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Old roses - by which I mean the range of roses that date from up to several centuries ago, usually single species rather than the modern hybrid tea roses - are usually stronger, more disease resistant and smell better than the modern ones. They also have wonderful, evocative names. I have "Madame Alfred Carriere," "Zephirine Drouhan," and "Souvenir de Malmaison," which was believed to be a gift from the Empress Josephine to another European leader (a Czar, perhaps?).