314 FLORA DOMEST1CA. 



few drops of this oil, dissolved in spirit of wine, form the 

 esprit de rose of the perfumers ; and the same, dissolved in 

 fine sweet oil, their huile antique de rose. 



The Eglantine, or Sweet-briar-rose, is a native of all 

 Europe, in woods, thickets, hedges, &c., chiefly in a gra- 

 velly soil. The varieties with double flowers are very 

 elegant shrubs. 



The Musk-rose is common in every hedge in Tunis : it 

 is white, smells strongly of musk, and blows in August : 

 there are single and double varieties. This Rose requires 

 plenty of room. 



The Red China Rose is semi-double : it is admired for 

 its fine rich crimson colour, and for its fragrance. It blows 

 in succession all the year, but more sparingly in the winter 

 months. There is also a Blush, and a Pale China Rose. 



The White Rose is a native of China and most parts of 

 Europe : it grows to a height of nine or ten feet, is very 

 full of blossom, and extremely beautiful, but has little 

 or no smell. 



Roses in general delight in an open free air, and will 

 bear the cold well ; but, when in pots, it is better to place 

 them in-doors during the winter, particularly such as flower 

 at that season. The earth should be always kept mo- 

 derately moist. 



The Rose is pre-eminently the flower of Love and 

 Poetry, the very perfection of floral realities. Imagination 

 may have flattered herself that her power could form a 

 more perfect beauty; but, it is said, she never yet dis- 

 covered such to mortal eyes. This, however, she would 

 persuade us to be a mere matter of delicacy, and that she 

 had the authority of Apollo for her secret success : 



-" no mortal eye can reach the flowers, 



And 'tis right just, for well Apollo knows, 

 'Twould make the poet quarrel with the rose." 



It is however determined, that until the claim of such veiled 



