ROSES THAT BLOOM THE WHOLE SEASON. 163 



ROSA MICROPHYLLA, 



OR SMALL LEAVED ROSE. 



There Is nothing in the whole family that we have 

 been engaged upon, so distinctive in flower and 

 character as this group. The plants of the true 

 Microphylla Rose are very beautiful; when in foliage, 

 their small pinnated leaves are so unlike any other 

 plant (except perhaps a Locust tree in miniature) 

 that they are both interesting and agreeable, li has 

 been known twentj^-five years in Europe, having 

 been brought from China, and supposed by some to 

 have originated in that country from the old Macart- 

 ney Rose. I consider it, however, a distinct species, 

 in every particular, and this can be proved b}^ any of 

 my readers who maybe fortunate enough to save seed 

 from it. The produce (if not intermixed with others) 

 will be pure Microphylla roses, retaining the character 

 of foliage, spiny calyx, with single, half double, and 

 perfectly double flowers, nearly all of a dark rose 

 colour. The first of this rose, as we believe, was 

 imported by us in 1830, and it is now extensively 

 cultivated in every section of the country. Recent 

 importations, denominated Microphylla, can barely 



