52 



ROSES. 



chic, above one linndrcd ; 7?. aJha, fifty ; R. rulnginbsa, 

 thirty ; and of various sorts above eleven Imndred. In seve- 

 ral individual collections of Europe, there are cultivated 

 above fifteen hundred species, sub-species, and varieties. 



When planted, they are too frequently crowded indiscri- 

 minately among other shrubs, which prevents them having 

 the elfect they would have if planted singly or grouped. 

 The}'- vary in size, in difierent sorts, from one to ten feet. 

 When planted in the latter method, they should be assimi- 

 lated in size of leaves and manner of growth, with the great- 

 est variation of flower ; or, if planted in small patches, each 

 distinct in color, will hav^ a very picturesque effect. Another 

 desirable and fanciful method is to plant them in figures, 

 with edgings of wire, willow, or any other substitute, in 

 imitation of basket-work, which is called "baskets of roses;'' 

 the ground enclosed in the basket margin to be made convex, 

 which will present a greater surface to the eye ; the strong 

 shoots to be layered, or kept down by pegs in the ground, 

 having the points of the shoots only to appear above the soil, 

 which should be covered with moss. With this treatment, 

 in a few years the whole surface of the basket will be covered 

 with rose buds and leaves, of one or various sorts. If two 

 or three of the larger growing sorts are taken, such as Moss 

 or Fro V ins J they may be trained so as to cover a surface of 

 several square yards. 



A modern invention in the cultivation of the rose is to 

 grow them in shape of trees, by budding on strong grow- 

 ing kinds at different heights from the ground, according to 

 taste, and the purposes intended. If budded on Bosa cd- 

 nina, or Dog Hose, they are much more valuable : it is a last- 

 ing and strong growing stock; and the worst of all stocks is 

 the Boursalt rose, and it is too frequently resorted to, being 

 easy of propagation. Thc}^ will form in a few years hand- 

 some round heads, which will flower more freely than by 

 layers, or trained on their own stalk. They are particularly 

 desirable among low shrubs. When planted, they should be 

 well supported by strong rods, to prevent the wind from de- 

 stroying them. If any of the roots have been bruised in 

 lifting, cut off the bruised part with the knife, and likewise 

 shorten the young slioots; breaking the earth well about 

 their roots when planting. The rose has been an esteemed 

 shrub among all civilized nations. The flowers are double, 



