103 Old Roses: Current Questions/Activities in the Field.
Description
This article is from the Rose Gardening FAQ, by Bill Chandler chandler@austin.ibm.com, Jolene Adams jolene@cchem.berkeley.edu, Brent C. Dickerson odinthor@csulf.edu, Karen Baldwin kbaldwin@veribest.com, and many contributors
103 Old Roses: Current Questions/Activities in the Field.
There are many questions in the field of Old Roses relating primarily
to history (cultural questions are, in the main, the same as for modern
roses). Those interested could spend many pleasurable hours trying to
obtain biographical data on breeders, or researching the methods or
cultivars used in their breeding. Persons in or around The Netherlands
are in a position to do the field a very great favor by putting
together a major article or book in English about the breeders,
methods, and cultivars used by the Dutch in their breeding 1600-1830,
as there is virtually nothing on this very very important subject
available in English (or French). Questions about the history and
make-up of the Damasks and Damask Perpetuals remain without firm
answers, and are probably in the province of scientific rather than
historic investigation.
An important activity undertaken and enjoyed by many old rosers is to
visit old gardens, cemeteries, churches, town sites, and the like to
find, propagate, and try to identify old roses found growing there.
Debate on the subject of identification is often hot and heart-felt,
many people having sentimental attachments to names long familiar or
roses they have found; those entering into the fray need to have
obtained accurate descriptions from old sources such as catalogs,
magazines, or books published when the cultivars were new. Those in a
position to do so can check the old bulletins or minutes of their local
horticultural society for data about what old roses were popular in the
area in a particular era; those living in old rose-breeding areas may
stumble on a gold mine of information when they do so. Those more
interested in growing could put together collections of roses from, for
instance, one breeder, and then write an article comparing,
contrasting, extrapolating results. A major need is to import into the
U.S. cultivars which at present exist only in Europe; the person
attempting to do so needs to be able to meet the requirements of the
USDA quarantine as well as to negotiate the difficulties of doing
business overseas.
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