174 



roses. The striking; feature al)oul tlie S\veell)rier (and some of 

 its hybrids) is the frat^rance of the foUas^e, wliich, after a sliower, 

 or on a cahn, moist chiy, is emitted so freely as to pervade the 

 immediate iieighborliood. As children, we tised to t2,atlier a few- 

 leaves of tliis rose and roll them in our handkerchiefs —a cheap 

 source of i)erfumery! 



Some of the Penzance Briers, such as Anne of Geierslein, 

 Catherine Seyton, and Rose Bradwardine, are extremely ramjiant 

 and not suited for the small uarden. Lady Penzance [R. Ei^lan- 

 teriii X jaune bicolorei, a variety with coi)jier colored Rowers 

 and shiny foliage, and Lord IVnzance, with flowers of fawn 

 shaded with salmon, are of moderate growth, not moie than four 

 or fi\-e feet high. Both \'arieties liave fragrant foliage. 



Continuing northward along the east walk, we pass rugosa 

 roses and their varieties until just past the s(H"ond arch we come 

 to the next rose of considerable interest in R. onieiensis from 

 Western China. Idiis has white , f ok r-petalled flowers, and hand- 

 some, finely divided, almost fern-like foliage. The stems are 

 plentifulK' i)rovided with ilattened i)rickles. In the variety 

 ptenicantha the prickles are extraoiclinarily consi^icuous, being 

 broad and wdnglike at the base, and, wdien young, red and trans- 

 lucent. This species is well woi'th growing for its attractive 

 foliage, and the variet)^ for its unicjue spines. 



A few yards further along is Rosa Moyesii, a Chinese species 

 introduced by E. H. Wilson. Capable of producing gorgeous, 

 single, blood-red flowers two and a half inches in diameter, it is 

 exasperatingly cantankerous in its manner of growth. It is diffi- 

 cult to establish and seems to be incurably gawk)-. It has 

 interesting urceolatc^ fruits. 



We now come to the main bulk of the Moss roses of which 

 we ha\'e over titty naaied \'arieties. The Moss roses ]:)rol)ably 

 iu'st originated as a mutation of Rosa ceutifolia. The group 

 name is ai)plied to them because of the moss-like proliferations 

 that fringe and coxier the sepals and pedicels. Were it not for 

 the sentimental interest attached to them because they were 

 fa\'orites ot our grandmotliers and great-grandmothers, they 

 would most likeK' dis.ippear entireh' from our gardens. Thev 

 are prone to mildew, and are dull and frowsy after flowering. 



