JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  24.  1901 
76 
Origin  of  Several  Varieties  of  Moss  Roses. 
At  the  unique  National  Rose  Show,  held  in  the  Botanical  Gardens, 
Edgbaston,  in  July  last,  several  varieties  of  Moss  Roses  (Rosa 
rnuscosa)  called  for  a  share  of  attention  from  those  interested  in  this 
section.  It  has,  therefore,  occurred  to  me  that  the  subjoined  extract 
Irom  that  intere-tiug  o'd  journal,  “The  Horticultural  Cabinet  and 
Florist’s  Magazine  ”  of  1851,  might  prove  interesting  to  some  readers 
of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture.  The  paper  in  question  was  contributed 
by  Mr.  H.  Shailer,  Chapel  Nursery,  Battersea  Fields,  London,  and 
which  I  quote  verbatim. 
“  On  the  first  introduction  of  the  old  red  Moss  in  or  about  the  year 
1735,  it  was  sent  over  with  some  Orange  trees  from  the  Italian  Stateg 
to  Mr.  Wrench,  then  a  nurseryman  and  gardener  at  Broom  House 
Fulham,  the  same  being  now  in  the  occupation  of  the  descendants  of 
that  family,  the  Messrs.  Fitch,  extensive  market  gardeners,  &c.  It 
remained  iu  that  family  nearly  twenty  years  without  being  much 
noticed  or  circulated,  until  a  nurseryman  named  Grey  of  the  Fulham 
Nursery,  ,now  Messrs.  Osborn’s,  brought  it  into  note.  The  firsfc 
production  of  the  white  Moss  Rose,  which  took  place  in  the  year 
1788,  was  from  a  sucker  or  underground  shoot.  My  father,  Henry 
Shailer,  nurseryman,  of  Little  Chelsea,  an  extensive  grower  of  Moss 
Roses,  perceiving  it  to  be  a  lusus  natures  irom  a  stool  of  the  red 
Moss,  cut  it  off,  and  budded  it  on  the  White  Provence,  or  Rose  La 
Blanche  Unique.  The  buds  flowered  the  following  season  a  pale  blush. 
He  budded  them  again  the  next  season,  when  the  flowers  came 
much  whiter.  It  was  thus  figured  in  ‘Andrew’s  Rosary’  under  the 
name  of  Shailer’s  White  Moss.  He  then  sold  it  out,  the  first  plants 
to  Loid  Ivimbolton,  then  to  the  Marquis  of  Blandford,  Lady  de 
Clifford,  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  &c.,  at  5  guineas  per  plant.  He 
c  ntinued  to  sell  at  that  price  lor  three  years.  He  then  entered  into 
a  contract  with  those  highly  respectable  and  extensive  nurserymen, 
Messrs.  Lee  &  Kennedy  of  Hammersimth,  they  taking  as  many 
plants  as  he  could  grow  lor  three  years  at  20s.  per  plant,  binding  him 
not  to  sell  to  anyone  else  under  42s.  per  plant. 
“  After  cutting  down  the  shoots  which  produced  the  white  Moss  the 
plant  threw  up  two  weak  shoots,  which  he  budded  from;  they  flowered 
the  second  season  from  the  buds,  and  that  was  the  birth  of  the  striped 
Moss  Rose,  a  most  beautiful  and  delicate  variety,  but  when  grown 
very  strong  apt  to  go  back  to  the  original  parent.  Tbe  production  of 
the  single  Moss  Rose,  1807,  was  a  sport  of  Nature.  My  father  sent 
seme  plants  of  Moss  Roses  to  a  nurseryman  named  Essex  at  Colchester, 
and  on  receipt  ot  a  letter  from  that  person  I  went  with  my  father  to 
see  the  plant  when  it  was  in  blot  m.  I  took  some  cuttings  away  with 
me  to  bud,  and  the  following  autumn  fetched  the  original  plant  to 
our  nursery  at  Little  Chelsea,  from  whence  we  sent  the  first  plant  out 
