Rosacecz Rosa. 



165 



troduction into Europe dates from the beginning of the present 

 century. 



The numerous va- 

 rieties belonging to 

 this section are dis- 

 tributed by gardeners 

 amongst the Tea, 

 Bourbon, Hybrid Per- 

 petual, etc., according 

 as they favour one or 

 the other of these 

 groups. But from the 

 continued crossing 

 and recrossing which 

 they have undergone, 

 this classification is 

 necessarily arbitrary, 

 and merely serves as 

 a comparative guide 

 for the amateur. We 

 must refer our readers 

 to the nursery catalogues for detailed descriptions of these 

 varieties. 



There are Dwarf Eoses in this group as well as in the Centi- 

 folia; but whether we regard them as distinct species, or simply 

 varieties, is of no importance here. Amongst the number is 

 Miss Lawrence's Eose (R. Lawrenciana\ a true miniature 

 of the Bengal Eose. It rarely exceeds a foot or a foot and a 

 half in height, and its very slender branches are armed with 

 large and almost straight prickles. The bright purple semi- 

 double flowers are produced in abundance throughout the 

 Summer. 



The Tea, Bengal, and Bourbon Eoses are often crossed with 

 other species in our gardens, but perhaps more frequently in 

 furnishing than receiving pollen if, at least, we can place any 

 confidence in the statements of horticulturists, who affirm that 

 these Eoses are usually produced pretty faithfully from seed. 

 Be this is as it may, it is very possible, as is supposed, that the 

 Noisette Eose, R. Noisettiana (fig. 91), is to be attributed to 

 a cross between the Tea, or Bengal Eose, and R. moschata, 

 Taised from seed in America by a French gardener named 



Fig. 90. Bourbon Eose, William the Conqueror. 

 (J nat. size.) 



