THE MOSS ROSE. 33 



a few, for the sake of variety. The Flower Garden or the Rosarium is their 

 proper place ; and we think a greater space should be allotted them there than is 

 usually done. No Roses can be more interesting ; certainly none are more beau- 

 tiful. It is true they do not thrive well in all soils. I received a Letter last year 

 from a distinguished Amateur, in which he says, " I will look at none but hardy 

 Moss, for the majority do not thrive well here." The situation is eminently 

 favourable for Roses, but the soil is rather cold and heavy. This unriddles the 

 mystery. All the Moss Roses should be planted in a tolerably dry, warm, and 

 rich soil, with an airy exposition ; and the result is sure to be satisfactory. Where 

 such is unattainable, the hardiest only should be cultivated, and these budded on 

 the Dog-Rose. 



On such soils as I have just recommended, the varieties termed" vigorous" may 

 be fashioned into " Pillar-Roses," and they are indeed unique when cultivated in 

 this manner. Some of our readers may perhaps doubt whether Moss Roses are 

 suited for this purpose ; and writers have too often spoken of them collectively as 

 being of dwarf and delicate growth. What will such say to a pillar formed with 

 the old Red Moss reaching to the height of 15 feet ? That such an one exists 

 I can confidently assert ; for I measured the plant last autumn in company with 

 the owner, who assured me he could have trained it higher, but that he was 

 unable to obtain poles to support it. It cannot be said that the pillar is well 

 furnished with branches the whole height, but I feel confident that many varieties 

 will form handsome, well-furnished pillars six or eight feet high. Surely much 

 more is not required. Ten feet is perhaps the maximum of height desirable even 

 for a Pillar-Rose. Beyond this, not only are the best flowers out of sight, but 

 there is infinite trouble in protecting the plants from the wind, in pruning, &c. 



If the reader should wish to see the plant alluded to above, it is in the garden 

 of Mr. Anderson, of Bull's Cross, near Cheshunt, growing within a few feet of 

 the road. When I inspected his Moss Roses last winter, some of the shoots of 

 the previous year's growth were above six feet long, and extremely robust, and 

 the main stems had swelled to a considerable size. The mossy calyces were still 

 hanging on the trees, shewing there had been an abundance of flowers. There 

 were several other plants of the Moss Rose formed as pillars, two or three of which 

 were nearly equal in height to the one above mentioned. 



Now to what circumstances is this uncommon case due? — for uncommon 

 I admit it to be. Is it owing to situation, soil, the age of the trees, or the fos- 

 tering care of the cultivator ? Partly, I should say, to all. The garden lies open 

 to the sun ; the situation is airy ; the soil is a brownish loam, not exactly light, 

 but friable, and containing a good share of vegetable matter ; — a soil in which 

 Wallflowers and Fuchsias vie with Roses in vigour. The ages of the largest 

 Rose-trees are probably from twelve to twenty years. 



The amount of attention they may have received it is difficult to say : the pre- 

 sent owner did not seem conscious of having done great things for them, though 

 the condition of the garden, a small plot of ground, evinced more than common 



