'Countess of Rosebery' rose photos

Florist and Pomologist, Feb. 1879 Rose Countess of Rosebery [Plate 483] THIS fine new Hybrid Perpetual Rose was raised from seed, sown in 1870, by Mr. R. B. Postans, of Brentwood. We congratulate Mr. Postans upon his good-fortune in obtaining such a valuable addition to our already largely extended list of Hybrid Perpetuals. This Rose, together with two others of Mr. Postans' raising, Duchess of Bedford and May Quennell, are a trio which any rosarian may be proud to claim. Countess Of Rosebeby was first exhibited at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, on June 18th, 1878, and was awarded a First-class Certificate. It received a similar award at the hands of the Royal Botanic Society of London, and also at the Manchester Show of the National Rose Society. The Gardeners' Chronicle, in its report of one of these shows, says of it:—" The flowers are very perfect in shape, the petals beautifully cupped, as shown; the colour is that of Étienne Levet, but it is a better-shaped flower." It was also exhibited at the Alexandra Palace Rose Show last June, where, in company with its companion-rose, Duchess of Bedford, it almost created a sensation, and was admitted to be one of the most promising new varieties of recent years. The flowers are brilliant carmine-rose, large and full, and of finely-cupped form. It is a very vigorous-growing variety, and possesses a strong and hardy constitution. The flowers are produced freely in autumn. The foliage is handsome, the wood smooth, the habit good. It may be justly described as combining flowers of the quality of and nearly the same colour as those of Étienne Levet, but with the free and excellent habit and growth of Madame Victor Verdier. This rose is at present in the hands of Messrs. William Paul and Son, of the Waltham Cross Nurseries, by whom it will be distributed shortly.—A. W. P.