92 THE ROSE GARDEN. 



be opened before any thing great and new can be accomplished. Thus it is, that 

 while we view as doubtful certain things talked of, we hail with delight the proto- 

 types of the Hybrid Moss and Perpetual Moss, which already appear in the horizon. 

 We have some ; and what appears the most reasonable means to pursue to increase 

 their number ? The Hybrid Moss, it would seem, may be obtained by hybridizing 

 the Hybrid Chinese and Hybrid Bourbon with the Moss kinds, or vice versa ; the 

 more double and mossy the parent Moss is the better, that the offspring may pro- 

 duce full flowers, and not lose the mossy characteristics. 



The Perpetual Moss would appear easiest obtainable by hybridizing the Hybrid 

 or Damask Perpetual with the varieties of Moss, or vice versa, using the Per- 

 petual Moss kinds already obtained, on either side, according to whether they pro- 

 duce seeds or pollen. 



Of other Roses wanted may be instanced striped Hybrid Perpetuals, which 

 may probably be obtained by bringing the most constant flowering varieties of 

 that group in union with the Rosa Mundi, or any of the striped French Roses. 

 Then there are no striped Hybrid Chinese or Hybrid Bourbon Roses, which we 

 should expect to obtain from the union of the striped French with the varieties of 

 Bourbon or Chinese. There is no striped Moss Rose worthy of the name. Might 

 not such be obtained by working various of the Moss kinds with the Rosa Mundi ? 

 There are no striped autumnal Roses ; and few autumnals of growth sufficiently 

 rapid to form high pillars. Here is a field for experiment ! Is there not a fair 

 chance of working out the former by crossing the striped summer kinds with the 

 freest-blooming autumnals ? and of obtaining the latter from between the most 

 vigorous growers of both seasons ? We hear talked of Yellow Moss and Yellow 

 Bourbon. As an attempt to obtain the former, cross the palest Moss Roses with 

 Emerance (Provence) ; for the latter unite the yellowest tints of the Tea-scented 

 with the buff and most colourless Bourbons. But we have not space to pursue 

 this argument further. We need not confine ourselves to the instances above 

 quoted : they are merely given as examples. The work may be varied ad infini- 

 tum : any thing that reason may suggest the head and hands may work for. 



It is desirable, before crossing or hybridizing, to see if the flowers about to be 

 crossed have any stamens. If so, they should be cut away with a pair of round- 

 pointed scissors, just as the flowers expand. It is not known for certain whether 

 superfoetation can occur in plants, but it is well to provide against it, especially 

 where it can be done with little trouble. The plan I adopt when crossing is, to 

 bring a flower of the male parent to the seed-bearing tree. If the weather be 

 calm, I cut away the petals of the former, holding a finger over a flower of the 

 latter, upon which I strike the flower deprived of its petals. The sudden shock 

 drives the pollen into the other flower, and the work is done. But if the wind 

 be high, this plan will not do. It. is better then to collect the pollen on the end 

 of a camel-hair pencil, and convey it thus to the styles of the other flower. 



