VARIETIES OF ROSES. €05 



from the Provence rose, — "Not by seed, as most new varieties are," Mr. 

 Paul surmises, *' but by a branch of the Provence rose sporting ; that is, pro- 

 ducing flowers difiering in character and habit from others of its own nature, and 

 enveloped in moss. Some tribes of plants are more disposed to sport than others, 

 -and Provence and moss-roses possess the peculiarity in a remarkable degree." 

 In support of this view, Mr. Paul adds : " I have seen the white moss bearing 

 at the same time, and on the same plant, red, white, and variegated flowers. 

 I have also seen the perpetual moss, whose flowers should be white, produce 

 pink flowers entirely destitute of moss. I am informed, and think it pro- 

 bable, that the Moss Unique was first obtained from a branch of the white 

 Provence rose, which produced flowers enveloped in moss ; the branch was 

 propagated from, and the plant so propagated produced flowers retaining 

 the mossy character." The origin of the moss-rose de Meux, as recorded by 

 Mr. Hare, a former assistant-secretary to the Horticultural Society, probably 

 explains in a satisfactory manner how similar varieties were produced. " In 

 a shady and neglected part of a garden belonging to Mr. Penny, of Taunton, 

 .?. common rose de Meux had long flourished near to a common moss-rose. 

 In 1801, a healthy young sucker of this rose de Meus, corresponding in all 

 its characters with the parent stock, was observed to be clothed with moss 

 in every respect like the common moss-rose. It received due attention from 

 the possessor, who regarded it as an elegant variety, and as it excited the 

 a.dmiration of visitors, several were presented with layers, and one or more of 

 these was transported to Guernsey. From Guernsey, Mr. Hare conjectures 

 it reached Paris, and was imported thence by Messrs. Lee & Kennedy, by 

 whom it was generally believed to be the first of the kind ever seen in this 

 country." 



1906. The cause of this lusiis naturce Mr. Hare endeavoui's to trace 

 with little result. The rose de Meux has never been known to mature seed 

 in this country ; therefore he rejects the notion of accidental impregnation 

 with the moss-rose growing beside it. The moss-like excrescence, known as 

 the bedequar or rose-sponge, has been suggested as an origin for the mossy 

 character ; but the filaments of the bedequar are essentially difierent from 

 the moss of the rose. But he suggests that this moss may possibly be an 

 altered form of the spiny processes, produced by a superabundance of re- 

 sinous matter stimulated by moisture and shade ; resinous matter forming a 

 considerable portion of the moss, and each main fibre appearing to proceed 

 from a pore, being afterwards subdivided into many fibrillse. " The stem and 

 branches of the earlier offspring of the Somersetshire rose had more of the 

 common character of plants grown in the shade than those imported from 

 France , a more humid and greener appearance, as if the gummy resin con- 

 tained within were more diluted and aqueous. " 



1907. This interesting incident probably explains much of the mystery in 

 which the origin of this and many other roses is shrouded. It is by no means 

 conclusive, however, to say that the parent rose de Meux never having been 

 known to mature seed, fecundation did not take place. A very warm sum- 



