112 DESCRIPTION OF THE HOSE. 



posed to pass it by with slight regard will never deny that 

 some of the progeny which have arisen from it are unsur- 

 passed in beauty and attractiveness. It is remarkable 

 among roses for the singular changes, in horticultural lan- 

 guage called "sports," which it has assumed, and which, 

 among other results, have given rise to the entire family 

 of Moss roses, of which we shall speak in the next section. 

 The prevailing colors in this group are light. The 

 Cabbage Rose is a somewhat weak grower in a heavy soil, 

 though in a light soil it grows vigorously. As a general 

 rule, it needs close pruning. The members of the family 

 are numerous ; but, besides the Old Cabbage, the following 

 are the best : The DUTCH PROVENCE is remarkable for the 

 size of its flowers, in which respect it even surpasses the 

 Old Cabbage. The UNIQUE PROVENCE is probably a sport 

 from the Old Cabbage ; that is to say, an accidental varia- 

 tion of the flowers on some particular branch; which branch 

 being propagated, the accidental features become perma- 

 nent. The Unique Provence, which is pure white, has, in its 

 turn, produced another sport, called the STRIPED UNIQUE, 

 the flowers being white, striped with lake ; though they 

 are very capricious in their coloring, sometimes opening 

 pure white, and occasionally light rose. But a more re- 

 markable sport of the Provence is the variety called the 



