CHAP. V. ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 469 



DIVISION I. 

 Rosa centifolia. 



PROVENCE ROSES. 



This group contains the several varieties of Cabbage, includ- 

 ing Moss Eoses, of different sizes and shades of colour, from 

 crimson to pure white. No Kose of this group, as far, as I can 

 ascertain, has ever been brought to establish itself and thrive in 

 Lower Bengal, nor, as I believe, in the plains of India at all. 

 Koxburgh in his ' Flora Indica,' has, it is true, specified R. centi- 

 folia, but it is R. Damascena he intends, which he accounts only 

 variety of R. centifolia. 



Moss EOSE. This Eose has been several times introduced, 

 but never brought to thrive and establish itself. Even in the 

 apparently more congenial climate of Ootacamund I learnt that 

 it had not been found to succeed. In the Punjab, I am told, it 

 thrives very tolerably, and may be budded with great success, 

 but that it is most reluctant to blossom ; but I am led to suspect 

 it is not the true old Moss they have there, but one of the many 

 hybrids that have been raised from it. 



Rosa Damascena. 



DAMASK ROSES. 



BussoRAORPERSiANEosE. The BussoraEose is distinguished 

 for the rich perfume of its flowers, is common all over India, 

 and in some places cultivated extensively for the manufacture 

 of atar. There are two varieties, the red and the white, only 

 partially double, very fugitive, blossoming for one brief season 

 in March. The stems are profusely covered with small fine 

 spines, and the plant has rather a shabby, unsightly appearance. 

 The usual practice is to head down all the stems in November, 

 remove the earth, so that the roots be laid bare for a week or 

 two, and then fill in the earth again with a liberal supply of 

 old cow-manure. 



The Bussora appears to be the form of R. Damascena, such as 

 we might almost expect to find it in its wild, uncultivated state. 

 In this state, seemingly, it is alone capable of existing in India. 

 For I know of no other form of tl^e Damask Eose that has been 