at  5s.  The  old  scarlet  Moss  Rose,  which  is  a  semi-double,  first 
flowered  in  1808,  on  a  plant  given  by  my  father  to  his  brother, 
F.  Shailer,  of  Cook’s  Ground  and  Queen’s  Elm,  Chelsea. 
“The  first  production  of  the  Moss  de  Meux  was  from  a  sport  of  the 
old  De  Meux.  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bristol,  but  brought  into  a 
high  state  of  perfection  by  Messrs.  Lee  of  Hammersmith.  The  Sage- 
leaf  Moss  Rose  I  must  claim  myself.  It  was  a  sport  of  Nature.  I 
discovered  it  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  month  of  June,  1813.  I  sold 
the  whole  stock  to  Messrs.  Lee  cf  Hammersmith.  It  has  a  delicate 
shell-like  lorm,  and  is  a  beautiful  blush  ;  now  nearly  extinct.  On  the 
first  known  production  of  La  Blanche  Unique  or  the  white  Provence 
it  was  discovered  by  Mr.  Daniel  Grimwood,  nurseryman,  of  Little 
Chelsea.  He  was  on  a  journey  of  business  in  the  county  of  Norfolk, 
in  the  month  of  July,  1775,  when  riding  very  leisurely  along  the  road 
he  perceived  a  Rose  of  great  whiteness  in  a  mill  garden ;  he  alighted, 
and  on  close  inspection  discovered  it  to  be  a  Provence  Rose.  He 
sought  an  interview  with  the  inmate  of  the  mill,  who  was  an  elderly 
female,  and  begged  a  flower,  which  was  instantly  given  him,  and 
in  return  he  gave  her  a  guinea.  In  cutting  off  the  flower  he  cut 
three  buds.  He  went  to  the  first  inn,  packed  it  up,  and  sent  it 
direct  to  my  father,  who  was  then  his  foreman  at  his  nursery 
Little  Chelsea,  requesting  him  to  bud  it,  which  he  did,  and  two  of 
the  buds  grew.' 
“  In  the  iollowing  autumn  he  vent  down  to  the  same  place,  and 
for  five  guineas  brought  the  whole  stock  away.  He  then  made  an 
arrangement  with  my  father  to  propagate  it,  allowing  him  5s.  per  plant 
for  tl.rte  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  sold  it  out  at  21s. 
per  plant,  my  father’s  share  amounting  to  £300.  Mr.  Grimwood 
sent  the  old  lady  at  the  mill  a  superb  silver  tankard  and  presents  to  the 
amount  of  £60.  The  Shailer’s  Provence,  or  Rosea  gracilis,  so  named  by 
Messrs.  Lee,  was  raised  from  seeds  of  the  Spineless  or  Virgin’s  Rose, 
sown  by  myself  in  1799,  and  flowered  in  1802.  We  raised  numerous 
varieties  from  seed  up  to  1816,  and  generally  sold  them  to  Messrs. 
Lee,  who  sent  them  out  under  their  own  naming.” — William 
Gardiner,  Harhourne,  Birmingham. 
- - 
Ardlui. 
Within  easy  reach  of  the  Irish  metropolis,  yet  in  close  contact 
with  rugged  Nature,  the  gardens  and  grounds  of  Ardlui  are  situated. 
This,  the  residence  of  G.  Mitchell,  Esq.,  is  about  three  miles  from  the 
rising  town  of  Blackrock,  and  something  more  from  the  city  proper. 
My  visit  was  a  fortunate  one,  for  the  grounds,  early  in  July,  looked 
charming.  Roses  had  scented  their  environs  with  perfume,  whilst  the 
trees  had  donned  their  best  attire.  The  interest  was  much  increased 
by  the  guidance  of  Mr.  W.  Baker,  the  efficient  gardener.  Though  the 
place  has  no  pretensions  to  size,  the  skill  of  man  has  formed  within  its 
narrow  compass  a  charming  sylvan  retreat,  whilst  some  of  the 
Conifers  would  be  reckoned  to  rank  amongst  the  finest  specimens  in 
the  Emerald  Isle.  , 
The  houses,  situated  close  to  the  roadside,  are  hidden  from  the 
grounds.  There  is  one  span-roofed  structure,  the  remainder  forming  a 
lean-to  range.  They  contained  fine  collections  of  Crotons,  ranging  in  size 
from  table  plants  to  handsome  specimens ;  Palms,  notably  Kentias, 
with  Phoenix  in  lesser  quantity  ;  also  Ferns,  Anthuriums,  Eucharis, 
which  are  in  strong  request  by  the  number  present,  and  Hibiscus. 
