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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



M. Crepin shows the Provins Rose, the Gallica, as producing hybrids 

 with the following species : 



Rosa gallica x arvensis 



„ x canina 



„ x glauca 



„ x rubiginosa 



„ x septum 



„ x tomcntosa 



„ x omissa 



„ x multiflora 



According to this author, the Pimpernel-leafed Rose can equally show 

 numerous natural hybrids, of which he mentions the following : 



Rosa pimpinellifolia x alpina 



„ x tomcntosa 



x omissa 



,, x mollis 



,, x pomifcra 



,, x t glauca 



„ x canina 



„ x rubiginosa 



„ x sepium 



„ x graveolens 



„ x humilis 



„ x rubrifolia 



From this list one sees that our Pimpernel Rose can be fertilised by 

 Roses of the most diverse descriptions. 



Our Alpine Rose, of such brilliant colouring on the mountains, and so 

 early in the plains, is not less easy of crossing with nearly allied species. 

 Crepin attributes to it the following crosses : 



Rosa alpina x tomentosa 

 „ x omissa 

 ,, x pomifcra 

 ,, x glauca 

 „ x coriifolia 

 „ x indica 



From the same author one could also give a certain number of wild 

 species which have produced crosses with other species in their vicinity, 

 but it would only be wearisome to continue this enumeration. 



If I were asked on what grounds writers on Roses base their assertions 

 as to the existence of wild hybrids, while other writers consider them to 

 be different species or merely varieties, I should answer as follows : 



" They may be mistaken sometimes, but not very often. To begin 

 with, they have acquaintance with the characteristics observed in hybrids 

 of known origin : then by analogy they can draw conclusions, which 

 require confirmation it is true, but which appear to be very probable, 

 especially as they are borne out by a series of other proofs, such as the 

 relative sterility of the hybrids, &c." 



