Editor’s Note: Mr. Clark’s good-humored correction of the Editor’s errors of last year has caused that individual to become much better acquainted with Australian geography, and his fine work with a new rose species, touched in America only by Father Schoener, and that somewhat ineffectively, is appreciated. What certainty is there that some of these Gigantea hybrids will not prove hardy in the central regions of the United States?  Why not experiment with anything that proposes black-spot and mildew immunity?
          Fifteen new varieties originated by Mr. Clark are accurately described from cards supplied by him in “The New Roses of All the World.”

There are several reasons why I should be bold enough to pen a few lines to the American Rose Annual on the chance that they may interest some of its readers.  The chief ones are the kindly interest and courtesy of the Editor to whom a rash promise of a short account of my work was not fulfilled last year; also the encouragement given me by Prof. E. H. Wilson on visiting “Glenara” at a time when roses were far from the best, and whose parting words were, “Keep up the good work,” and whose notes on Australian roses on page 118 of the 1923 Annual show what wonderful powers of observation and memory he possesses in noting so accurately the seedlings raised here; and, lastly, because, on page 182 of the same Annual, I appear to be credited with raising the roses Ma Cherie and Midnight Sun, neither of which roses came from “Glenara,”  while a misprint makes my seedling, Mrs. R. C. Bell, appear as Mrs. R. C. Dell.  I hope the Editor will allow me to make these corrections, as the Annual must have great historic value, and slips of the pen, if not set right at once, may cause further confusion in rose names.

        Having in a comparatively short time raised a number of seedling roses suitable to our Australian climate, I am now asked by the Editor to say what I am chiefly aiming for.

        I suppose that Rosa odorata gigantea, growing up an Acacia salicina tree in light soil and partial shade, first impressed me with the possibility of getting a new race of roses suitable to our climate. Using it, I am endeavoring to produce a perpetual blooming dwarf type of roses, with foliage immune to mildew and black-spot. In the first crosses the best results were obtained in the purely single-flowering sorts, such as Jessie Clark, Flying Colours, and Harbinger, but a great number of the seedlings were semi-double or double, carrying magnificent foliage, but not as effective when cut at the singles.

        The second cross with these Gigantea hybrids has already given me three most satisfactory dwarf everblooming sorts, with good mildew- and black-spot-proof foliage, such as Lorraine Lee, Squatter’s Dream and Mrs. Frank Guthrie.  I do not know of three busier bushes than these; they never seem to really rest, and therefore may be of little use in a severe climate, but here they are proving most satisfactory. In California and the Riviera, no doubt they would do well.

        My chief desire is to find out what varieties of the world’s roses are worth growing.  As I have tested all that I can procure, I have now only to decide if a seedling is distinct from the best from America and Europe to feel safe in letting it go out to the world.  One great advantage of the Gigantea hybrids is that they make their growth in very early spring, almost in winter, before thrips appear, are in flower before the daffodils depart, and so carry us on till the Hybrid Teas come into flower; thus, we are never really without roses, provided we can give them water in summer.

        Much as I admire a fine show rose, I want that flower produced in the open air without coddling.  If that cannot be, then surely the true decorative rose that greets you cheerfully is a better thing to grow, and it is with this idea in view that I have selected from my seedlings such sorts in climbing roses as Jessie Clark, Flying Colours, Harbinger, Golden Vision (all from R. gigantea); also Black Boy, Rosy Morn, Loretto, Gwen Nash, Cherub, Queen of Hearts, Nora Cunningham, Kitty Kininmonth, Scorcher, and Day Dream.  And in bush roses I have confidence in the following:  Sunny South, Sweet Seventeen, Don José, Mrs. R. C. Bell, Fancy Free, Mrs. Frank Guthrie, Borderer (Poly.), Squatter’s Dream, Lorraine Lee, and Sunday Best.  The two last are not yet in commerce but will be sent out next year.

        American roses are becoming great favorites, and Mr. E. G. Hill, Mr. Cook, Dr. Van Fleet, Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Dorner have indeed earned our gratitude – General MacArthur, Radiance, Columbia, Mme. Butterfly, Hadley, Hoosier Beauty, Rose Marie, Victor, American Pillar, Excelsa, Crimson Queen, and Robin Hood, being greatly prized.