Amongst  the  latter  Mr.  Baker  pointed  out  a  seedling  of  his  own  ;  it  was 
a  neat  plant  with  pure  white  flowers,  the  base  of  each  segment  on  the 
inside  having  a  dark  scarlet  spot.  Streptocarpuses  were  in  abundance, 
as  were  Zonal  Pelargoniums.  Orchids,  though  not  numerous,  include 
Cypripediums,  Oncidiums,  and  Cattleyas  of  the  best  known  types. 
Carnations  are  well  grown,  the  old  Germania  being  a  favourite. 
Tomatoes,  Melons,  and  Peaches  were  in  excellent  health  and  carrying 
quantities  of  fruit.  Adjoining  the  houses  is  the  kitchen  garden,  in 
which  Strawberries  were  splendid,  as  also  were  Currants.  The  whole 
,  of  this  quarter  was  surrounded  by  a  wall  of  Sweet  Peas,  and  as  the 
ground  sloped  the  sheet  of  bloom  looked  particularly  effective.  Several 
hundred  Chrysanthemums  are  grown,  and  as  they  flanked  a  walk  between 
the  herbaceous  borders,  they  looked  remarkably  well.  A  fine  bed  of 
Dahlias  showed  a  mass  of  foliage,  the  Cactus  types  being  mostly  in 
favour.  Skirting  some  beds  of  hardy  flowers  the  lawn  came  into 
full  view.  It  is  dotted  with  Conifers,  but  a  handsome  Quince  soon 
attracted  attention,  its  silvery  hued  foliage  forming  a  pretty  object  ; 
it  is  thrown  well  into  relief  by  the  dense  mass  of  shrubberies  on 
both  sides. 
Close  to  the  house  stands  a  grand  row  of  Araucaria  imbricata  ;  they 
were  planted  very  closely,  and  the  lower  branches  were  lying  on  the 
pround.  In  the  orchard  Apples  predominate,  standards  of  Bramley’s 
Seedling,  Warner’s  Kmg  being  mostly  in  evidence.  On  the  walls 
Pears,  Cherries,  and  Peaches  were  traiued ;  they  were  in  the  picture  of 
health,  and  were  laden  with  fruit.  On  one  side  of  the  rosery  Lilacs  were 
planted,  and  on  the  other  trees  in  variety,  each  being  edged  with  hardy 
flowers.  The  Roses  were  planted  in  beds.  Both  the  Teas  and  the 
Hybrid  Perpetuals  were  represented  by  some  of  the  newest  as  well  as 
ihe  oldest  varieties.  The  plants  were  one  mass  of  flower.  In  close 
proximity  the  ancient  tower,  with  the  gay  rosery  and  the  sombre  tint 
of  the  neighbouring  trees  formed  a  striking  picture.  From  its  roof  one 
gets  a  pleasant  glimpse  of  the  suburbs  of  the  metropolis.  From  this  point 
to  the  houses  there  is  an  avenue  of  over  a  mile ;  it  formed  a  unique 
picture,  as  on  one  side  was  a  sheet  of  bloom,  the  whole  being  planted 
with  Monthly  Roses,  over  which  waved  the  darker  foliage  of  trees ;  at 
intervals  there  are  dense  masses  of  shrubberies. 
Adjoining  a  miniature  lake  is  the  arbour  house,  which  is  covered 
with  Polyantha  and  Ayrshire  Roses.  In  close  proximity  are  several 
Scotch  Firs  about  60  feet  high,  and  Woodbines  were  growing  upon 
them ;  their  pendulous  foliage  would  easily  reach  close  on  45  feet,  and 
in  the  distance  is  a  splendid  Cryptomeria  japonica ;  it  is  upwards  of 
90  feet  high,  and  over  10  feet  round  at  the  stem.  The  lowest  branohes 
lie  on  the  ground.  Its  full  beauty  is  somewhat  detracted  from  by  belts 
of  Rhododendrons,  which  are  hiding  its  finest  branches.  Cedars  are 
represented  by  several  giant  specimens.  Before  drawing  this  description 
to  a  close  I  desire  to  note  an  artificial  glen  in  which  Ferns  luxuriate, 
Aspleniums  being  in  the  greatest  quantity;  the  overhanging  foliage  of 
a  Walnut  lends  a  charm.  We  bade  Mr.  Baker  a  reluctant  farewell, 
after  thanking  him  for  his  kindness,  and  congratulating  him  on  the 
excellent  condition  of  his  charge. — A.  0’Neh.l. 
