THE MOSS B08E. ]07 



THE MOSS ROSE. 



" The rose that hails the morning, 



Arrayed in all its sweets, 

 Its mossy couch adoruiug. 



The sun enamoured meets." 



This elegant rose is generally supposed to be the offspring of the Pro- 

 vence rose, whilst others think it belongs to the family of centifolia or 

 hundred-leaved rose. It appears to be quite unknown to. the ancients, 

 as they have left no description of a flower that resembles it, and it 

 is too singularly beautiful to have escaped Pliny's notice had it been 

 in existence. By Furber's catalogue it appears that it was cultivated 

 here in 1724 ; but Miller first saw it in Dr. Boerhaave's garden in 

 Leyden, in 1727. The learned doctor not only corresponded with 

 many botanical persons in this country, but visited England, and be- 

 came a member of the Royal Society of London. It is therefore most 

 likely that on its first appearance in this country, a plant would be for- 

 warded to Leyden, for the inspection of a person that all Europe was 

 then regarding as the star of the age. 



Although the moss rose appears to be a plant of so short an exist- 

 ence, its birth place is not satisfactorily known ; but from all tlie ac- 

 counts we can collect of its register, it appears to be a fortuitous cliild 

 of England, as we have numerous accounts of its having been exported, 

 but none of its importation into this island, nor lias it been discovered 

 elsewhere, except in a state of cultivation. Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, 

 of Hammersmith, raised a perfectly single moss rose, which they pro- 

 nounced to be only a variety of the common Provence rose. I there- 

 fore conclude that the moss-like pubescence of the calyx and young 

 branches, is owing to some accidental circumstance whicli tliis climate 

 produces, as we are told that this variety loses its mossiness almost im- 

 mediately when planted in Italy, and I have not yet heard of this rose 

 having been in any instance raised from seed, for tlie single moss rose 

 was reduced to that state from the double variety (either accidentally 

 or intentionally) by a peculiar mode of cultivation. Since that period 

 numerous fine kinds liave been raised, and render this very lovely and 

 universally admired class of roses, almost indispensable to every collec- 

 tion. The following are now grown in this country, viz. — 



A feuilles luisante, delicate pink, edges blush, full. 



A feuilles pourpre, bright purplish-red, double. 



Alice Leroi, lilac rose shaded, fine form, large and double. 



Anemone or Sanguinea, even light crimson, double. 



Angelique Quetier, P., rosy lilac, exquisite in bud, large and double. 



Blush, P. F., blush, centre pinkish, beautiful, large and full. 



Blush (Hooker), lilac blush, erect growth and full. 



Brilliant (Lee), briglit pink, semi-double. 



Catlierine de Wurtemberg, blush rose, full. 



Celina, P., rich crimson, shaded with purple, superb, large and 



double. 

 Charlotte de Sor, bright rose, double. 

 Common, F., pale rose, beautiful, large and full. 

 Comtesse Murinais, fine white, large and double. 



