92 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
diminish, the consumption of the original kinds, 
hemp and flax. The fibre of the Corchorus cap- 
sularis of Willdenow is long, durable, and glassy, 
and is named by the Indians, Jute ; ten years ago 
the use of this fibre was unknown in Europe, but 
now it is imported to Great Britain to the pecu- 
niary amount of 300,000?. annually. This Corchorus 
has nothing to do with the Japanese yellow-flow- 
ered shrub ( Kerria japonica) incorrectly called 
Corchorus, in our gardens (one of the Rosacece ), but 
belongs to the natural family of Tiliacece, the various 
genera and species of which abound in useful fibre, 
from the gigantic Lime-tree ( Tilia ) to the her- 
baceous annual here noticed. — Hooker’s Journ. 
Bot. 25. 
Musa textilis, or Manilla Hemp. That beau- 
tiful kind of muslin, “ Manilla handkerchiefs” and 
“ Manilla scarfs,” is made of the delicate threads of 
the Musa textilis — a species common in the Philip- 
pine Islands, and which was first clearly defined by 
Don Luis Nee, in the “ Annales de Ciencias Natu- 
rales,” vol. iv., p. 123. The inner portion of this 
plant yields, perhaps, the most delicate of all vege- 
table fibres. — Hooker’s Journ. Bot. 28. 
Damask Roses. Rosa Damascena. In common 
parlance, all dark Roses are termed damask, proba- 
bly from the first dark varieties having borne this 
name. But this is erroneous. There are dark 
Roses belonging to almost every group ; and there 
are damask Roses of various colours ; some are even 
white. The damask are readily distinguished from 
others by a robustness of growth, in conjunction 
with rough, spinous shoots, and downy, coriaceous 
leaves of a light green colour. Owing to this latter 
feature, they present a striking contrast when 
introduced amongst other groups. The flowers 
are mostly of a fair size; some are large, and all 
are showy. Belonging to them are some very 
pretty pink Roses, with a delicate tint of salmon 
pervading the flowers, rendering them alike dis- 
tinct and beautiful. The damask Rose is allowed 
to be of great antiquity. Some supposed it to be 
of this Yirgil speaks in the “ Georgies,” and else- 
where. It is generally believed that it was first 
introduced from Syria, and brought to England in 
1573. But Johnson, in “ The History of Garden- 
ing,” says, “the learned Linacre, who died in 1524, 
first introduced the damask Rose from Italy.” 
Eor two hundred years after its introduction this 
Rose underwent but little change ; modern Rose- 
growers, however, have improved and varied it to 
such a degree, that the favourites of so long stand- 
ing are threatened with oblivion. The damask 
Roses are all very hardy, thriving well either as 
standards or dwarfs. They do not form compact- 
headed trees, but their growth is graceful ; rather 
more rambling than that of the French Roses. 
They flower abundantly ; in some instances the 
flowers rest amongst the leaves and branches which 
surround them ; in others they are elevated above. 
It is chiefly from the petals of this species, in com- 
mon with those of the Provence (R. centifolia), that 
rose-water is distilled. — Paul’s Rose Garden, p. 19. 
Provence Roses. Rosa centifolia. Who has not 
heard of the Provence, or, as it is more frequently 
called, the “ Cabbage Rose 1 1 There are numerous 
varieties, though nature has not been so lavish with 
her stores here — has not answered so fully to the 
strivings of art to improve this group — as in some 
other instances. Perhaps the old favourite was so per- 
fect that it could not be surpassed. The Provence 
Roses are deliciously fragrant ; their habit is for 
the most part branching, or pendulous ; and among 
them are some of the finest shaped globular-shaped 
roses grown. The foliage is bold and handsome ; 
the leaflets broad and wrinkled, in many instances 
obtuse ; the edges deeply serrated. The prickles 
on the branches are very unequal ; some are fine and 
straight ; others large at their base, and falcate. 
These points, with the drooping habit, and usually 
globular flowers, serve as marks by which we dis- 
tinguish them. They thrive well either as dwarfs 
or standards ; but some varieties require the foster- 
ing care of the cultivator to tempt them to produce 
their flowers in full beauty. To ensure complete 
success, plant them in a soil made rich, and water 
them occasionally in spring with liquid manure. 
All, except the vigorous-growing ones, which are 
in many instances hybrids, should be subjected to 
close pruning. The hybrids are so robust in their 
nature, that they do not need more than ordinary 
attention. — Paul’s Rose Garden, p. 25. 
The French Roses. Rosa Gallica. The French, 
or “ Garden Roses,” have been long, very long, 
under cultivation, and many of the old varieties 
are prolific beyond measure in producing seeds 
which vegetate freely. Hence is accounted for 
the number of French Roses which have been 
introduced to our gardens ; and being in general 
full and finely-formed flowers, many even of the 
oldest are still admired and cultivated. They are 
very hardy, and thrive well in the commonest 
garden soil ; although their beauty is greatly in- 
creased, if cultivated in a good soil, and planted in 
a favourable site. No kind can be more beautiful 
than French Roses ; the flowers are of all hues, are 
remarkable for their brilliancy, fulness, perfect out- 
line, regularity in the disposition of the petals, and 
delightful fragrance. In this group are many 
interesting striped, marbled, and spotted roses, 
singularly beautiful, and which, although highly 
popular in France, do not seem to suit the taste of 
English rose cultivators. To see them in perfec- 
tion, they should be viewed early in the morning, 
before the summer’s sun has dimmed their beauty. 
They are distinguished from the Provence Roses by 
a more upright and compact growth ; the prickles 
are smaller and less numerous, and the flowers are 
more flat. French Roses form fine low standards ; 
in which manner they are displayed to great advan- 
tage. In pruning, the heads should be well thinned 
out, as they are disposed to produce an abundance 
of shoots, far more than can be suffered to remain, 
if fine flowers, combined with the ultimate good of 
the tree, are the chief ends in view. Thin out the 
heads well ; and, when pruning, cut the shoots 
back to four, five, or six eyes, or to where the wood 
is firm and well ripened, and the eyes full and 
plump. — Paul’s Rose Garden, p. 40. 
Cuphea purpurea ( Purple-flowered Cuphea). 
This is a perennial herbaceous plant, growing from / 
eighteen inches to two feet high. The stems are 
slender and leafy, with an erect growth, and of a 
pale green, tinged with rosy-purple. The leaves are 
