GARDEN CLASSIFICATION. 251 



tainly not surpassed by any other, and in many important quali- 

 ties it is unequaled. 



CHINA ROSES. 



It is now nearly half a century since this abundant blooming 

 rose was introduced into Europe from India, and was called the 

 Bengal Rose. It was, however, not indigenous to India, but was 

 brought to that country from China. It is, therefore, more ap- 

 propriately called the China Rose. The numerous varieties have 

 been produced from two distinct species — Rosa Indica and Rosa 

 Semperflorens ; but the garden varieties from these distinct spe- 

 cies have so run into each other, that it is impossible to classify 

 them by their parentage. Next to the Bourbon, this is perhaps 

 the most valuable class of roses ; but, in this chmate, need pro- 

 tection from the cold. This, however, can be easily afTorded by 

 means of salt hay or straw. They bloom most freely and abun- 

 dantly — flower succeeding bud and bud succeeding bloom through- 

 out the whole season. Such is their ever-blooming nature, that, 

 if brought into a mild temperature on the approach of cold 

 weather and properly pruned, they will bloom the v>'hole year 

 without cessation. This quality renders them peculiarly adapted 

 for early and late forcing and for window culture ; for, by means 

 of them a regular succession of abundant bloom can be enjoyed 

 during what are deemed the dreariest months of the year. This 

 class is also valuable for the great range of color taken by its 

 varieties. When planted in a good soil, it grows very thriftily 

 and makes strong shoots. A French writer speaks of a plant of 

 this species in the vicinity of Paris, which was twice the height 

 of a man, and formed a bush so thick that four persons could 

 scarcely embrace it. At the time of its first bloom, this bush was 

 said to have borne some two to three thousand flovv^ers, and during 

 the remainder of the season bore many hundreds at a time. In 

 some parts of Europe it is used for making hedges, which are 

 regularly pruned with shears, and arbors are also formed, from 

 nine to ten feet high, which are generally in bloom during nine 

 months of the year. 



