A CHAPTER OH BOSES. 
45 
slight protection. The flowers often measure six inches 
in diameter, are very rich in coloring, and extremely sweet. 
They do not bloom much during the first year of planting, 
but reserve their forces for a grand “opening” in the suc¬ 
ceeding spring. Such dark, rich, velvety reds, such glow¬ 
ing pinks and creamy whites, are scarcely seen in any 
other species, and, although the bloom is not constant, it 
may always be counted on early in the season and at inter¬ 
vals during the summer and autumn months. 
A moss-rosebud is the most exquisite thing the garden 
produces, but moss-roses are less common than any others, 
because of the comparative difficulty of raising them and 
their slowness of growth. The full-blown blossom has lost 
its beauty; but of the plant it is justly said : “Nothing- 
can eclipse and nothing can rival her. She is and ever 
will be the favorite of poetry and art. The eloquence of 
her opening buds, half wrapped in their mossy envelope, 
will remain through all generations a chosen interpreter of 
the language of youth and beauty.” 
Moss-roses do not mind partial shade, as they will do 
very well under trees ; but, like all other roses, they require 
deep, rich ground and insist on plenty of moisture. Most 
of them bloom but once in the season, and are rather chary 
of their blossoms with us ; but they are grown to a large 
extent for the London market. In England they are 
planted between currant and gooseberry bushes, about two 
feet apart, or under fruit-trees at a distance of three feet. 
Various vegetables are interspersed with the roses, and 
seem to agree with them, for the result is a wonderful 
amount of bloom. 
“After they have done blooming, and have made good 
wood, they are layered on both sides of the rows; and in 
October, or any time between that and the following 
March, the layers are lifted, and after their roots have 
been dressed and their tops shortened a little, they are 
