THE BOOK OP ROSES. 67 



Yet no varieties of roses, derived from the 

 three distinctive physiological species we wish 

 to establish, differ so much from each other as 

 the pug and the greyhound. Why, therefore, 

 attempt to establish these varieties as species, 

 while the species DOG is only divided into 

 breeds or Varieties ? This confusion of scien- 

 tific terms has been inexcusably created; since 

 the Noisette rose, avowedly a hybrid and bar- 

 ren, has been erected into a species on account 

 of its superficial distinctions. Professor Lindley 

 alludes to the creation of a species in com- 

 pliment to a friend; while even double roses, 

 or monsters, have been admitted to form species ! 



Great difficulties are likely to arise from this 

 groundless multiplication of species ; to which, 

 indeed, no limitation can be placed from the 

 moment hybrid or barren roses are admitted 

 to form species. In the case of the Rosa rubi- 

 ginosa hybrida ferox, which was obtained by 

 Monsieur Prevost from the seed of the Rosa 

 rubiginosa, instead of concluding that the rubi- 

 ginosa andferox were tribes of the same species, 

 he immediately classed it among rubiginous 

 roses. Species have been actually formed by 

 the different roses produced from the same 

 seed in different climates. 



Our motives for the adoption of three species, 

 in preference to the multitude lately created, 

 are as follow. Accepting as specific charac- 



