Peach. This rose has Peace as one of its parents, and whilst the growth is not so vigorous its foliage is equally as handsome and it produces a large quantity of shapely blooms throughout the season.

Good pink roses are not nearly as common as one would be inclined to believe, in fact we still are waiting for a Dame Edith Helen which would prove to be less exacting in its requirements, and yet have all the excellent qualities of that rose. Of the newer ones, Tiffany is perhaps the best. Its coloring is similar to Dame Edith Helen and it also has a very strong fragrance; the blooms are shapely and freely produced. Furthermore, it is a stronger grower than the older variety. Of the other three I shall mention none have the delightful soft deep pink of Dame Edith, but nevertheless each possesses great charm in its own particular way.

My favorite is Margaret, the blooms of which are a flesh pink. Growth of the plant is healthy, though sprawling, and the blooms, of delightful form, are very freely produced. When I first saw Anne Letts I thought there was a great similarity between it and Margaret, but after growing them the difference is very marked. The colour of Anne Letts is not so even, paling off at the edges. The form, however, is most exquisite, each petal re-flexing to a point. The number of blooms per plant is as great and it is more upright in growth. Nevertheless, I prefer Margaret of the two.

First Love, another American introduction, has enjoyed a certain amount of popularity since it has been grown here, chiefly among those interested in floral arrangements for which it is very well suited, the blooms being of medium size and held erect on good stems. The color is pale pink deepening to the edge of the petals. It has a certain amount of fragrance.

A rose of which I am fond is Perfecta, though its variations of coloring, pink cream and crimson, make it hard to place in any particular color group. Irrespective of this, however, and despite obvious faults it is a good rose. It is somewhat unpleasing when in bud and many blooms come somewhat wishy-washy, yet the bushes still carry a large proportion of most delightful specimens. The growth is tall and its foliage handsome; it is a variety that I would not be without.

The following varieties have flowers in shades of orange—wholly or in part. To give an accurate description of the color of any flower is a very difficult thing as one can only compare it with a well-known object. For instance, one might say that Independence is a tomato red and then one is faced with the question, 'What is the color of a tomato ?'

The poetic term 'A red red rose' is quite wrong as there were no red roses years ago. At the present we certainly do have roses which are very close to pure red, and these are to be found in the Floribundas.

It is the rose Montezuma which brings up this question of color, as I find it a very difficult one to define. The one given by the raiser is plum, turning to a brick red, not altogether a happy description, but one that I cannot improve upon. Introduced from America, Montezuma is classed as a 'Grandiflora', being a Floribunda with blooms of the Hybrid Tea type. This would seem to be the general trend in our roses of the future. To my mind it is to be welcomed as it means that while we shall have the large perfectly formed flower we shall have greater freedom of blooming and greater hardiness in the plant. This habit of growth is to be found in Montezuma and, should one desire it, by disbudding very large blooms can be obtained of first class exhibition quality. The petals are large which gives the bloom that delightful high-pointed centre so esteemed by exhibitors. Its only fault is that, like so many large petalled roses, it dislikes wet weather (although it is no worse in this respect than many others).

Virgo, a fine white rose of medium size.
Super Star, a fine new rose of pure vermilion.

Another of similar coloring to Montezuma, although a straightforward Hybrid Tea, is Fritz Thiedemann. The color of the young flowers is intense vermilion which turns to salmon pink as they develop. The blooms are large and well formed and it is a rose of great promise.

There was a time not so long ago when American roses were looked upon with a certain distaste for very few seemed to be at home in this country. This is no longer true for many of the roses that have crossed the Atlantic have proved to be of the greatest value. Mojave is one that has proved the point. It is a brilliant orange, a color that is maintained as the blooms age. The blooms are of medium size, growth is good and the flowering period constant. It is purely a rose for garden decoration and cutting. My only objection is to the name, which is not pronounced as spelt, but as if the letter J was an H, which will mean that as long as the rose is grown in this country its name will be mispronounced.

Continuing with roses of orange shades, Mahagona bids fair to becoming popular and is one of which I shall certainly increase my stock. Growth is upright and healthy and the blooms of good form and substance.

Yet another is Piccadilly, which is an ideal rose for cutting. It has not quite sufficient petals, but the glorious bright display it gives compensates for this drawback. In coloring it is similar to Tzigane, but is far more vigorous in growth than that variety.

As a rose for cutting Bettina is one that should appeal. The blooms are small and flat topped, a form that some object to, but to me rather charming. Naturally a rose to be suitable for cutting must be free flowering and carry its blooms on nice long stems, a habit which this rose fulfils.

My last in this color group is Dilys Allen, one I raised some years ago and quite a number of rose lovers have discovered its value as a garden rose. Of Mrs. Sam McGredy parentage it has no claims to being a prizewinner at shows but as a long-lasting rose for garden decoration it has many claims for being included among the best in the rose garden.

Bicolor roses, by which I mean those of Rosa foetida bicolor parentage, where the inside color of the petals is red and the outside yellow, have always been the least satisfactory, mainly on account of poor growth which was subject to dieback. At last we have in Tzigane at least one without this fault and with a beautifully formed bloom as well.

In these bicolors, although the colors have been most startling, the form of the blooms has always left a lot to be desired, either through lack of petals or irregular centres. Perhaps the contrast of color is not quite so pronounced as in some, but to my eyes at least it is by no means a matter for regret.
Gail Borden and My Choice are roses difficult to place in any color group. The colors are a mixture of bright pink and yellow, a most beautiful combination. The blooms of both these varieties are large and full and the growth of the plants all that one could wish for. Possibly My Choice will be preferred of the two on account of its delicious fragrance.

In looking through the lists of all the newer roses I am conscious of many roses that might be included, but I think it wise to exercise restraint, especially so as there are so many of which I have only a brief acquaintance. So I will end this list of Hybrid Teas with one which I consider to be the best for many years; this is Super Star. Of unique coloring—pure vermilion—it is indeed an acquisition. It came to us from Germany accompanied by a tremendous amount of advance publicity, and this I am afraid somewhat prejudiced me against it at first. I must confess, however, any opposition has disappeared and I think it one of the most promising varieties we have had since Peace. Its growth and foliage is good and handsome and the perfectly shaped medium size blooms, which are scented, are most freely produced.

The following roses are among those which I recommended in the previous editions and are some which can confidently be recommended to the discriminating rose lover:

Dorothy Anderson                                Monique
Eden Rose                                            Quebec
Flaming Sunset                                     Show Girl
Grand'mere Jenny                                 Signora
Ida McCracken                                    Spek's Yellow
Lady Belper                                         Sutter's Gold
Michele Meilland                                  Tally Ho
                                                            Virgo

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