24 The Rose Garden, 



" The Catalogue of Trees and Shrubs, by a Society of Gardeners," published in 

 7730, and attributed to Philip Miller, has forty-three species of Roses. In this 

 author's "Gardeners' Dictionary" (1735) there are forty-six species and varieties, and 

 there are brief but sound instructions given on propagating and cultivation the latter 

 being modified, extended, and improved in subsequent editions. Batty Langley 

 published the second edition of "The New Principles of Gardening" in 1739, and has 

 a section (p. 175) " Of Roses, their Culture," &c. 



As late as 1762 Linnaeus appears to have acknowledged only fourteen species; 

 but in the " Species Plantarum " of this author, edited by Willdenow, and published in 

 1797, thirty-nine species are acknowledged with many additional varieties. In 1770 

 " A Complete Body of Planting and Gardening " was published by the Rev. William 

 Hanbury, and in vol. i., p. 173, is a long chapter headed ".Rosa, the Rose Tree." The 

 Rose is also alluded to again and again in this work. Richard Weston, who brought 

 out "The Universal Botanist and Nurseryman " from 1770 to 1777, arranges alpha- 

 betically a list of seventy-nine kinds, and says " It is very difficult to ascertain which 

 are the species and which the varieties of the Rose. Linnaeus is inclined to think they 

 are all only varieties of the Dog- Rose, but yet has divided them into fourteen distinct 

 species." In the same author's "English Flora" (1775) he names eighty kinds, and 

 says further " A more copious catalogue of Roses really existing in the curious 

 gardens of England could have been given, but all these are to be readily found in 

 the different nurseries, although not in any one." John Abercrombie, the first edition 

 of whose book, "Every Man his own Gardener," appeared in 1774, did not forget or 

 overlook the Rose. The twenty-first edition of that work is now in my hands, and in 

 it are instructions " for blowing Roses and other plants early," and for " Planting 

 Roses." We are also told how to "inoculate and lay Roses," how to "propagate 

 Roses and other shrubs by suckers," and how to obtain " early Roses in the hothouse." 



In " Mawe and Abercrombie's Universal Gardener and Botanist " (second edition, 

 1797) eighteen species are enumerated and described, and many varieties in addition. 

 We are here told that " they are of hardy growth, succeed in any common soil and 

 situation, and flower annually in great abundance from May till October in different 

 sorts, though the general flowering season for the principal part of them is June and 

 July." In this work are also general instructions for planting, cultivation, forcing, 

 and propagation. 



It was only at the close of the i8th century and the dawning of the I9th that the 

 species were multiplied, and the garden varieties of Roses were really recognised and 

 esteemed. In 1789 the Chinese Rose was introduced; and in 1 8 10 China furnished 

 us with the Tea-scented also. At this period nearly all the varieties known bloomed 

 in summer only. In 1812 came forth that exquisite variety the "Rose du Roi," or 

 Crimson Perpetual, which, according to some, was raised in the Royal Gardens of St 

 Cloud, then under the care of Le Comte Leleur. 



