438 Gore's Rose-Fancier's Manual. 



" In addition to the interest excited by his seedlings, the attention of the 

 rose-grower is eagerly directed to the accidental varieties produced by what is 

 called ' a sport,' or branch losing the habit of the plant on which it grows, 

 and assuming new specific characters. In this way the Bath moss rose, or 

 mossy unique, was originated at Clifton ; and the beautiful Rosa cristata in 

 Switzerland. The rose unique was discovered, at the commencement of the 

 present century, in a cottager's garden, among a plantation of roses of the 

 hundred-leaved, or cabbage, kind, which is peculiarly subject to sport, either 

 from the excessive vigour, or imperfect vegetation, of the subject. The mossy 

 rose de Meaux, or pompon mousseux, was discovered, five and twenty years 

 ago, in the garden of an old lady in the west of England, of whom it was pur- 

 chased by a nurseryman for five guineas : certainly a sport, as the rose de 

 Meaux is known never to bear seed in England. The Ayrshire roses were 

 chiefly obtained from seed at Dundee, in Scotland. Brown's superb blush 

 was raised at Slough, near Windsor ; a seedling of the Rosa indica odorata, and 

 the yellow sweet briar, at Pitmaston, by Mr. Williams. To enter into the 

 origin of even the finer modern varieties would, however, be an endless task." 

 (p. xiii.) 



The first article in the body of the work is on the geography 

 of roses. Certain authors assign the provinces of Georgia and 

 Circassia as the native places of the older roses ; and others 

 assert that the rose only flourishes between latitudes 20° and 70° ; 

 but the rose of Montezuma, which grows in latitude 19°, and 

 the Abyssinian rose, which inhabits latitude 10°, overturn this 

 theory. Various countries possess species or varieties which are 

 peculiar to them. 



" Of these, some extend their growth to [over] a province, some to a smaller 

 space of territory : some even restrict themselves to a single mountain or 

 solitary rock. The Rosa PoUiniana is peculiar to Mount Baldo, in Italy ; 

 the Rosa Lyonii, to Tennessee, in North America; while the Rosa arvensis, or 

 field rose, is to be found in all the countries of Europe ; and the Rosa canina, 

 or dog rose, in Europe, as well as a considerable portion of Asia and America. 



" The roses of North America are : — R. blanda, found on the glaciers of the 

 most northerly provinces; its bright pink corolla unfolding itself immediately 

 on the melting of the snows. This shrub is found only on the frozen deserts 

 between 70° and 75" N. l. R. hudsonensis is found on the shores of the 

 Hudson, within the polar circle, where it produces clusters of pale double 

 flowers. R. fraxinifolia, which has small, red, heart-shaped petals, is found in 

 ^Newfoundland and Labrador, along with R. blanda. R. nitida, which has 

 deep red flowers, abounds on the northern coasts, and is used by the Esqui- 

 maux for decorating their hair and their seal-skin dresses. R. lucida is found 

 in the marshes of Carolina. R. Woodsii is found on the banks of the Mis- 

 souri ; and R. Carolina in the adjoining marshes. R. evratina is found on the 

 marshy banks of the rivulets of Virginia, and is extremely difficult of culture in 

 gardens. R. diffusa is found in the forests and stony districts of the central 

 and southern states of the Union. R. parviflora is a diminutive shrub, found 

 on the rising grounds of Pennsylvania; and R. stricta and J?, rubifolia are 

 found on the outskirts of the Pennsylvanian forests. R. setigera is found in 

 South Carolina ; and R. laevigata;, a climbing species, inhabits the woods of 

 Georgia, and is used by the Creoles to adorn their hair. 



" The rose of Mexico is R. Montezumse, a sweet-scented thornless species, 

 which abounds on the highest parts of Cerro Ventoso, near San Pedro in 

 Mexico, where it was discovered by Messrs. Humboldt and Bonpland. The 

 town of San Pedro is in latitude 19°; which proves that roses are found under 

 latitude 20°, contrary to the assertion of some authors. The total number of 



