186 GROUPING OF GARDEN VARIETIES OF ROSES 



remote ancestry of the Hybrid Perpetuals, one parent, the 

 Rosa bifera, the " Paestan Roses with their double spring," 

 are found here. 



GROUP VII. The Provence Rose. These Roses some- 

 what resemble the Damask, but not very closely ; the 

 growth is more pendulous and the flowers are more 

 globular. The old Cabbage Rose is an example of this 

 group. 



GROUP VIII. The Pompon or Dwarf Provence. 

 These are a separation from the preceding on account of 

 their dwarf habit. They rarely exceed a few inches in 

 height, the flowers are tiny and produced in great profu- 

 sion. They form exceedingly pretty edgings to beds of 

 Roses of larger growth. 



GROUP IX. The Moss Rose. It is hardly necessary 

 to point out the distinguishing feature of this group, the 

 moss-like surroundings of the flower-buds being known 

 and appreciated by everybody. There are here certain 

 hybrids between the " Hybrid Chinese" and the " Moss" 

 which are of greater vigour than the true Moss, but in 

 such the mossy characteristic is less plentifully developed. 



GROUP X. The Pompon Moss. An exquisite little 

 group composed of two or three varieties only, separated 

 from the preceding on account of their pigmy stature. 

 The best varieties are " Little Gem" and " Moss de 

 Meaux," and their fairy-like aspect appeals irresistibly to 

 the lovers of the tiny. 



GROUP XL The French Rose. There was a time, and 

 that within my memory, when this was the most important 

 group of Roses. But it is out of fashion now. A French 

 or Gallica Rose bush well cultivated is, however, still a 

 striking object in the garden, owing to the profusion and 

 brilliancy of its expanded flowers. 



GROUP XII. The Hybrid French. This group is very 

 similar to the last ; it furnishes us however with some very 

 lovely blush and creamy flowers, not to be parallelled by 

 flowers of the same colours in any other group. 



