John Holland Rose

The large number of species, subspecies, varieties and forms described as British may be included under about 1 2 species. Among them may be mentioned R. spinosissima, the Scotch rose, much less variable than the others; R. rubiginosa (or R. eglan teria), the sweet-brier, represented by several varieties; R. canina, the dog rose, including numerous subspecies and varieties; the large-fruited apple rose, R. pomifera; and R. arvensis, the parent of the Ayrshire roses. Cultivated roses are frequently "budded" or worked upon the stems of the brier or R. canina, or upon young seedling plants of the same species ; and upon stems of an Italian rose called the Manetti. Other species, notably R. polyantha and R. rugosa, also are used for stocks and do well.

The numerous forms native to North America may be referred to about 20 species. These are widely distributed and include several well-known wild roses. The smooth rose (R. blanda), usually lacking prickles, with flowers about 3 in. broad, occurs abundantly from Newfoundland to Saskatchewan and southward to New Jersey and Missouri. The prickly rose (R. acicularis), with spiny stems, leaves composed of from 5 to 9 leaflets, and solitary flowers, 21 in. broad, ranges from Quebec to Alaska and south to Colorado. The pasture rpse (R. virginiana), from I. to 6 ft. high, with few or solitary flowers, 2 to 3 in. across, some times double, occurs from Newfoundland to Wisconsin and south to Georgia. This is the most common wild rose of the Eastern States and Canada. The prairie rose (R. setigera), with climbing stems, leaves usually with three leaflets, bears rose-pink flowers which turn white with age. This handsome rose, which grows wild from Ontario to Wisconsin and south to Florida and Texas, has become naturalized eastward to New England. The Cali fornia rose (R. californica), a sparsely prickly shrub, 3 to 9 ft. high, flowering nearly the year round, sometimes forms thickets along streams. The Cherokee rose (R. laevigata), a vigorous evergreen climber native to China and Japan, widely planted in the Southern States and running wild as if indigenous, was first described botanically from American plants.

Roses have been grown for so many centuries and have been crossed and recrossed so often that it is difficult to refer the cultivated forms to their wild prototypes. The older roses doubt less originated from R. gallica, a native of central and southern Europe. R. centifolia (the cabbage rose), a native of the Cau casus, contributed its share. A cross between R. gallica and R.

indica was the source of the important Bourbon roses. The yellow flowered Austrian and Persian brier originated from R. lutea, a native of Austria and the East. The monthly or China roses sprang from the Chinese R. indica, and these, crossed with others of the R. centifolia or gallica type, are the source of the "hybrid perpetuals." Tea roses and noisettes also acknowledge R. indica as one of their progenitors. A magnificent race called "hybrid teas" have been evolved by crossing the tea roses and hybrid perpetuals. They are much more vigorous in constitution than

the true tea roses, while quite as beautiful in blossom and more perpetual in bloom than the hybrid perpetuals. By crossing the Japanese R. Wichuriana with hybrid perpetuals a beautiful and vigorous race of climbers has been produced.

The Banksian rose is a Chinese climbing species, with small white or fawn-coloured flowers of great beauty, but rarely seen; the Macartney rose (R. bracteata) is also of Chinese origin. Its nearly evergreen deep green leaves and large white flowers are very striking. The Japanese R. rugosa is also a remarkable species, notable for its bold rugose foliage, its large white or pink flowers, and its conspicuous globular fruit. R. damascena is cultivated in some parts of the Balkans for the purpose of making attar of roses. In Germany the same variety of rose is used, while at Grasse a strain of the Provence rose is cultivated for the same purpose. In India R. damascene is grown largely near Ghazipur for the purpose of procuring attar of roses and rose water. Rose water is chiefly produced in Europe from the Provence or cabbage rose, R. centifolia, grown for the purpose at Mitcham, England, and abundantly in the south of France. Conserve of roses and infusion of roses, two medicinal prepara tions, are prepared from the petals of R. gallica. A conserve of roses is made in the Caucasus.

Cultivation.

The rose is so universal a favourite that some portion of the garden must necessarily be devoted to it, if the situation be at all favourable. Many choice roses will not, how ever, thrive in the vicinity of large towns, since they require a pure air, and do not endure a smoky atmosphere. The best soil for them is a deep rich strong loam free from stagnant moisture. Very light sandy or gravelly soils, or soils which are clayey and badly drained, are not suitable. Light soils would be improved by a dressing of strong loam in conjunction with cow-dung or nightsoil; the latter, provided it is properly prepared and not too fresh, is indeed the very best manure for roses in all but soils which are naturally very rich. Heavy soils are improved by adding burned earth or gritty refuse, with stable manure and leaf-mould, peat moss litter, etc. ; and damp soils must necessarily be drained by trenching. Tea roses may, however, be grown to perfection in a gravel soil, provided it be well manured. Roses generally require a constant annual supply of manure, and, if this is given as a mulching in autumn, it serves to protect their roots through the winter. They also require liberal supplies of water during the growing season, unless the surface is mulched or top dressed from time to time with well-rotted manure. Mulching with manure however, during the growing season has the dis advantage that it enriches the top layer of soil and encourages the formation of surface roots which often perish from lack of moisture during hot weather; and many growers prefer to rely on keeping a top mulch of fine soil by frequent and vigorous hoeing.