27S 
THE CLASSIFICATION OF ROSES. 
type, and generally called the Hundred-leaved- 
rose, ceases to deserve this if semi-double. So 
that, although the origin of the family is rightly 
named, many pushed into the same list do not 
deserve the name. 
MOSS-ROSE. 
This family is distinguished by the mossy 
appearance of their stem's and the calyx, and 
therefore there is no difficulty in recognising 
any member of the family. 
THE FRENCH ROSE. 
This, to some of our readers, would appear 
to mean Roses raised in France. It happens, 
however, that the original was, as many of the 
leading ones were, raised by Van Eden, in 
Holland, and it was years before the French 
raised a single seedling from them : neverthe- 
less some of the so-called varieties were raised 
in France, but as there are hundreds raised in 
France, which are not belonging to this family, 
the distinguishing name fails; and were it not 
so, they are so unlike each other, that we could 
not recognise, in any particular feature, enough 
to decide, nor do the Rose-growers themselves 
appear more certain. 
HYBRID PROVENCE -ROSES. 
These are said to be intermediate between 
French and Provence-roses, because they have 
the long shoots of the one, and the dense foli- 
age of the other ; the said long shoots and 
dense foliage being the characteristics of Roses 
of other families in quite as large a degree ; 
and even in this very family, we have varieties 
which, the same authority says, seem to be be- 
tween the Boursault and Provence. Then, to 
show how utterly unlike some other members of 
this family are, we have the white Glove-hip, 
which was raised at Hammersmith, and once 
a favourite, because novel white, but of no 
merit as to form; and Volupte, " a bright vivid 
rose-colour and perfect shape — all that can be 
wished for in a rose." And a great, sprawling, 
loose, flimsy Rose called the Tree-peony-rose, 
which Mr. Rivers truly says cannot long be a 
favourite ; and in a note he subsequently tells 
us, he has now placed it amongst the Damask. 
So that all is indecision, change, uncertainty, 
and frivolity. In this family the distin- 
guishing character is that they " are robust 
and hardy :" so are hundreds that do not be- 
long to this family. 
HYBRID CHINA-ROSES. 
We are told of this'family, that the numerous 
varieties give a combination of all that is beau- 
tiful in a Rose. They are said to owe their 
origin to all sorts of crosses : but there is a 
distinguishing feature in these if it be ad- 
hered to — " Leaves smooth, glossy, and sub- 
evergreen ; branches long, luxuriant, and flex- 
ible." Then, again, we are informed, "that 
hybrids produced from the rose, impreg- 
nated with the China-rose, are not of such 
robust and vigorous habits, as when the China- 
rose is the female parent." This looks like 
plain straightforward information ; but it is 
followed by the same incertitude, as some of the 
other distinguishing features of families. Mr. 
Rivers adds, "But, perhaps, this is an opinion 
not borne out by facts ; for the exceptions are 
numerous, and, like many other variations in 
Roses, and plants in general, seems to bid de- 
fiance, to systematic rides." Of course they do; 
and, with the exception of those names which 
bespeak a distinct character, the splitting of 
this beautiful flower into so many different 
families at all, was a very injudicious measure. 
Athelin, a rose classed in this group, is called 
also a hybrid Bourbon, and as it blooms in 
clusters, would have been much better under- 
stood if called a Noisette. It comprises other 
Roses as unlike each other as can well be 
imagined, and many of them will shoot ten feet 
in a season, and would be much more at home 
if classed as Climbing-roses. Belle de Rosny, 
among this family, is nevertheless called also 
a hybrid Noisette. Chatelaine is also called 
a hybrid Bourbon, and many others of this 
family are destined to be removed, if the sense- 
less distinctions by name are to be kept up. 
ROSA ALBA, OR THE WHITE-ROSE. 
Here we have an illustration of the extreme 
folly of the present distinctions. We are told, 
the Roses of this division may be easily distin- 
guished by their green shoots, and leaves of a 
glaucous green, looking as if they were covered 
with a greyish impalpable powder; and flowers 
generally of the most delicate colours, gradu- 
ating from pure white to a bright but delicate 
pink. So much for the family of the White- 
rose. 
THE DAMASK-ROSE. 
This is as incongruous a group as any. 
Blanche-borde-de-rouge has flowers sometimes 
a pure white, at others margined with red. 
Claudine has flowers of a pale rose-colour. 
York and Lancaster, also classed among them, 
has flowers striped with red and white. Coralie 
is flesh colour. Then we have Madame Hardy, 
which, we are fairly told, " is not a pure 
Damask-rose;" perhaps not, as it is a white, and 
unlike all the rest. Then, there is the Duke 
of Cambridge, which Mr. Rivers "at first 
thought a hybrid China," and says, " will, per- 
haps, be better grouped with the Damask- 
roses." Why, these ridiculous contradictions, 
and the contrasts inhabit, colour, and character, 
condemn the present classification altogether. 
SCOTCH ROSES. 
So long as they allowed the family to be 
kept select, these were very distinct : they 
