THE ROSE. 237 



burnet-rose (R. spinosissima) the pimpernel-rose 

 of the old writers which has been chosen for my 

 illustration. Elsewhere, roses are decking with 

 their wild festoons, and blushing wreaths, the face 

 of some majestic rock, suggesting to us pictures, 

 such as those pourtrayed by Sir Walter Scott, where : 



" All twinkling with the dew-drop's sheen 

 The briar-rose fails in streamers green ;" 



and 



" Boon nature scattered, free and wild, 

 Each plant and flower, the mountain's child. 

 Here eglantine embalmed the air, 

 Hawthorn and hazel mingled there ; 

 The primrose pale, and violet flower, 

 Found in each cliff a narrow bower ; 

 Foxglove and nightshade, side by side, 

 Emblems of punishment and pride, 

 Grouped their dark hues with every stain 

 The weather-beaten crags retain ;" 



or the 



* * rose in all her pride 

 Paints the hollow dingle-side." 



Farther west, the court of this "Queen of flowers" 

 seems to be kept in the woods of North America, 

 especially of the United States, in whose mighty 

 forests the trees are wreathed and twined by the 

 bright familiar blossoms of various climbing roses, 

 which, assuming the character of liannes* actually 

 out-top the monarchs of the woods. The most curious 

 fact connected with the geographical distribution of 



* A similar effect, produced by the shade of trees, may be 

 seen on a small scale in the wild roses and woodbines of our 

 own woods. 



