After reviewing the “human interest” stories I’ve collected about Schoener, and sorting out the nonsense (as much as possible), it seems to me that his specimen of Rosa nutkana was barren on its own roots. I find it hard to believe that 1500 pollinations would all fail if the seed parent were even a little bit fertile. What about the “stray pollen” that is supposed to interfere with crosses? And along this line, I have some other examples of a given specimen or clone being fertile or sterile according to the soil type. We really need to know a lot more about the “natural history” of Rosa species.
Memoirs of the Horticultural Society of New York (1927)
Sterility Encountered in Rose Breeding
J. H. Nicolas
Have the soil and original method of propagation a direct relation to the fertility or sterility of a plant? We have long noted here that grafted plants of R. Hugonis, for example, will profusely bear seeds, while plants grown from cuttings are very scant seed bearers, almost approaching sterility. Paul’s Scarlet Climber as an own root plant may be considered as sterile, but a grafted plant will bear both self- and hand-pollinated seeds. I have also noted that plants of the same variety in different parts of the nursery have a different seed bearing capacity, although both receive the same amount of sunshine. As an instance, R. bracteata and R. Altaica at one location are practically sterile, while a short distance away, but in a different soil, nearly every bloom, either hand- or self-pollinated, sets fruit.
American Rose Annual 13: 29-34 (1919)
Rose-Breeding Notes for 1918
Dr. W. Van Fleet
Owing to its poor seeding abilities when grown as grafted plants on heavy soil, less progress has been made than was hoped for with R. Moyesii [presumably the tetraploid Fargesii], notable among wild roses for the deep red coloring and waxy texture of its widely expanded blooms. Now that our plants have been transferred to the sandy loam of Bell Experiment Plot, and have become established on their own roots, seeds are more freely borne, and a fair number of hybrids are under way. Pollen was plentifully produced, even when the fruits failed to mature, and a few early crosses, the result of applying it to the stigmas of other species and varieties, have sufficiently developed to show prospective value.
The following two notes do not mention fertility, but soil type clearly influenced the size of the flowers.
The Garden (February 23, 1907) p. 86
The flowers of R. gigantea in Lisbon are much larger than those in Oporto, owing, I suppose, to the soil there being a reddish clay over limestone, whereas in my garden it is a sandy loam on granite; very unfavourable for most Roses. I think that if “W. W.” were to bud or graft R. gigantea on to a strong-growing Rambler stock, he would soon get flowers. The plant should, I think, be against a wall, sheltered and with plenty of sun.— (Alfred Tait) Baron de Soutellinho, Entre Quintas, Oporto, Portugal.
The Garden (22 June 1907) pp. 204-205.
Rosa gigantea.—In your issue of February 23 last you published a short note of mine about Rosa gigantea. In response to my offer to send cuttings I received many applications, and I sent several hundred, but, warm weather ensuing, the plants started into strong growth and I had to cease sending. The plants flowered profusely, so I had a coloured sketch and a photograph taken; they are not life-size, the flowers here measuring 5 inches to 6 inches in diameter. In a stronger clay soil they reach 8 inches. — Baron De Soutellinho, Entre Quintas, Oporto.