        Perhaps I should point out the reason why Australian-raised roses can never get a fair trial in America or Europe, and that is the fact that, so far, when sent out they are only distributed locally, and therefore when they reach other countries they cannot be  listed as highly priced novelties, wherefore no nurseryman would be likely to grow them, much less to push their sale.

        However, fully believing that the American Rose Society stands for the best in roses, come whence they may, I still hope that such sorts as the following may be given a trial in America:  Marion Manifold, a red climber – where is there a better? – raised  by Adamson, gardener to the late J. C. Manifold; Vanity, raised by Halstead of New South Wales, a charming yellow bud rose, mildew-proof and free, far ahead of many sent out from Europe of recent years (I note that Mr. Pemberton has taken this name, but his rose must be known here as English Vanity, as Halstead’s Vanity is an old rose by comparison); Midnight Sun, raised by P. Grant, a fine decorative after the style of Hawlmark Crimson; and the two following sorts from New Zealand: Mrs. E. Willis, a beautifully refined light salmon-pink rose, and Firebrand, a dark fiery red, a fit companion to K. of K.

        Of the older roses I still grow La France, Zephirine Drouhin, Socrates (for its scent), Gloire de Rosomanes, Souv. de David d’Angers, Mme. Alfred Carrière, Prince Camille de Rohan, Capitaene Millet, Comtesse Dusy, Princesse de Radziwill, Louis Tarboreich, Maréchal Niel, Frau Oberhofgartner Singer, Frau Rose Benary, La Tosca, E. von Kesselstadt, Franz Deegen, Goldelse, Crepuscule, Comtesse de Noghera, Mme. C. P. Strassheim, Augustine Guinoisseau, Peace, Georges Schwartz (the best yellow rose in the world)*, G. Nabonnand, and right useful they are as seed and pollen parents, also as garden roses.

*In a separate letter, Mr. Clark writes thus:  “Georges Schwartz is the best yellow rose of the world for this climate and as a garden rose.  There is nothing in real yellows to touch it, and it is very free and continuous.” This highly commended Tea rose was sent out in 1899 by Mme. Schwartz, probably of Lyons, France.  It is described in the catalogue of Ketten Brothers of Luxemburg, as “Deep canary-yellow, shaded cadmium-yellow; large, full, very sweet; growth vigorous, very floriferous. Superb coloring.” The “Australasian Rose Book” of R. G. Elliott mentions it as a climbing sport among a selected list of “Roses to Grow.” Has Mr. Clark waked us up to an overlooked rose of vigor and quality in the much-desired clear yellow shade?  No American sunshine is hotter to bleach out the yellow of a rose than that of his land!—Editor.

        “Glenara” is 16 miles north of Melbourne, in a warm valley running east and west, and although we have roses practically all the year round, we have three flushes of blooms.  The first comes about the end of October, the second at the end of December, and the third from March till May.   In this last period we get our most beautiful roses, the cool autumn weather giving great color and freshness to the flowers.  I am implying that the rose-grower has a supply of water to give his plants, otherwise the midsummer roses cannot be counted on with certainty and the autumn crop would be late.

        Although the Pernetianas are popular with most growers and those who decorate tables, still they have such poor constitutions and are so subject to black-spot, which means loss of foliage in autumn and few, if any, winter flowers, that I begin to regret that they ever came into existence.  Mons. Pernet-Ducher has given us such wonderful roses of Tea and Hybrid Tea blood that we never expect anything but a good rose from him, and marvelous as are the colors of the Pernetianas, there is no doubt but that the pure Teas and Hybrid Teas are the roses for Australia.

        Captain Thomas’ work in California is being watched with great interest, also that of the Messrs. Howard & Smith, and it is evident that the standard of American novelties compares more than favorably with those from other countries.

        We want you to send us a strong-growing Rose Queen and a Hadley with the habit of Robin Hood, and a Robin Hood with the scent of Columbia or Radiance and the color of Hoosier Beauty.  Next year we may ask for even more from your rose-raising wizards.

Mr. Clark has given us a rose prescription to fill, and has candidly stated the point of view of a hybridist of knowledge and experience, working in a climate quite similar to much potential rose territory in parts of the United States.

The Editor here expresses the hope that other men of means and plant-love will in America emulate Mr. Clark’s work.  This Annual has much of helpful suggestion for workers who are minded to do so.

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