148 THE ROSE BOOK 



rose in habit, but distinct by reason of its large red 

 fruits, which are armed with stiff bristles. 



Rosa rubrifolia is very conspicuous amongst other 

 kinds by reason of its purplish foliage. For this reason 

 alone it is used in gardens, especially in beds arranged 

 for coloured foliage effect. It grows about eight feet 

 high, and is a native of the mountains of Europe. 



Rosa rugosa, the common Japanese rose, is one of the 

 most widely grown species ; not only is it used for plant- 

 ing in shrubberies and to form groups in conspicuous 

 parts of the garden, but it is in request for wild gar- 

 den and covert planting. Attaining a height of four 

 or five feet, it may easily be kept to two and a half or 

 three feet by a biennial pruning. The red flowers are 

 four inches across, fragrant, and freely produced. 

 Scarcely less beautiful are the scarlet apple-like fruits, 

 which ripen in August and September. In some coun- 

 tries the pulp is used for jelly making. A white-flowered 

 variety, alba, is also grown. Crossed with various kinds 

 of garden roses, a race of very showy roses has been 

 raised. All the varieties have fragrant flowers and are 

 much hardier than most garden roses, for they thrive 

 quite well where the Hybrid Teas fail. 



Rosa sericea, an Indian and Chinese species, may be 

 readily detected amongst other kinds by having four 

 petals instead of five to each flower. The bush attains 

 a height of eight feet and produces its cream-coloured 

 flowers freely during April and May. A variety named 

 pteracantha was introduced from China a few years ago. 

 It is remarkable by reason of the spines being very much 



