44 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Juny, 1899. 
memory. ‘The number has greatly increased since then. All these beautiful and 
varied flowers have been derived by cross-fertilisation from a few species—that is 
to say, kinds which are found constantly distinct in a state of nature; though 
roses, like orchids, are frequently cross-fertilised in their natural habitats. Of 
these species there are about 60, and some are well known as old-time garden 
plants. They are found wild in widely separated lands, but almost entirely in 
Abyssinia, Europe, the Orient, China, North America, Britain (some forms 
being peculiar to those islands), Siberia, Afghanistan, California, India, Kamt- 
schatka, Persia, and Japan. 
Eight of these species have an interest for usas being the ancestors of all 
our splendid garden varieties of to-day, and these we may glance at very briefly. 
Rosa centifolia, the hundred-leaved rose, was brought from the Orient in 1596. 
The Moss Rose (Rosa centifolia muscosa) is a variety of this. The hundred- 
leaved rose is the parent of many of our most beautiful roses. The common 
cabbage rose was one of its forms. Rosa damascena (the Damask Rose) was 
brought from the Orient in1575. Rosa gallica (the French Rose) is anative of 
Europe and Western Asia, and has given rise, as we shall see, to several grand 
varieties. Rosa indica is the common monthly rose, and is believed to be one of 
the parents of the beautiful old rose, Rosa Fortuneana. Rosa lutea (the 
Austrian Briar) has come much to the front of late. It is a native of the Orient. 
Rosa moschata is the Musk Rose, and a probable parent of the Noisette roses. 
Rosa rugosa is w parent of the Japan roses. 
Let us now glance at the varieties of the garden roses as they are classed 
by the gardener. 
1. Tou Provence Roses.—These are descended from Rosa centifolia. 
They mostly grow dwarfishly, and the knife can be used freely in pruning. ‘The 
are all sweetly scented. They can best be propagated from cuttings, doing well 
on their own roots. 
2. Tur Moss Roses.—These do not succeed well in Queensland, but two or 
. ; : peels! 
three of the most vigorous might be tried, such as Comtesse Murinais, Com- 
mom or damask, Laneti. 
3. Damask Rosres.—The offspring of Rosa damascena, which came from 
the Levant in 1573. They look well planted amongst other roses, if only for 
the foliage, which is characteristic, being of a much lighter green than usual. 
4. Hyper Prrpervars.—This well-known class originated in crosses 
between the Damask and French roses and other classes. They comprise some 
of the most beautiful of roses, some being of very dark hues. They are not 
found, however, in orange or yellow. They are delightfully scented, having a 
quality of perfume peculiarly their own, and not found amongst other roses. 
‘They are often grown to a great size, and the delightfully scented monsters 
which one so often sees at exhibitions are of this class, 
5. Tea Scentep Rosres.—This is the Queensland rose, par eacellence. It 
owes its origin. to Rosa indica, as does also the Noisette class, frequently 
separated in rose catalogues. They cannot, however, be distinguished in many 
instances, and the National Rose Society at present classes them with the tea- 
scented roses. 
Some of the very best climbers are to be found amongst the Teas, as they 
are familiarly called, and amongst them are to be found a great number of roses 
possessing the substance of petal so desirable for a Queensland rose. They are 
usually divided into two sections—those of very vigorous growth with a climbing 
habit, and those of more moderate growth. Of the first section may be 
mentioned :—Belle Iyonaisse, Cheshunt Hybrid, Climbing Captain Christy, 
Climbing Devoniensis, Climbing Niphetos, Climbing Perle de Jardins, Fanny 
Stolwerck, Glorie de Dijon, Le Soleil, Madame Bérard, Madame Chauvry, 
Madame Eugéne Verdier, Mai Fleuri, Maréchal Niel, Pink Rover, Reine Marie 
Henriette, Waltham Climber No. 1, Waltham Climber No. 2, White Maréchal 
Niel. The second section contains several favourite and beautiful varieties, 
