ROSES IN GENERAL CULTIVATION. 29 



brought to England in 1807. The flowers, 

 very small, resembling double cherry 

 blossoms, are produced in clusters early in 

 the season, and have, generally, a decided 

 violet perfume; indeed I doubt whether 

 many persons, if blindfolded, could by the 

 odor distinguish them from violets. The 

 wood is very smooth, slender, and of rapid 

 growth. The leaflets are often but three in 

 number, are long, dark, and lustrous. Not 

 being hardy they can have no great value at 

 the North, but in the Southern States they 

 form a very desirable group. The best 

 known sorts are Alba Grandiflora, Fortunei, 

 White and Yellow. They should be spar- 

 ingly pruned. 



Boursault Rose (Rosa Alpind). This is a 

 distinct but worthless group, which receives 

 its name from M. Boursault, a Parisian rose 

 amateur. Most of the varieties are free from 

 thorns and have long, flexible, reddish- 

 colored shoots. Amadis, or Crimson Bour- 

 sault, is the one most esteemed. 



The Evergreen Rose (Rosa Semperuirens), 

 with seven leaflets, has much in common 

 with the Ayrshire, but is characterized by 

 dark green foliage, which is retained till dis- 

 lodged by heavy frosts ; they are of the same 

 hardiness as the Ayrshires and require the 



