DESCRIPTION OF THE ROSE. 155 



servatories as a stock for other climbing roses ; and, in 

 many cases, answers welL 



Rosa Rubifolia. This native rose has been much im- 

 proved by Mr. Feast and others, and now has many vari- 

 eties, some of which are evidently hybrids. The single 

 variety is in itself very attractive; blooming in clusters, 

 which last a long time, and exhibit a pleasing diversity of 

 shade, since the flowers grow paler as they grow old. For 

 our own part, we prefer the parent to most of its more pre- 

 tending offspring. 



All of this family are held in great scorn by transatlantic 

 cultivators. Perhaps the climate of England is unfavor- 

 able to them ; perhaps national prejudice may color the 

 judgment; or perhaps the fact that a less rigorous climate 

 permits the successful cultivation of many fine climbing 

 roses which cannot well be grown here may explain the 

 slight esteem with which these coarse children of the 

 prairies are regarded. Coarse, without doubt, they are, 

 except those into which another element has been infused 

 by hybridization, accidental or otherwise: and yet our 

 climate forbids us to dispense with them. 



