THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. 



up, what subject I could present to a body whose chief aim and theme 

 has been the study of the rose and what pertained to it. I finally de- 

 cided to take the title announced for today, as one which was sufficiently 

 broad to enable me to touch upon points which, perhaps, were not com- 

 monly presented to you. With this idea in view, I decided to confine my 

 remarks mainly to the botanical side of the subject, including the distribu- 

 tion of the genus Rosa, and the historic evolution of the various types of 

 garden roses. The matters of culture I shall leave to those much better 

 fitted than myself to speak upon such subjects. 



First then as to the distribution of the rose. We must not forget that 

 the rose flourished upon the earth many years ago — shall I surprise you by 

 saying millions of years? For such is the truth, well-defined remains 

 having been found in the Tertiary age, which, though geologically speak- 

 ing, is very recent, from the point of view of everyday life must be con- 

 sidered very antiquated indeed. The rocks tell their tales, and the story 

 of the rose and its history begins there. 



It is a long step from those fossil remains to which we have just been 

 alluding, but we must cross the chasm and take up its distribution as it 

 is known at the present time, in the living world. We of the north 

 temperate zone can claim this delightful flower for our own, for it is not 

 known outside of that area. Confined between the twentieth and seven- 

 tieth degrees of north latitude, it is our flower. But in this belt it is 

 widely distributed the world around. Starting with Asia, where one 

 half of the known species are native, it extends through Europe and 

 northern Africa to the central and northern parts of North America. 

 From Asia we have such well known species as: Rosa iiioschata, the 

 musk rose, which is also found in northern Africa and Persia ; Rosa 

 bracteata, the Macartney rose, native of China, Formosa, and northern 

 India ; Rosa multiflora, found wild from China and Japan to Formosa 

 and the Philippines; Rosa rugosa, the Ramanas rose; Rosa macrophylla; 

 Rosa liitca, the parent of the Austrian Briers, extending from western 

 Asia to Italy and Austria ; Rosa Wichuraiana, from China and Japan ; 

 RosaBanksiac,3Lr\^i\\t of China. In Europe there are such favorite forms 

 as: Rosa spinosissinia, the Burnet or single Scotch rose; Rosa rubiginosa, 

 the sweet brier ; Rosa canina, the dog rose ; and Rosa arvensis. In North 

 America, there are, among others : Rosa Carolina, our charming swamp 

 rose; Rosa blanda; and Rosa setigera, the prairie rose, the parent of some 

 of our recent productions. 



The genus Rosa is variously estimated as containing from 30 to 250 

 species, depending upon whether the botanist takes a conservative, a 

 moderate, or a radical view of the species question. When one considers 

 the ease and readiness with which the various species cross with each 

 other, as demonstrated in the evolution of the garden rose, perhaps an 

 explanation may be found for the larger number of species referred to. 

 Perhaps about 125 species would be a fair estimate, with one half ihe 



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