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“RANDALL – This “old Rose”, which seems to be nearer Centifolia than to Gallica, is surely one which bore a different name in the days, now long gone, when the “Old Roses” were not old, but new and very much in fashion. On my formerly muskey soil, it is much less hardy than on the clay hillside of the Randall farm at Leacross, Saskatchewan, where, for many years, it has been cherished since it was brought from Ontario in pioneering days. It thrives on its own roots, and suckers freely, every sucker being a valuable plant. The flower is a just-right double, with about twenty-five petals, of good form, and a pleasant, even tone, bright in effect. Its color is less desirable, however, than that of ‘Alika’ or that of ‘Indian Head’, and its color is not held too well, fading more rapidly than either of these. This feature has so far prevented me from trying to use it in crossing, except once, when I put its pollen on Hansa. For some obscure reason, this cross proved to be a most unfortunate one, the flowers of the progeny being mostly deformed. Randall has been known to die out entirely, in snowless winters, but those who have it regard it highly. Since it is too tender for my soil, I intend to discard it in favor of Indian Head. It was brought from Ontario by Mr. Frank Randall’s father, about 1905.”
Source: Percy Wright fonds, University of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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