Gore's Hose-Fancier's Manual. 439 



American species of roses hitherto described is only fourteen, all of which, 

 with the exception of R. Montezumae and E,. stricta, might be classed under 

 the same section as the European Rosa cinnamomea. Those of France are 

 twenty-four, and of Britain nearly that number, according to some botanists, 

 and not more than six, according to others. 



" Asia has to boast a greater variety of species of the rose than the rest of 

 the earth united ; thirty-nine that admit of accurate definition having been 

 already estabhshed. Of these, the vast empire of China, where both agricul- 

 ture and horticulture are arts in high estimation, has a claim to fifteen. 



" First, the Rosa semperflorens, the leaves of which have sometimes three 

 leaflets, sometimes only one ; whose flowers are scentless, of a pale dull pink, 

 producing a pleasing effect when half-blown. The Rosa sinensis, confounded 

 by some botanists with the preceding, but blowing at all seasons, of a far more 

 brilliant colour. The Rosa Lawrenceana is a beautiful little shrub, from 3 in. 

 to 3 in. in height, but, unlike most dwarfs, whether of the vegetable or animal 

 creation, perfect in symmetry and proportion. The R. multiflora attains, on 

 the contrary, a growth of 15 or 16 feet j having small, double, pale pink blos- 

 soms, united on a single stem, so as to form beautiful bouquets on the tree. 

 The R. Banksise extends its flexile branches over rocks and hillocks, bearing a 

 profusion of small, very double, yellowish white flowers, remarkable for their 

 violet-scented fragrance. 



" The R. microphylla is a favourite garden shrub of the Chinese, under the 

 name of Haitong-hong, having small, double, pale pink flowers, and a foliage 

 of peculiar delicacy. 



" Cochin-China, situated between the 10th and 20th degrees of latitude, 

 possesses all the roses of China, and, in addition, several indigenous species ; 

 among others, the R. alba, found also in Piedmont, in France, and various 

 other parts of Europe , and the R. spinosissima, bearing flesh-coloured flowers. 

 Japan, between the 30th and 40th degrees of latitude, has all the roses of 

 china, besides a peculiar species, the R. rugosa, the solitary flower of which 

 bears some resemblance to the Kamtschatkan rose. 



" The southern provinces of Asia, comprehending those of India, oifer many 

 curious species to our own observation. The north of Hindostan possesses 

 six ; two of which are also found in China, and two in Nepal. The R. 

 Lyellii, which bears transplantation to our own climate, and is remarkable for 

 the profusion of its milk-white flowers during the greater part of the summer, 

 and the R. Brunonii, whose petals are of the same snowy whiteness, rank high 

 among the roses of India. In approaching the southern provinces, we find the 

 R. macrophylla, somewhat resembling the alpine roses of Europe ; the flowers 

 whitish, but streaked with pink towards the extremity of the petals ; the R. 

 sericea, of which the surface of the leaflets has a satin texture, and the flowers 

 are solitary and drooping. 



" The parched shores of the Gulf of Bengal are covered, during the spring, 

 with a beautiful white rose, found also in China and Nepal. The flowers of 

 the R. involucrata are white, solitary, surrounded with a collar of three or 

 four leaves, out of which they seem to emerge ; while in vast thickets of the 

 beautiful R. semperflorens (a native also of China) the tigers of Bengal and 

 crocodiles of the Ganges are known to lie in wait for their prey. 



" In the gardens of Kandahar, Samarcand, and Ispahan, the R. arborea is 

 cultivated in great profusion by the Persians. This shrub, which attains a 

 considerable size, is covered during the spring with an abundance of white 

 and scented blossoms. The R. berberifolia is also common in these provinces. 

 This shrub, differing so completely from every other species of rose that bota- 

 nists experience some hesitation in classing it among the number [it is now 

 Lowea berberifolia, see Arb. Brit., ii. p. 812.], has simple single leaves, and 

 yellow star-sliaped flowers, variegated, like a cistus, at the base with spots of 

 deep crimson. The R. damascena, transported to Europe from Damascus 

 by the Crusaders, affording to our gardens an infinite number of beautiful va- 

 rieties, adorns the sandy deserts of Syria with its sweet and brightly tinted 



F F 4) 



