The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ we can greatly extend the duration of flowering by pruning at different times. Forcing is not resorted to here; indeed, some roses, like ¶ ¶ Souvenir de la Malmaison ¶ , are rarely without a flowe...

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89.05.00a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Royal Horticultural Society, 1889-05 [89.05.00a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1880-9/1889/89-05-00a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Note on Australian roses', in Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, 1889, vol. 11, p. 229 (B89.13.03). It is dated to May 1889 as the latest it could have been written to have been read at the Rose Conference held in Chiswick, London, on 2-3 July 1889. The letter was read to the meeting on 3 July, 'National rose conference', Gardeners' chronicle, 6 July 1889, p. 24. The quoted text is introduced by

Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller also states in a letter to the Secretary that near Melbourne this variety [Cloth of Gold rose] flowers for four months out of the twelve. Tea-roses are generally preferred in Victoria, as they remain longest in flower and are less subject to the attacks of Aphis and other parasites than are other roses. Roses do not vary much in character, but in this winterless zone, writes the Baron,

we can greatly extend the duration of flowering by pruning at different times. Forcing is not resorted to here; indeed, some roses, like Souvenir de la Malmaison, are rarely without a flower the whole year round. Mr. French

Probably Charles French Snr.

has just mentioned to me that he had on a standard (four years old) two hundred and thirty-six flowers of Marshal Niel, most of them open at the same time.