The influence of the old Yellow Tea is to be found among a large proportion of these lovely roses, in the golden and sulphur base which adds such richness to the endless shades of pink, crimson, copper and white. But a pure yellow Tea rose is still a rarity. And its production is the goal towards which many of the greatest rose-growers are still working.
What we all desire is a Tea rose for bedding of as pure a yellow as the dear old Persian Briar, or Maréchal Niel, and one that will stand, as that glorious rose does, the hot rays of the sun without changing colour. For, charming as many of the so-called Yellow Tea roses are when they are in bud, the open flower quickly turns white in the sun.
To this object, as I have said, some of the greatest rose-growers have been devoting their energies for years; while others are striving as eagerly and with far greater success, after the development of deep crimson and scarlet Tea roses. And though they may not yet have attained the absolute perfection they were seeking, both sets of experiments have resulted of late in some truly magnificent roses, of various rich shades undreamt of even twenty years ago.
In the following lists the roses will be found grouped in colour, as this may be useful to amateurs who are unacquainted with some of the names. Many of those mentioned, while they are not included in the National Rose Society's list, are still well worthy of cultivation in our gardens; and others, hardly known in England as yet, have proved most valuable in my own Hampshire collection and perfectly hardy.
Among roses that are little known in English gardens are Baronne de Hoffmann, a vigorous grower, vivid copper-red, with yellow base; and the invaluable M. Tillier, which I first saw in the Paris Exhibition of 1900. I have grown it largely since, and every one is attracted by the bushes, set thickly with medium-sized imbricated flowers of carmine and brick-red, borne on upright stems in such numbers that they make a brilliant mark in the garden from a distance. It is perfectly hardy, and I have gathered good blooms at Christmas. Amabilis is a useful china pink rose for decorative purposes, either in the garden or to cut for the house; it is strong and hardy. So is Marquise de Querhoent, a strong grower, of vivid coppery salmon and china red. Ducher's Coquette de Lyon is another admirable bedding rose, which is not much grown in England. The flowers which cover the plant are full, well-shaped, of medium size, a pale canary yellow, and last long in water.
I would also call attention to other roses which, though well known to collectors and exhibitors, might be more generally cultivated by the ordinary amateur.
These are the delightful G. Nabonnand, Duchesse Marie Salviati, Mrs. B. R. Cant—an admirable rose—Madame Constant Soupert, a new and most brilliant variety; Souvenir de Pierre Notting—best on a standard, but excellent in every way; General Schablikine, absolutely invaluable, as it is covered with bloom from June to November; Innocent Pirola, one of the best creamy whites; Peace, a newer and very beautiful rose, pale lemon, carrying its fine flowers singly on strong erect stalks; and the older Souv. de S. A. Prince, a pure white sport from Souv. d'un Ami.
The climbing Tea roses will be found in another chapter.
Pink, Rose, Salmon, Peach.
Archiduchesse Marie Immaculata. Soupert et Notting, 1887. Brick red.