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'President Smith' rose Reviews & Comments
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Checking first with other growers. I would like to add a Note to the 'William R. Smith' page to the effect that it sets no hips. I have never noted a hip on my bushes and nearly all of my blooms end up perfect for dried flower arrangements [!] I have added the Tea Roses. Old Roses For Warm Gardens reference which notes "no hip seen".
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No hips as such on mine at present. I'll keep watching the current batch of spent blooms.
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#3 of 5 posted
9 MAR 18 by
 HubertG
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There is only one descendant of William R Smith listed here (and that was where WRS was used as the pollen parent). I haven't grown this rose, so I don't know if it produces hips or not from experience, but one would assume that if such an esteemed and beautiful rose were fertile, it would have been pounced on by the breeders at the time to be used to produce offspring. It was most probably infertile but I'm only speculating.
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And I'll betcha two bob to a pinch of salt that the long-gone descendant, 'Mrs. R. M. King' (Mme. Abel Chatenay x William R Smith) was, in fact, a self pollinated 'Mme. Abel Chatenay'. The only real reference, 1931, says "too much like Abel Chatenay". We will never know, of course, but it gives credence to your speculation that William R. Smith is sterile
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#5 of 5 posted
10 MAR 18 by
HubertG
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Patricia, I was thinking exactly the same thing when I posted that above.
I imagine W R Smith takes after its mother Maman Cochet in the fertility department.
Incidentally, I have a hip on my White Maman Cochet and I have never seen this before. I left it to develop but it has partially split so I'm expecting it to rot, but you can see developing seeds inside.
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I found this description for William R. Smith online from an American 1917 Ella V Baines (florist) catalogue.
"WM. R. SMITH — This Rose has several names,
such as Charles Dingee, Jeanette Heller,
Maiden's Blush, etc. Color delicate blush. It
has no superior as a garden Rose."
There are also other descriptions for 11 other roses including an interesting one for Helen Good (a sport of Maman Cochet).
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This rose should be considered for Earthkind trials. I hardly ever water it even in high temps here in South Texas, never spray, and this rose is extremely vigorous with no disease or insect problems. The roses are high centered cream/white sometimes with pink edges. They are on straight stems and look close to florist quality. I can remember looking up to this huge bush planted against a wall and seeing literally a hundred blooms. Because I have this rose I don't need any other light colored roses.
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American Florist - Volume 25 - Page 866 (Dec. 2, 1905)
William R. Smith was in town last week looking as hale and hearty as we have ever seen him. His recent trip to the land of his birth seems to have done him a world of good. His presence here gave opportunity for a few of his friends to get together and in his honor name a new American seedling rose for him. Robert Craig officiated at the christening and the convocation was in his inimitable style. The rose is a cross between Isabella Sprunt and Maman Cochet. It was raised by John Shellem greenhouses in this city, where it has been under trial as a forcing rose for some years. It hardly blooms free enough in midwinter to try for forcing, but as an outdoor ever-blooming variety it has but few equals. The flowers are produced on long stout stems, the color a light blush pink about the same as Golden Gate. Mr. Smith was delighted with the honor paid him and believes that the variety will become one of the most popular garden roses.
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