ON THE CULTURE OF ROSES. 
139 
But few sorts appear to have been cultivated till within the last forty years, 
during which time a great number of beautiful varieties have been raised from seed 
on the Continent, chiefly in France. Upwards of three hundred new varieties have 
also been raised in Britain, chiefly produced from the R. spinosissima or Scotch 
rose, thus swelling up the nursery catalogues to upwards of a thousand names ; 
many of these, however, so nearly resemble each other, that they can scarcely be 
considered distinct varieties, but the trifling variations which do exist may probably 
arise from the different situations, soils, &c. in which they grow. This is particu- 
larly the case with many of the French roses, and most judges have come to the 
conclusion that there do not exist many more than five hundred distinct varieties. 
The observations on the culture of roses made by our kind friend J. T., in the 
Horticultural Register, vol. i. page 551, so nearly meet our views on the subject, 
that we are not aware that much amendment can be made in dividing the genus. 
Though plants are greatly altered by culture, yet they generally retain a consider- 
able bias to the soil and situation for which, by nature, they are formed ; and it is 
usually within a certain range only of their natural habits, that they are capable of 
improvement by cultivation. The genus, in point of differences in culture, may be 
separated into five divisions. 
The first division contains the R. spinosissima, lutea, sulphur ea, cinnamomea , 
and their numerous varieties, including all those with slender shoots, small and 
numerous thorns, and fibrous roots growing very near the surface of the ground, and 
which in their wild state grow on heaths and places where there is but little depth 
of soil, and are surrounded only by plants of a low stature ; and are also generally 
exposed to the browsing of cattle. The culture of these may be stated as follows : 
1. Always plant them in an airy open situation, where they are fully exposed to 
the sun, but not where the ground is very low and swampy. 
2. The soil in which they will flourish best is a light sandy loam, or a mixture 
of loam and sandy peat. 
3. Pruning and shortening them may be practised to almost any extent without 
materially injuring them. 
4. As the roots run near to the surface of the ground, they will grow where the 
soil is very shallow. They will also endure much drought, and flourish in situations 
where few or none of the other species or varieties would live. 
The second division includes the numerous varieties of Rosa provincialis, or 
centifolia, and Gallica. The varieties of these species are so numerous, that this 
division contains the greatest number as well as many of the most beautiful roses. 
They appear to be plants which in their natural situation have to contend with high 
grasses, and other strong growing perennial plants; when overpowered by these, 
they remove by sending out roots near the surface of the ground, which when they 
reach a more airy spot, throw up suckers, these exhaust the old plant, and form a 
new one in a better situation. The roots of this division are somewhat less fibrous 
than those of the first, but they also grow near the surface of the ground. They 
may be cultivated as follows : — 
5. Always plant this division in a rich loamy soil in preference to light soil. 
6. They do not require to be planted in situations so exposed as those of the first 
