16 JUNE 1950, Page 19

In the Garden

I once ventured to claim that the finest of all flowering shrubs wad such an unpruned rose as Zephyrine Drouhin. Today one bush of mine has well over 300 flowers. A writer in the always admirable journal of the R. H. S. bravely stated that " hard pruning of roses is more often a failure than a success," and went on to recommend particular Hybrid Teas and Perpetuals as large bushes some five or six feet high. His dozen includes such common and much-suffering varieties as Betty U,prichard, General McArthur, Ulrich Brunner and Red Letter Day. From his list I have tried with success Ophelia and -Hugh Dickson ; but still think the thornless ZephyrMe the best of all in sweetness of scent