458 breck's new book op flowers. 



Cristata, or crested, is a singular and beautiful variety. 

 Excepting when in bud, it does not have the appearance 

 of a Moss Rose. The calyx has a beautiful crested appear- 

 ance. "In a rich soil, this fringe-like crest most beauti- 

 fully clasps and surmounts the bud, and gives the rich 

 clusters a truly elegant appearance. Its form is globular, 

 and its color rose." 



Scotch Moses. — This class of Hoses are distinguished 

 by their small leaves, prickly stems, abundant bloom, del- 

 icate habits, early bloom. They flower about two weeks 

 before the summer Roses. They are suitable for growing 

 in masses, or borders, and the shrubbery. The original, 

 from which all the varieties sprang, was found growing 

 Avild in Scotland and the north of England. In some of 

 the catalogues two or three hundred varieties are describ- 

 ed, but many of them are so near alike, it would be diffi- 

 cult to see the difference. 



Brier Roses. — " These Roses are distinguished by their 

 small, rough foliage, and brier-like habit. They include 

 the Sweet Brier, the Hybrid Sweet Brier, and the Austrian 

 Brier." The Sweet Brier or Eglantine is generally sup- 

 j^osed to be indigenous, as it is found growing plentifully 

 on road-sides, and in pastures ; but it is believed by botan- 

 ists to have been imported from England, and has been 

 extensively disseminated by birds, who feed upon its 

 abundant fruit, or hips, as they are called. The botanical 

 name is JR. ruhiginosa. A plant of this species should 

 find a place in every collection of shrubs, on account of 

 the agreeable strong perfume of the flowers, and also of 

 the leaves, when rubbed, or when wet, with dew or rain. 

 The plant is armed with sharp-hooked prickles. In rich 

 soil, new shoots will sometimes attain the height of eight 

 or ten feet. These new shoots form the flowerhig stems 

 for the next season. The old wood should be cut out ev- 

 ery spring. The delicate Eglantine has scarcely been less 



