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The oldest Rose bush in the world is believed to be that 
which is trained on the Cathedral of Hildershein in Ger- 
many. Theroots are buried in the crypt below the choir. 
The stem is a foot thick, and half a dozen branches cover 
the eastern side of the building, and bear countless flowers 
in Summer. Its age is unknown, but documents exist 
that show that nearly a thonsand years ago a bishop had 
it protected by a stone roof that still remains. There are 
many superstitions concerning the Rose, and old customs 
and remarkable circumstances in which it hasa part. In 
some Welsh churchyards it is still customary to make 
an enclosure of Rosesaround thegrave of a young maiden. 
In Glanmorganshire a white Rose is always planted ona 
virgin’s tomb. The red Rose is appropriate to the grave 
of any person distinguished for goodness, especially for 
benevolence of character. At Eyam, in Derbyshire, Eng- 
land, and most other villages and little towns in the 
‘‘Peak,”’ the ancient custom of hanging a garland of 
white Roses and a pair of white gloves over the pews of 
the unmarried villagers, who die in the flower of their 
age, prevails to this day. 
The gloves suspended by the garland’s side, 
White as its snowy flowers, with ribands tied. 
Dear village, iong these wreaths funereal spread, 
Simple memorial of the early dead. 
The Rosebud also has been used as a means of divination 
by the maidens of olden England, as to who would be 
their future husbands. Herrick, in his ‘‘ Hesperides,’’ 
speaking of a bride, says: 
She must no more a-maying; 
Or by the Rosebubs divine 
W ho’ll be her Valentine. 
In Lancashire and Cheshire it is considered unlucky to 
find a Dog Rose; if you do, you will quarrel with the 
