16 ARISTOCRATS OF THE GARDEN 



Harison Rose is either a form of this or more prob- 

 ably a hybrid between it and R. spinosissima. All 

 these Roses will doubtless play an important part 

 in the future, but, personally, I am of the opinion 

 that the yellow and buff-colored forms of Rosa odorata, 

 var. gigantea are the Roses that will be found of greatest 

 value in the evolution of the yellow Roses of the 

 future. The rampant growth and sparseness of blos- 

 som may be urged against them, but who can say how 

 much these characters may be modified under culti- 

 vation and by the hybridist? Forms of the Scotch 

 Rose (R. spinosissima) have nearly yellow flowers, 

 but the only other really yellow Roses known are 

 R. Banksiae y var. lutea and the single-flowered R. 

 Banksiae, var. lutescens, neither yet known in a wild 

 state. 



Wild Roses are pretty and charming plants, yet it 

 cannot be claimed that their beauty transcends that of 

 other groups of wild flowers. Nevertheless, the Rose 

 holds a unique place in the thought and estimation of 

 civilized man. In poetry and prose its beauty has 

 been extolled far and wide in many tongues. The old 

 Persian poet, Omar Khayyam, in the eleventh cen- 

 tury, sang its praises and a Damask Rose now grows 

 on his grave and also on that of his first English 

 translator, Edward Fitzgerald. 



