colours are growing
deeper and richer each year. So that we are surely drawing nearer the
not impossible day when we may get Hybrid Tea roses as brilliant a red
or yellow as _Duke of Edinburgh_ or _Marechal Niel_, as large as _Frau
Karl Druschki_, and as fragrant, let us hope, as _La France_. As it is,
it is difficult to imagine anything much more vivid than the orange,
deep salmon-pink, copper-red, and rosy-apricot of some of the novelties
of 1906-7-8. Among them may be noted Messrs. Alex. Dickson & Son's
_Dorothy Page-Roberts_, _Souvenir de Stella Gray_; Messrs. Wm. Paul's
_Warrior_; MM. Soupert et Notting's magnificent _Mme. Segond Weber_,
_Mme. J. W. Budde_, _Marichu Zayas_; M. Pernet-Ducher's _Mme. Maurice de
Luze_, and _Mrs. Aaron Ward_.

These roses, as I have said, are the result of crossings between the
Hybrid Perpetual and the Tea rose. And if we think for a moment how
these two families came into existence, we shall see what a curious and
interesting blending of many different strains has been needed to
develop this beautiful and valuable race. But the end has not come yet
to what may be accomplished. And there can be no doubt that many
remarkable developments in the history of rose-growing still lie before
us and succeeding generations, when the results of fresh experiments
with the Wichuraiana, the Rugosa, and other roses are made known.

[Illustration: SINGLE HYBRID TEA.

IRISH ELEGANCE.]

[Illustration: SINGLE HYBRID TEA.

IRISH GLORY.]

One most interesting and valuable development of the race has already
been made, and must not be passed over in silence. I mean the single
Irish roses of Messrs. Alex. Dickson & Sons, which form a little class
to themselves. These roses are most attractive, as they are densely
covered through the whole season with flowers of varied and vivid
colours, pure white, coral pink, brilliant crimson, bronzy-scarlet,
old-gold and rose, saffron and rose. And when we add to these beautiful
shades their fragrance, their handsome glossy foliage, their bushy
growth, and their vigorous hardy constitution, it is not surprising that
since their first appearance in 1900 they have rushed into favour, and
received many cards of commendation from the N. R. S.

With such a wealth of fine varieties to choose from, it is a little
difficult to make a selection of the very best. But the surest guide is
the judges' verdict at recent shows for exhibition roses and those of
the decorative c