ROSA CENTIFOLIA, var. MUSCOSA 
available. Lindley quotes Sir James E. Smith’s account of the 
species pravincialis , in which the Moss Rose is thus referred to : 
“We have however seen, in the ample collection of Roses at Messrs. Lee and 
Kennedy’s, perfectly single flowers of the Moss Rose, which those experienced 
cultivators have proved to be only a variety of the Common Provins Rose. Indeed 
we have been told in Italy, that this variety loses its mossiness, almost immediately, 
in that climate.'’ 
On this Lindley remarks : “ How the Moss Rose has been proved to 
be a variety of the Common Provins one remains untold.” 
Prince, 1 referring to the statement made by several writers that in 
Italy the mossiness disappears almost immediately under the influence 
of the climate, points out that the Moss Roses “retain their distinctive 
character at New Orleans and other localities far exceeding Italy in 
an approach to a tropical climate.” Prevost 2 names and describes 
thirteen varieties of Moss Roses. He considers the mossy character 
so remarkable that he agrees with Miller in regarding Rosa mu s cos a 
as a distinct species. Redoute has five very beautiful drawings of the 
M oss Rose. Plate 39 (vol. i.) is a representation of the Countess de 
Vandas single form, which flowered for the first time in her Bayswater 
garden in 1807 and had already been figured by Andrews, In the 
accompanying text Thory quotes the opinions of Willdenow, Desfon- 
taines, De Candolle and others in support of his belief that it is a 
distinct species. Plate 41 is an extremely beautiful example of the 
ordinary double pink Moss Rose. Thory quotes in his description 
the assertions of Roessig and of Andrews relating to its origin, and, 
alluding to the theory held by some that it had originated in England, 
remarks that when the origin of a plant is unknown, the English 
immediately claim it as indigenous to their own country. Plate 97 
(vol. iii.), another pink Moss Rose, is La FLeche, which was raised by 
Lemeunier and named after the town in which he lived. It is quite 
distinct but not to be compared for beauty with the common Moss 
and others. 
William Paul 3 devotes a whole chapter to the Moss Roses, and 
although he had evidently made every enquiry, he had not been 
able to discover anything more of its origin than was already known 
to Miller. It seems very probable that it went from this country to 
France, where it soon became a popular favourite. Paul gives many 
interesting details about Moss Roses in general, and describes eighty- 
four of the principal varieties. He observes that they make charming 
pillar Roses, and mentions the pillar fifteen feet high of the old red 
M oss Rose which was at that time growing in Mr. Anderson’s 
garden at Bull’s Cross, near Cheshunt, and was the admiration of all 
beholders. 
1 Manual of Roses , p. 19 (1846). 
3 Catalogue , p. 64 (1829). 
347 
3 Rose Garden , p. 32 (1848). 
