780 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



cultivation. If a Rosarum Monographia, like that of Dr. Lindley, and a 

 descriptive classification like that of the Nouveau Du Hamel, were to be made 

 every seven years, though they might remain nearly the same with regard to 

 the leading divisions, or types, of the varieties, they must necessarily be much 

 changed in the details; owing to numbers of the varieties being almost 

 annually lost, going out of repute, or actually changing their appearance from 

 time and local circumstances ; and from others being originated from seed, or 

 becoming, from accidental circumstances, favourites with the public. Hence 

 it is, that, whoever would wish to procure the best collection or selection of 

 roses which are in existence at the time being, must resort to the latest and 

 best Catalogue of Roses then actually in cultivation. Such a catalogue for 

 Britain, in the year 1836, is that of Messrs. Rivers and Son of the Sawbridge- 

 worth Nursery, Hertfordshire, from which we make the following extracts ; 

 recommending the catalogue itself (which, being a single sheet, can be sent by 

 post to any part of the world) to those who wish the names of the sorts, and 

 other particulars respecting them, in detail. The prices of the common 

 kinds of roses in Messrs. Rivers's catalogue vary from 1*. to 3s. 6d. for dwarfs, 

 and from 3s. 6d. to 5s. for standards ; some varieties, which are rare, being from 

 Is. 6d. to 10s. 6d. each. The best plan for getting a good selection, in our 

 opinion, is, to order a given number of sorts from each section, not to exceed a 

 limited price per plant, or for the total number. When particular sorts are 

 ordered by name, it may frequently happen that the plants of that sort are 

 weak, or, from scarcity, dear ; whereas, when a discretionary power is left 

 with the nurseryman, if he is a man of character, he can always do more for 

 his customer, than the customer can do for himself. 



Moss Roses, 24 sorts. Messrs. Rivers's " collection of moss roses comprises 

 many that are very beautiful and distinct ; and some, perhaps, only fit for those 

 amateurs who think that all moss roses are beautiful: one step further 

 towards a dark crimson moss is made in the rouge du Luxembourg, 

 which is very beautiful, and a most luxuriant grower. Most of the varieties 

 prefer a cool soil, though the mossy de Meaux is, perhaps, an exception, as it 

 seems to flourish better in light dry soils. The white moss, unless budded 

 on the dog rose (J?6sa canina), will not, in general, grow well : its sickly ap- 

 pearance, in some situations, may be often traced to its being worked on some 

 improper stock : if on its own roots, in rich soils, it will often change to pale 

 blush. All are well adapted for standards : but, to have them in perfection, in 

 warm dry situations, in March, put round each stem, on the surface of the soil, 

 the fourth of a barrowful of manure ; on this place flints or moss, to take off" 

 its unsightly appearance, and make a little ornamental mount. This treat- 

 ment will keep the soil cool, and make them bloom in a very superior man- 

 ner, even in situations previously thought to be most ungenial to their culture. 

 The manure should be. spread on the surface in November, and lightly 

 forked in." 



Provence, or Cabbage, Roses, 25 sorts. " The Provence Rose is the R. pro- 

 vincialis of Miller's Gardener's Dictionary, the R. centifolia of modern 

 botanists, and the Rose a Centfeuilles of the French. This is a most distinct 

 and elegant family, and excessively fragrant. The footstalks of the flowers 

 are slender, and the flowers large ; so that, when in bloom, the plant has a 

 peculiarly pendulous and graceful appearance. The moss rose is evidently a 

 variety of this, as I have raised seedlings from the single moss which have 

 lost all their mossy appearance, and have returned to the habit of the Pro- 

 vence rose." 



Perpetual, or Autumnal, Roses, 50 sorts. " The perpetual, or autumn-flow- 

 ering, roses are, perhaps, the most desirable of all the sections of the genus : 

 they are highly fragrant, and, if possible, more so in September, October, and 

 November, than in June. As every shoot, in most of the varieties, produces 

 bloom, the soil cannot be too rich ; for, with these, luxuriant growth will be 

 sure to give abundance of flowers. A good practice would be, to cut off all 

 the bloom-buds in June, and to shorten the shoots to about half their length ; 



