VARIETIES DESCRIBED. 29 



origin to the China, Tea-scented Noisette, and 

 Bourbon roses, fertilised with the French, Pro- 

 vence, and other summer roses, and also to the 

 latter crossed Vith the former the seeds of such 

 impregnated flowers producing hybrid China roses. 

 These have in many cases resulted from accident, 

 but latterly from the regular fertilising process, 

 as mules or hybrids have been raised from well- 

 known parents. 



In England but few varieties have been ori- 

 ginated, as the common China rose does not in 

 general ripen its seeds sufficiently for germina- 

 tion. The parents of Brown's Superb Blush, an 

 old English hybrid, raised by the late Mr. Charles 

 Brown, of Slough, one of our most scientific and 

 persevering cultivators, was the old Tea-scented 

 rose, Rosa indica odorata, impregnated with some 

 hardy summer rose. Rivers's George the Fourth 

 is also an English rose ; but as this came by acci- 

 dent, its origin is not so well ascertained. Rosa 

 Blairii, two varieties, Numbers 1 and 2, are also 

 English, and raised from the yellow China, im- 

 pregnated with some variety of hardy rose. All 

 these roses have the true characters of the family : 

 leaves smooth, glossy, and sub-evergreen ; branches 

 long, luxuriant, and flexible. They give a long 

 continuance of bloom, but they never put forth 

 secondary or autumnal flowers. This is a most 

 peculiarly distinguishing trait, and an interesting 

 fact. Impregnate a Bourbon, China, or Noisette 



