42 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETV. 



from them. Each of these groups of unmixed roses, however modified in form, 

 size, or color, retains distinctive features of the native type from which it 

 sprang. Yet it often happens that the name is misapplied. Thus a rose 

 called Damask is not always a Damask, but a hybrid between a Damask and 

 some other variety. The true distinctive features of the group are thus ren- 

 dered, in some nominal members of it, so faint that they can scarcely be recog- 

 nized. Leaving these bastards out of view, we will consider at present only 

 the legitimate offspring of the various families of the rose. 



On Mount Caucasus grows a single wild rose, from the seeds of which have 

 sprung the numerous family of the Provence or Cabbage roses, very double, 

 very large, and very fragrant. This race is remarkable for its tendency to 

 sport, from which have resulted some of the most singular and beautiful forms 

 of the rose. For example, a rose-colored variety of the Provence produced a 

 branch bearing striped flowers, and from that branch has been propagated the 

 Striped Provence. The Crested Moss is the product of another of these 

 freaks, being of the pure Provence race. The Common Moss, and all its prog- 

 eny, owe the same origin, being derived, in all probability, from a sporting 

 branch of one of the Provence roses. 



The family of the French rose, or RosaGallica, is of vast extent, and though 

 including many diverse shades of color — some pale, some bright, others spotted, 

 striped, or marbled — is commonly recognized without much difficulty by its 

 family features. It is a native of southern Europe. 



The wild progenitor of the Damask or Damascus roses is a native of Syria. 

 The name Damask, by the way, is popularly applied to deep-colored roses in 

 general ; but its floral signification is very different. In this group, for the 

 first time we meet with a feature which, desirable as it is, was not many years 

 since regarded as rare and exceptional. June has always been regarded as 

 the month of the rose, but some of the Damasks hav^e the peculiarity of bloom- 

 ing twice, or more than twice, during the season. These have been placed in 

 a group by themselves, and christened Damask Perpetuals. The remontant 

 character, however, is not confined to them ; for individual plants belonging to 

 groups and varieties which usually bloom but once, will sometimes display an 

 autumnal bloom. Thus, the common wild rose of New England is now 

 and then to be seen covered with flowers in September, and there is little 

 doubt that from the seeds of these twice-blooming individuals a new race of 

 hardy remontant roses might be produced. It should be added that many of 

 the so called Damask Perpetuals are not pure Damask, but crossed with the 

 blood of other families. 



Of the remaining races of pure blood, the Alba is remarkable for the delicate 

 coloring of its flowers, the greater part being, as the name imports, white or 

 nearly so. The original variety grows wild in central Europe. 



The Austrian Brier is another family of features very strongly marked. 

 Yellow and copper are its prevailing colors, and from its habit of growth, and 

 the color of its twigs, it is easily recognizad under all its forms. Its original 



