SWEET-SMELLIi\G PLANTS 



well-regulated gardens, and which belong either to the Hybrid- 

 perpetual; Tea-scented or Noisette classes, it is fortunate that so 

 many of them, whilst displaying their lovely form and brilliancy of 

 colour, should also be deliciously scented, and in this connection we 

 will not rely entirely upon our own judgment in selecting those 

 kinds which we deem from experience to be worthy a place in our 

 list, but will publish for the benefit of readers some exquisitely 

 charming remarks, coached in the most endearing language, that 

 have lately been given to the world by experts of the day. 



To the Rev. H. H. Dombrain, the popular Hon. Secretary to the 

 National Rose Society, we are indebted for the following dainty 

 notes on sweet-scented Roses : — 



' That which we call a Rose would smell as sweet by any other 

 name' shows that in Shakespeare's time at any rate the idea of a 

 scentless Rose was not entertained, but that there are such Roses 

 now-a-days is clear, while there are many which, although they have 

 perfume, can hardly be called sweet-scented ; such, for instance, are 

 the Bourbon Roses, and many of what are now called hybrid per- 

 petuals. Some years ago a Rose called Victor Verdier, beautiful in 

 shape and colour but without any perfimie worth naming, was iatro- 

 duced, and from it most probably have come such Roses as Baroness 

 Rothschild, Merveillie de Lyon, etc., which, though beautiful in 

 themselves, are lacking in one of the chief qualities of a Rose, sweet 

 scent. There are two or three kinds of perfume which are to be 

 fomid in these flowers ; the sweet perfume of the old Cabbage, the 

 Centifolia Roses generally, the Attar of Rose perfimie which is to be 

 found amongst many of the hybrid perpetuals, especially the high 

 coloiu*ed ones, betraying probably their old Damask Rose origin, and 

 the very peculiar perfume of the Tea and Xoisette Rose, which is 

 known botanically as Bom indica odorata. In the following list I 

 have placed most of the sweet-scented Roses of all classes. It does 

 not profess to be a complete list, but will, I think, be sufficient for 

 those who wish to have sweet-scented Roses in their gardens. 



The Moss Roses are all sweet-scented, even doT\-n to the little 

 Moss de Meaux, and specially is this the case with the common 

 Moss, its crested variety, and Zeiiobia, and White Bath. 



' The Centifolia Roses, represented by that old garden favourite the 

 old Cabbage, are also very sweet, and the Rose de Meaux and 

 Spong, miniatiu^e Roses of this ty^Q, also partake of the same 

 character ; but, after all, it is ia the autunmal blooming Roses, the 

 teas and hybrid j)erpetiial>, that the most interest is taken, the 

 former, as I have said, are all sweet, but the following. I think, bear 

 ofi" the palm in that respect, Adam, Belle Lyonnaise, Bouquet d"Or, 



