200 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



PEGGED-DOWN ROSES. 



Japanese Roses {.Rosa rtigosa). — The species was known 

 many years ago, and was mentioned by Thunberg. It is 

 sometimes called R. ferox. The Japanese Rose and its 

 varieties are widely distributed, and form handsome 

 shrubs, rising to a height of 8ft. or more. They are 

 excellent hedge plants, especially the single crimson and 

 the single w hite, and a 9ft. hedge when in full bloom is a 

 fascinating flower picture, as also later when covered with 

 the showy fruit. The foliage is rich olive green, quite 

 glossy, and leathery. They are useful Roses to plant for 

 game covert. The flowers appear continuously from June 

 to October. The Single Red is an excellent kind, and may 

 be freely produced from seed, although many of the 

 seedlings will come white, and vice versa; the Single 

 White is a delightful Rose, of the purest white. The 

 Japanese Roses are being freely hybridised, and remarkable 

 results have been achieved. Many not in commerce may 

 be seen at Kew Gardens, and they bid fair to become an 

 important race. Mine. G. Bruant is double, white, and 

 has buds almost as beautiful as the Tea Rose Niphetos ; 

 Blanc double de Courbet is also white, and double. It is 

 the purest white known. Belle de Poitevine is a semi- 

 double, ,- rose-coloured varietv with immense flowers, 

 sweetly fragrant. Calocarpa is single, and of a rose 

 colour, followed by large benches of fruit. These are not 

 nearly so large as in the two first-named, but are produced 

 with great freedom. The effect is somewhat marred, 

 however, because the fruit ripens rather late in the year. 

 Fimbriata has a fringed flower like a Primula, of a pretty 

 blush colour, but not showy. Mrs. A. Waterer is the result 

 of a cross between the type and General Jacqueminot. It 

 has double red fragrant flowers of the colour of the latter, 

 and they are produced on the whole length of the shoots. 

 These Roses are of easy culture, but repay for good 

 attention. Do not prune much, but cut away some of theold 

 shoots each year to give the younger ones plenty of light 

 and air. They are perfectly hardy, and may thus be 

 planted in many places where other shrubs would be 

 a failure. When it is desired to keep them within a 

 restricted space cut back hard each spring. 



Macartney Rose (A', bracteata). — Introduced from China 

 by Lord Macartney in 1 795 ; a delightful while Rose, 

 flowering in August and later. Its flowers are of large 



size, enriched with Buttercup yellow stamens. The 

 growth is very slender, and the glossy leaves quite small. 

 It should not be grown unless a south or west wall can 

 be given. One would imagine the new Rose Wichuriana 

 to have originated from this Rose, as it greatly resembles 

 it in foliage. The other variety, Maria Leonida, is double, 

 with white flowers, the centre rosy and sometimes creamy. 

 There are crimson anthers also, which increase its beauU. 

 The buds of this Rose are as pretty as many of those of 

 the Tea-scented class. The calyx is covered with hairy- 

 like spines. The foliage is larger than that of the single 

 form, and the flowers appear at the same time of year. It 

 is a medium grower, well suited for a low wall in front of 

 a greenhouse. 



Mierophylla Rose. — This is a quaint Rose, having a 

 calyx not unlike a small Spanish Chestnut. The flowers 

 are rosy carmine, and the leaves very small. It is a 

 native of the Himalayas and of China. A hybrid raised 

 by M. Guillot is a splendid climber. It is named Ma 

 Surprise, and is a very sweet Rose, with white flowers 

 having rosy salmon centres. If its flowers expanded more, 

 it would be of still greater value, and in any case is worth 

 growing. 



MOSS Roses ( Rosa centifolia). — These delightful old Roses 

 are deservedly held in high esteem at the present day. It 

 may be that sentiment is responsible in part for this, but 

 they are really fine garden Roses, hardy, and in many 

 cases vigorous. The moss-like covering upon their calyxes 

 has given them their popular name, but they really 

 belong to the Provence or Cabbage Roses, and are 

 generally believed to be sports from this race. Their 

 introduction is wrapped rather in obscurity, but most 

 authorities agree that they were introduced from Holland 

 about the year 1 596. The group has not made great 

 advances compared with others, but during recent years 

 several good novelties in point of size of blossom have 

 been raised, but the moss-like peculiarity of the calyx is 

 not so pronounced. Moss Roses require rich cultivation, 

 plenty of room, and rather severe pruning, unless it be that 

 they are trained in pillar form, for which purpose some 

 kinds are well adapted Those grown as Standards must 

 be moderately pruned, not forgetting to well thin the 

 centre of the heads. The Common Moss, Blanche 



