THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. 



divisions or leaflets, but in far off Persia there is a rose with only one 

 leaflet. Tliis hardly seems like a rose at all. It is known as Rosa 

 berbcridifolia, the barberry-leaved rose. Some botanists keep it separate 

 from the genus Rosa, calling it Htilthemia bcrberidifolia. 



I have left for consideration until the last these two roses, Rosa indica, 

 the China rose, and Rosa gallica, the French rose, for they are the pro- 

 genitors of the great majority of the roses in cultivation. Is it not odd 

 that, of all the forms which have been shown to you, only two have 

 entered largely into the production of what is known as the garden rose? 

 But such is the case. What wonders may await us, when combinations, 

 which are possible with all the others, are tried, only time and experience 

 can tell. 



Rosa indica, the China rose, in which is usually included by botanists 

 Rosa scmpcrflorcns, is well known to you all. It is the autumn-blooming 

 qualities of this rose which has given us our most valuable roses, and 

 raised the rose from a mere summer visitor to a perpetual delight. The 

 form known as the true Rosa indica is the old blush monthly, and was 

 introduced into cultivation in 1718; the other form, known as the old 

 crimson, was not introduced until 1789. As the history of the rose de- 

 velops, the great importance of this rose will be evident. 



Ro.fa gallica, the French rose, is a native of France, Switzerland, Italy 

 and Austria. It is supposed to be the Rosa milcsiana of Pliny. Rosa 

 damascoia, R. ccntifolia, R. muscosa and R. alba are supposed to be de- 

 rived from this. 



We now come to a time in the history of the rose, the early part of 

 the nineteenth century, when rose culture, as we now know it, really 

 began. This was the day of the old Provence or cabbage rose, Rosa 

 ccntifolia, or Rosa provincialis, as it was often called. This was the 

 rose which delighted the hearts of our grandmothers, and which added 

 the rose charm to their gardens. It was the queen of the rose world 

 in those days, and something over 70 varieties are said to have been 

 listed in the rose catalogues at that time. It is found commonly in the 

 south of France, but its origin is lost in oblivion. It was the popular 

 rose of ancient Rome, being a prominent feature there in feasts and 

 decorations. It is probably the loo-leaved rose of Pliny. It is the blood 

 of this rose which has mingled itself with others, infusing its strong 

 habit of growth into the progeny. 



The moss rose, Rosa muscosa, is considered a derivative of Rosa centi- 

 folia. Whatever its derivation, however, it is a lovely rose and holds a 

 warm place in the hearts of most of us. There are several forms of it, the 

 single, double and perpetual. 



Rosa gallica, the French rose. I again allude to this, for it played so 

 important a part in the production of the garden roses. 



Rosa damasccna — the Damask rose — the rose of Damascus — is a native 

 of Syria. It is said to have been first known to Europeans at the time 

 of the crusades. It was reported of Saladin that in 1187, when he recov- 



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