72 THE SUMMER ROSE GARDEN. 



Briar is really a splendid rose, with large light 

 crimson flowers, but its foliage is not very fra- 

 grant. The Scarlet, or La Belle Distinguee, or 

 Lee's Duchess, or La Petite Duchesse, for they 

 are one and the same, is a pretty bright red, small, 

 and compact rose, very distinct and good, but its 

 leaves are entirely scentless. 



Sweet Briars form a pretty group, interesting 

 from their origin and associations, and pleasing 

 from their fragrance and peculiar neatness ; they 

 make also pretty trees, particularly on " petites 

 tiges," as the French term them : they require the 

 same culture as the other hardy roses. 



Humble as are the claims of the Sweet Briar 

 when contrasted with the gorgeous beauty of some 

 of our new roses, yet it is so decidedly English, 

 that raising new varieties from seed will I am 

 sure be found interesting. 



The Scarlet may be planted with the Splendid 

 Briar, which so abounds in pollen that fertilising 

 will be found very easy. The Carmine with the 

 semi-doubled Scarlet will also give promising 

 seed ; the beauty of their flowers might be in- 

 creased by hybridising with some of the French 

 roses, but then their Sweet Briar-like character 

 would be lost, and with that a great portion of 

 their interest. 



The Hybrid China Rose, Kiego, if planted with 

 the Splendid Briar, would produce seed from 

 which large and very fragrant double roses might 



