Rosa 



by no means certain, was, as any gardener can see, 

 in no sense a forcing house. 



Virgil's third rose (R. Gallica) claims, though not 

 undisputedly, to be a native of Italy, and is recog- 

 nized as such by Arcangeli. Its name of the Provins 

 rose comes from the town near Paris where it was 

 cultivated for the manufacture of conserves. What- 

 ever its origin, it has got a strong footing in Europe, 

 and spreads so fast by suckers as to become in some 

 cases a pestilent weed. It is the rose of Assisi, 

 where it fills the garden at Porziuncula, and the red 

 fungus which sometimes stains its leaves has given 

 rise to the fantastic legend that it displays the blood 

 of St. Francis. It has no large prickles, and one 

 could roll in it with little damage. Those who 

 desire torture may get it better from the damask. 

 The best-known representative of the Provins rose 

 in our gardens is the double red and white Rosa 

 Mundi. 



Of these roses Pliny and others mention a good 

 many varieties, but it seems impossible to identify 

 them, or to be sure that they remain in cultivation. 



To come to native roses, we cannot suppose that 

 Virgil failed to observe the white and fragrant 

 blossoms of R. sempervirens, a hedge plant in all 

 the lower grounds of Italy. We know it best in the 

 double form called F6licit6 et Perp6tu6. To this 

 our list must add at least the dog rose and the 

 Scotch brier. 



Of the uses of the rose Virgil says no more than 

 that the dried petals make a medicine for sick bees 



113 I 



