464 breck's new book of flowers. 



We had almost forgot the Multiflora Hose^ a class dis- 

 tinct from those already named ; they produce flowers in 

 large clusters, but rather small. Some of the varieties are, 

 the Cottage Rose, Laure Davoust, Garland, etc. In New 

 England they are all rather tender. 



In closing our remarks on Roses, we cannot refrain from 

 giving Gerarde's account of it some two hundred and fifty 

 years ago. His mode of classification was, among thorny 

 plants. " This plant of Roses, though it be a shrub full 

 of prickles, yet it had been more fit and convenient to 

 have placed it with the most glorious flowers of the world, 

 than to insert the same here, among base and thorny 

 shrubs, for the Rose doth deserve the chiefest and most 

 principled place among all flowers whatsoever, being not 

 only esteemed for its beauty, vertues, and his fragrant, 

 odoriferous smell, but also because it is the honour and or- 

 nament of our English sceptre, as by the conjunction ap- 

 peareth in the uniting of those two most royal houses of 

 Lancaster and York. * * * * The Holland, or Provence 

 Rose, hath divers shoots, proceeding from a woody root, 

 full of sharp prickles, dividing itself into divers branches, 

 whereon do grow leaves, consisting of five leaves set upon 

 a single mid-rib, and those snip about the edges ; the flow- 

 ers do grow on the tops of the branches, in shape and 

 color like the Damask Rose, but greater and more double, 

 insomuch that the yellow chives in the middle are hard to 

 be seen ; of a reasonable good smell, but not full so sweet 

 as the common Damask Rose ; the fruit is like the other 

 of his kinde." 



ON THE ODORS OF ROSES AND THE MODES OF OBTAINING THEM. 



" Crop the gay Rose's vermeil bloom. 

 And waft its spoils, a sweet perfume, 

 In incense to the &V\e^:^—OgUvie. 



" Of their sweats there are sweetest odors made."— SAatespearc- 



