ROSES OF SPECIES. 41 



they are exposed to the browsing of cattle, and we find them to bear 

 much cutting and shortening of their slioots. 



In the second division I include the numerous varieties of Rosa 

 provincialis, centifolia, gallica, and muscosa. The varieties of these 

 species are so numerous, that this division contains the greatest number 

 as well as many of the most beautiful roses ; they appear to me to be 

 plants which, judging from their manner of growth, have in their 

 natural situations to contend with high grasses and otlier strong grow- 

 ing perennial plants ; when overpowered by these, they, as it were, 

 remove by sending out roots near the surface of the ground, which, 

 when they reach a more airy spot, throw up suckers, these exhaust the 

 old plant, and form a new one in a better situation ; the roots of 

 this division, though less fibrous than those of the first, yet are so 

 much so, and grow so near the surface of the ground, as not to require 

 either a strong or deep soil. It is to the roses of this division that the 

 rules usually given for the cultivation of roses chiefly apply, particu- 

 larly those for cutting the last year shoots to a few inches in length, 

 and removing the stems when three or four years old. 



The third division consists of Rosa villosa rubiginosa, moschaeta 

 alba, damascena, and canina : the roses of this division have much 

 stronger roots than the others, and strike much deeper into the earth. 

 The place of their growth in their wild state is among large, strong 

 growing shrubs and trees ; they therefore require a much stronger and 

 deeper soil, and a less airy situation than the two former divisions. 

 They do not need, nor bear so much pruning of the shoots ; indeed, 

 some of these species are often rendered less productive of flowers for 

 a year or two, by too much cutting ; and the main stems of some of 

 them, the R. villosa for example, will send out good blooming shoots 

 for more than half a century, with only a moderate occasional pruning 

 to keep the plant in proper form and bounds. 



The fourth division consists of Rosa arvensis, sempervirens, Banksiae, 

 and multiflora. These roses, in their natural state, trail along the 

 ground, or support themselves by bushes growing near them, they 

 therefore do not require a very airy situation : their roots are strong, 

 but not so strong as some of those of the last division, and therefore 

 .seem to require rather a lighter soil ; they must be supported or nailed 

 against a wall. 



The fifth division consists of Rosa semperflorens and indica. The 

 sudden and rapid way in which these roses send forth their shoots im- 

 mediately on a change from cold to heat, points them out as growing 

 in their wild state on mountains covered with snow a part of the year, 

 and, like other natives of such places, with rapidity, taking advantage 

 of an interval of warmth to grow, bloom, and ripen their seed. 



I shall be highly gratified if any of the foregoing observations 

 should tend to make any of your readers better acquainted witli tlie 

 nature of some of the species of this genus of plants, which certainly 

 consists of the most beautiful, elegant, and lovely flowers in existence, 

 and which in every country, where they will grow, are universally es- 

 teemed. 



Vol. XV. No. i.—N.S. 



