WHICH ROSE ?
It is the heyday of the rose ; and seldom were roses in better bloom or more healthy. Which are the best ? Of some varieties we must all acknowledge the claims : Ophelia, perhaps, and Mrs. Henry Morse, and Madame Herriot (the Daily Mail rose) and General MacArthur. We Ought to possess one of the Dicksons merely for their solid red smelling qualities. Among climbers we can scarcely avoid the American Pillar ; and Penzance briars are a necessity. But we all have our prejudices, our favourites ; and like to preach their virtues. Mine are Etoile d'Hollahcle—for its scent, the depth of its crimson, and the' length of the buds ; and among newer roses Mary Elizabeth (not the more freakish princess Elizabeth), so well petalled, of so delicate a pink, so evenly curled: Among ramblers, of which it is the very lustiest, I could not spare Moschata floribunda, with its small and deliciously scented trusses of bloom. To shift to sweet peas, also coming to their best, it has been notable at almost every • show that bowls of the large -flowered lavender. Powerscourt have prevailed. Perhaps the colour that has most novelty in it is represented by Coralline, described as " orange-cerise "; but by common consent the best Mixture is of red-pinks with mauve-lavenders- Those - colours are essential : -the 'othera =
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