^ The Old looses £g 



is wrapped in obscurity. William Paul says, ' It was first 

 introduced to England from Holland and it is generally 

 believed that it was a sport from the Provence rose.' 

 Miller says, ' This rose is known to us only in its double 

 state, and we are ignorant of the country to which we are 

 indebted for it.' By Furber's catalogue it appears that 

 it was cultivated here in 1724. William Paul, writing 

 when moss roses were at the height of their fame, i.e. 

 between 1850 and i860, gives no less than 55 summer 

 flowering varieties and 21 ' perpetual,' the latter being a 

 cross between the Moss and the Perpetual. In those days 

 many varieties were grown as standards and pillars. He 

 states : * I have seen the White Moss bearing at the same 

 time, and on the same plant, red, white and variegated 

 flowers. I have also seen the Perpetual White Moss, 

 whose flowers should be white, produce pink flowers, 

 entirely destitute of moss. I am informed, and think it 

 probable, that the Moss Unique was first obtained in this 

 manner : a branch of the White Provence rose produced 

 flowers enveloped in moss ; the branch was propagated 

 from, and the plants so propagated produced flowers 

 retaining their mossy characteristic' He mentions some 

 very interesting moss roses in his list, notable the Damask 

 moss rose, raised at Tinwell in Rutlandshire and hence 

 sometimes called the Tinwell Moss. He lists also : 



Crimson French. Rose-crimson flowers, the wood has 



a reddish appearance from being densely covered 



with red spines. 

 Emperor. Reddish crimson flowers, shoots thickly 



covered with red spines. 

 Etna. Brilliant crimson flowers with purplish tinge and 



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