ROSA CHINENSIS, var. MINIMA 
root. Care must be taken to prune hard, for the old wood is apt to 
become hard and dry. 
Paul in the ninth edition of his Rose Gai^den enumerates the 
following nine varieties: Alba, Fairy, Gloiredes Lawranceanas , Je 7 iny, 
La DRiree, Nemesis, Nigra, Red Pet, Retour du Printe 7 nps . 
Sweet introduced the original plant from the Mauritius in i8io 
and dedicated it to Miss Lawrance. It was m all probability the 
Rosa pusilla of the Mauritius Botanic Garden Catalogue. W^hen the 
Rose arrived in England Miss Lawrance was at the zenith of her fame. 
A successful exhibitor at the Royal Academy, and possessed of much 
personal charm, she was exceedingly popular in London, where her 
lessons were in great request. All that was interesting and beautiful 
in the Vine Nursery, Hammersmith, soon made its way to her house 
in Q iieen Anne Street. Not only Mr. Lee, but most of the other 
nurserymen, made a point of sending their new flowers to be drawn by 
her. It was thought to be an honour for the owner as well as for the 
flower when Miss Lawrance painted its portrait. Her book on Roses 
was published in i 799, and the demand was far in excess of the number 
of copies printed. At the time it created much sensation, as nothing 
like it had been published before and Roses were beginning to take a 
prominent place in gardens and were rapidly gaining m popularity. Miss 
Lawrance married Mr. Kearse in 1813, but she continued exhibiting 
and giving lessons until her death in 1830. The admiration excited 
by her flower pictures was partly due to the purity and delicacy of their 
colouring. She always attached great importance to the quality of her 
colours, which were all prepared at her own house and under her own 
supervision. The only other Hower-book published b)' her was A 
Collection of Passio 7 i Flowers, 1799-1800. 
92 
