History and Cultivation of the Rose. 217 



" sub-rosa," (under the rose) when anything was to be kept se- 

 cret. 



History tolls us that " the rose gave name to the holy land — 

 where Solomon sang its praises, as Syria appears to be derived 

 from Suri, a beautiful and delicate species of rose, for which that 

 counti'y has ever been famous — and hence called Suristan, or the 

 land of roses. The Island of Ehodes owes its name to the prodi- 

 gious quantity of roses which formerly grew upon its soil." 



When Venice was at the height of her maritime power and glo- 

 ry, her merchant vessels always returned loaded with dried rose 

 leaves, and their essential oils. At this age of the world, the 

 traffic in fruits and attar of roses, silver and gold, and gems, com- 

 prised nearly the whole trade of the east. Trade in the " Otto " or 

 Attar of roses, was by far greater than in any other article. 

 Profane history of early times gives to Persia the honor of being 

 the birth-place of the rose. It is supposed by naturalists to have 

 been indigenous to the country, but being transplanted to a dif- 

 ferent soil and aspect, and raised from carefully selected seeds, it 

 gave new and finer varieties, increasing both in size, beauty, and 

 fragrance. " The art of hybridizing was not known until some 

 time during the last century." Botanists give over one hundred 

 varieties of the rose that are distinct, and marked so as to be 

 easily distinguished. Florists and nurserymen, in Europe and 

 America, give varieties and sub-varieties to the number of eight 

 hundred ; many of these varieties however, are so nearly alike 

 that it takes an amateur to tell the shades of difference. The 

 system of hybridizing has enlarged the 'list of varieties to a vast 

 extent. Florists have classified and arranged the difierent spe- 

 cies of roses, giving the Decidious, the Evergreen, and the Perpe- 

 tulle roses, difierent classes. The different classifications of roses 

 arc as follows : climbing roses are in this country more generally 

 cultivated than other varieties, as almost every cottage has its 

 running rose of the prairie or Michigan varieties. The next class 

 is the hybrid perpetual ; this class is the most numerous of all 

 the varieties of the rose, and much more valuable for general 

 cultivation as their habit is robust, their foliage deep emerald, of 

 a fine glossy cast upon the upper side of the leaf ; they are in 

 almost? constant bloom, when properly treated, from June to No- 

 vember. The Austrian briars are few in variety, and the most 

 valuable are the Persian yellow, and Harrison's double yellow ; the 



