188 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



THE MUSK ROSE.— Rosa Moschata. 



" And each inconstant breeze that blows, 

 Steals essence from the musky rose." 



This species of rose owes its name to the 

 fine musky odour which its numerous white 

 blossoms exhale during the autumnal months. 

 It is a native of Barbary, and grows wild in 

 the hedges and thickets in the kingdom of 

 Tunis ; and the Tunisians cultivate it also 

 for the sake of a highly odorous essential oil, 

 which they obtain from the petals by dis- 

 tillation. 



This rose has been found growing naturally 

 in Spain by Robert More, Esq., who sent 

 seeds to this country. We presume it was 

 first planted in Spain, when the Moors over- 

 ran the coast of that country. 



Hakluyt tells us, in 1582, that we first ob- 

 tained the musk rose from Italy. It was culti- 

 vated commonly in the time of Gerard, and 

 as it sends forth large umbel bunches of 

 flowers at the end of each branch, in the 

 months of September and October, it forms 

 an agreeable companion to the common 

 China rose, which blossoms also plentifully at 

 that season. 



