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Laxton himself writes a long and very interesting article in Gardener's Monthly, vol. 22, 1880, pp. 322-325, from which I excerpt: "My first attempt at cross-breeding the rose was in 1857, when, inter alia, I fertilized H.P. General Jacqueminot with the old white Damask Maiden's Blush. From this cross I obtained a very pretty light carmine variety, remarkably sweet and of good form, but not sufficiently large for a show rose. I gave the stock some years afterwards to Mr. Ward of Ipswich, who had been working in the same direction, but I do not think he found it good enough to send out. From this start, however, I derived sufficient encouragement to induce me to proceed, and in the seven years from 1858 to 1864 I fertilized, marked and recorded nearly five hundred blooms, crossing, recrossing, and intercrossing most of the best H.P.'s, Teas, Bourbons, and summer striped roses of the period; and amongst the more remarkable of the results I obtained a vigorous-growing, semi-double, satiny pink flowered seedling from T.N. Glorie [sic] de Dijon X H.P. Souvenir de Comte Cavour (a bright red rose), the offspring being a good seed-bearer, the flower almost scentless, and the plant in most respects partaking more of the Hybrid Perpetual than of the Tea character, the foliage and growth showing but little of the latter type. [...etc. etc. about interesting crosses, then continuing] Some of the offspring of the above crosses have from inherent weakness disappeared, and others which have exhibited more or less novel or valuable traits are in the hands of Mr. Charles Turner of the Royal Nurseries[,] Slough, who will probably in due course and when thoroughly tested, introduce them to public notice. [...] Since 1868 I have chiefly discontinued the raising of seedling crosses from artificially fertilized flowers, and have devoted my attention to the selection of heps from naturally fertilized flowers of the best varieties only, having long since arrived at the conclusion that by the latter means more certain results may be obtained, especially where good shape and beauty of flower are desired. [etc. etc. etc.]"
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