BOOK EEVIEW&. 



439 



to the whole Rose family of the system suggested by Woods in the 

 early days of last century for the purpose of his study of English Roses. 

 About the same time, in the twenty-seventh volume of this Journal, 

 appeared from the pen of M. Gerome a description of the classification 

 of M. Crepin, a system of the greatest interest, and one which has 

 been adopted by M. Jules Graveraux as the basis of his Catalogue of 

 Roses grown at the Roseraie de I'Hay; but Crepin 's system is perhaps 

 deficient in the element of simplicity so essential for the aid of the 

 student. For instance, Crepin 's first division of Roses into normal 

 and abnormal types presupposes a knowledge possessed by few even 

 of those experts who have given years to the study of the Rose, and 

 makes it almost impossible for the student. 



Now we have the work before us, even while Major Woolley Dod's 

 review of English Roses is making its appearance in the " Journal of 

 Botany," and rosarians are looking forward with interest to the appeai:- 

 ance of a work on the " Species " from the pen of an English lady 

 whose capacity for handling this difficult subject is well known. 



Dr. Schwertschlager tells us his interest in wild Roses began from 

 botanical and geological excursions, the results of his repeated expedi- 

 tions being usually submitted to Crepin for comment and direction; 

 but it is interesting to note that it is Baker's arrangement that our 

 author has in substance adopted for the purposes of the work before us, 

 though he considers that Baker has given too little attention to charac- 

 teristic differences in the leaves. The species found in the Bavarian 

 Highlands correspond very much with those of Great Britain, but 

 mclude in addition to those of this country Rosa gallica and some 

 varieties of R. cinnamomea, including alpina. 



In his " Introduction " Dr. Schwertschlager carefully describes 

 the district he has selected, its geological and geographical character 

 and climate. He then divides the body of his work into three parts. 

 In the first he discusses systems of classification and the relative value 

 to be given to different organs of the Rose, such as the stem, hairs, 

 leaves, flowers and fruit, for the purpose of arrangement. The second 

 part is devoted to a description of the roses found in the district, 

 followed by a " diagnosis " of each variety and a description of the 

 position in which it was found. 



In the third part of his book, in some respects the most interesting 

 portion of it, the author treats of the effect of external influences in 

 producing modifications of the Rose, and afterwards applies the results 

 arrived at to the various forms of roses he has found in his district, 

 distinguishing between the effect of external influences and the inherent 

 characteristics of the varieties, with a view to obtain material for 

 ascertaining the means and modifications by which they have severally 

 been produced. How far he has succeeded must necessarily, in our 

 present state of knowledge, be a matter on which opinions will differ, 

 but the candour and caution with which the results are stated should 

 go a long way to obtain for his views the careful consideration of 

 students of Rosa. 



