Cass,
I agree ... and so did E. G. Hill:

The Gardener's Monthly 17: 194 (July 1875)
La France Rose
E. G. Hill, Richmond, Ind.

Your correspondent S. S. P., is at a loss to know why American florists persist in classing this rose among the H.P.'s, and affirms that Van Houtte has it in its proper place. I can see no valid reason for classing it as an H. Noisette, for it certainly shows no characteristic of the Noisette class, that I can discern. No one can doubt, on comparison, that Boule de Neige, Coquette des Alpes, Perle des Blanches, are very near relations of Aimie Vibert, and Caroline Marniesse, and others of the Noisette class, and so we find them properly classed as Hybrid Noisette in many of the catalogues. But La France is either a cross between the Tea and H.P., or between the China and H.P. One might fancy there was considerable of Clara Sylvain (china) in the form of the flower; but undoubtedly it is a cross between the two classes mentioned.

There is as much propriety in placing it among the H. Bourbon as among the H. Noisette, or H. Perpetual, for in appearance it is not very unlike S. Malmaison.

But if we must have separate classes for the varieties that are so fortunate as to get Tea, Bourbon, and Noisette blood in their veins, let them be placed in classes where their character and parentage may be readily understood by the name designating the class, or else throw them all into one class to be known as Hybrids of Noisette, Bourbon, China, or Tea. The firm by which I am employed, and many others, give as their reason for not doing so, the fear of multiplying the number of classes, thereby tending to confusion, for the complaint is of too many classes already. My observation fails to discover any very prominent "types" as suggested by your correspondent. Cheshunt Hybrid is no doubt a cross from the Tea section, but it is very unlike La France, being of climbing habit.

Notice Triumph d'Anjers and Mlle. Descamps, the last named having apparently as much of the Hermosa about it, as it would dare take and still retain its identity as cross between the H.P. and Bourbon classes; the first named is undoubtedly a Bourbon as far as habit and freedom of bloom are concerned, and yet it retains much of the H.P. character in the leaf and form of flower; but I can not recall any others that might be called types of La France.

Thank you, both.

UPDATE May 2013

I had resolved to move Baronne Prevost this winter after five disappointing seasons during which it produced a total of six blossoms. But I never quite got around to digging it up. Finally spring came, the plant greened up, and I decided to let nature take its course. Gradually, as leaves covered the ten canes that had grown to eight feet in height last year, the canes became more horizontal. By late spring they presented as nice arches, about five feet high. At this point, each of those arched canes has perhaps ten or twenty fat buds showing color.

The rose promises to make more than ten times as many blossoms this year as it has made in its entire existence in my garden.

I knew that it takes some time for a rose to build up, but I confess that I did not understand what a difference time can make. Or how long the process can be. Sometimes patience and doing nothing is the best course of action. I think pegging would have done essentially the same thing.


UPDATE May 2015

Now the canes are very long. They go straight up for six or seven feet. Then they arch and approach the ground, stretching five or six feet from the center of the plant in every direction. As the canes approach the ground they sprout laterals that bear blossoms. These are among the most fragrant in the garden and therefore are ravaged by thrips. Still, because I spray very little, thrips are eventually brought under control by lady beetles. Hopefully in the near future this will happen before Baronne Prevost has finished blooming for the season. What a pity it is that thrips have olfactory senses that align so perfectly with our own. This is among the most delightfully fragrant roses I've known.