Ancient History of the Rose. 385 



rose trees already planted to bear flowers early, dig a trench 

 two palms in breadth from the plant, and pour into it warm 

 water twice a day. Democritus says that if a rose is (thus ?) wa- 

 tered twice every day, in the middle of summer, it will bear 

 flowers in the month of January. Florentinus says a rose may 

 be grafted, or in-eyed, into the bark of an apple tree, and that 

 roses will appear at the same time the apples do. If from a 

 few plants you wish to make more, take cuttings of them, and, 

 making them four fingers or a little more in length, set them 

 into the ground. When they are a year old, transplant them 

 at the distance of a foot from one another, and tend them bv 

 careful digging, and removing all the rubbish from about them/ 



It was customary among the ancients to cut back and burn 

 down rose trees, by which means the trees were increased in 

 size, and produced a larger number of flowers. Theophrastus 

 says that the flower by these means was rendered more beau- 

 tiful. 



The rose, like the vine, appears to have grown most rapidly 

 when transplanted; and Theophrastus informs us that, when 

 this was done frequently, a more beautiful flower was produced. 

 The rose tree cuttings required to be put into the ground deeper 

 than young fruit trees, and not so deep as vines ; the latter 

 being sunk in the earth to the depth of two feet. Didymus 

 observes that the fragrance of the rose is increased and im- 

 proved by being grown in the vicinity of garlic* 



The rarity of early roses made them valuable, and, like all 

 vegetable productions obtained out of their season, they were 

 eagerly sought after, and bore a high price. 



" Rara juvant : primis sic major gratia pomis, 

 Hibernae pretiura sic meruere rosae." 



Martial, lib. 4. epig. 29. 



" The rare delights : we find first apples nice, 

 And winter roses bear a tenfold price." 



Elphinston's trans. 



The employment of warm water for forcing roses has already 

 been mentioned. Palladius and Seneca both allude to this cus- 

 tom, and Pliny states that the time when it should be put into 

 practice is when the calyx of the rose begins to sprout. Colu- 

 mella and Pliny state that it was usual to cover plants with the 

 " lapis specularis " (talc), when it was an object to make them 

 produce their fruits early; and this plan appears from Martial 

 to have been pursued with respect to flowers also : — 



The Psestan rose unfolds 



Her bud more lovely near the fetid leek." 



Philips, Cider, v. 254. 

 Vol. XV. — No. 112. d d 



