Irish Roses at Garden

Old Habits of Flowers at Harriet Explained by Wirth.

The thousands of people who have admired the rose garden at Lake Harriet, which is now in its second year, have wondered at the beauty of the blossoms on the small bushes and experts in rose culture have been puzzled at the appearance of many of the roses, the variety of which they are acquainted with.

Superintendent Wirth explains that the roses are budded stock, that is, not on their own roots, but budded into the crown of wild sturdy roots or French minetta plants. Mr. Wirth has learned the value of budded stock as against the roses on their own roots for this climate. The reason the bushes are so small for budded stock is that the whole lot is imported roses.

Mr. Wirth imported all his rose stock from Ireland, making the first shipment last spring, and in order to make the express charges less very young plants were sent. This makes them about two years behind the time usually set for budded roses.

They will make large growth this season, which will give them abundance of bloom next year and give a chance to take up fully half the bushes for use in other parks, as the bushes will spread wonderfully.

The fact that the roses are imported also accounts for some of the colors and shades appearing odd to the fancier. These are especially noticeable in some of the maroon varieties and the La France. Some favorite varieties are missing, such as the Coquette des Alps, Marshal P. Wilder and others.