142 THE ROSE BOOK 



a height of eight feet. It varies to some extent in 

 general appearance, and although usually bearing five 

 or seven parted leaves, forms with nine leaflets are 

 known. The leaflets also differ considerably in size, 

 the larger ones being sometimes one and three quarters 

 inches long and one and a half inches wide, whilst others 

 are less than half those dimensions. The spines are 

 slender and numerous, but not very long. From one to 

 eight flowers, which are white tinged with red, are borne 

 together, and they are succeeded by rather large, globu- 

 lar, dark red fruits. There are several varieties, of which 

 flore plena, with double flowers, and grandiflora, with 

 flowers larger than those of the type, are the best. 



Rosa damascena. — This is the old Damask rose of 

 Persia, a plant which has been widely grown in Eastern 

 Europe and the Orient for a very long period. Some 

 doubt exists as to its being a species, and most people 

 incline to the idea that it originated as a hybrid between 

 Rosa gallica and Rosa moschata. Much of its charm 

 centres in the delightful fragrance of its blossoms, which 

 are much sweeter than the flowers of many of the newer 

 garden roses. It is largely grown in Bulgaria for the 

 manufacture of rose water and attar of roses. Growing 

 from two to four feet high, it is most frequently seen 

 bearing semi-double light red flowers, two to three 

 inches across, although single-flowered forms are some- 

 times seen. The variety versicolor is distinct and 

 interesting on account of its flowers being striped or 

 blotched with red and white. For this reason it has 

 been given the name of York and Lancaster rose. Some 



