ROSE. 267 



ROSA. 



The Rose, 



This well-known and highly esteemed family of plants, or 

 shrubs, embrace many distinct species, which, by the skill of 

 the florist, have multiplied into thousands of varieties. They 

 vary in height from one to twelve or fifteen feet, producing 

 flowers, single, semi-double and double, and generally of ex- 

 quisite fragrance. The colors are, pure white, white-tinted, 

 shaded, striped, or mottled; every shade of red to purple, and 

 all these shades and colors variously mixed ; also a few yellow 

 varieties. There are no black roses, although we sometimes 

 hear of them. Such as are sold for black roses are those of 

 dark shades of purple or crimson. The foliage is also various 

 in the different species or varieties, but of a general character. 

 They are different also in the appendages to the plant, some 

 having formidable thorns, while others are entirely destitute. 

 Some flower only once in the season others are perpetual, or 

 everblooming. Most are hardy, but many require protection. 

 It is a flower beloved by every one, not only in the present age, 

 but has been in all ages past, and will no doubt continue to be 

 the most prominent and desirable flower as long as the world 

 stands. It may, with propriety, be styled the Queen of flowers. 

 We have not space in this work to do justice to its merits, and 

 must refer our readers, for the details of its culture, and for a 

 mass of valuable and interesting particulars, to a work published 

 by S. B. Parsons, of Flushing, near New York, constituting a 

 volume of 280 pages, octavo, treating largely upon the Rose, 

 which we heartily commend to all the lovers of this universal fa- 

 vorite. Mr. Parsons treats of it historically, poetically, and scien- 

 tifically, as well as in a practical manner. We must, of course, 

 say something of the Rose ourselves poetically, for who can 

 dwell long upon this beautiful flower without some aspirations 

 of this kind ? but riot having a faculty of soaring upon our 

 own wings, we must cull from others, and finding in a work 



