148 THE RAMANAS ROSE 



lured many an amateur to the unprofitable task of 

 transporting it to the garden. Even if it flourishes 

 there, which it seldom does unless the garden happens 

 to be on the beach, it suffers in grace by divorce from 

 its natural environment of dry, wiry bent. 



The Ramanas rose was first brought to this country 

 from Japan or China (it is native to both countries) 

 nearly eighty years ago. Our acquaintance with Rosa 

 Moyesii, from Western China, dates only from 1908, 

 but has been long enough to prove its superlative 

 merit and adaptability to our soil and climate. No 

 wild rose, indeed no cultivated rose known to me, can 

 rival the peculiar hue of its blossom a rich, velvety 

 crimson deepening to brown madder in shade, but 

 transmitting pure scarlet when the sun shines through 

 the petals. It is a rampant grower, sending up rods 

 six feet long in a single season ; but unlike the 

 Ramanas rose, it does not spread by suckers. The 

 hips are remarkably showy ; seeds germinate freely, 

 and no rose is better adapted for naturalising in woods 

 and hedges. I owe to Mr. J. C. Williams possession of 

 a very beautiful variety of this rose, with flowers of a 

 delightful pale carmine colour. 



Rosa Hugonis is another recent introduction from 

 Western China, free in growth, but not so rampant as 

 R. Moyesii, bearing wreaths of sulphur-yellow blossom, 

 followed by black fruits. He (or she) who possesses 

 these two species may rest assured that, among the 

 many new roses brought from the Far East oi late years, 

 they are the pick of the basket. 



