one of these hedges, found amongst his young plants one very different from the others in its shoots and foliage. This induced him to plant it in his garden. It flowered the following year; and, as he anticipated, proved to be of quite a new race, and differing much from the above two roses, which, at the time, were the only sorts known in the island." Monsieur Bréon arrived at Bourbon in 1817, as botanical traveller for the government of France, and curator of the Botanical and Naturalization Garden there. He propagated this rose very largely; and sent plants and seeds of it, in 1822, to Monsieur Jacques*, gardener at the Château de Neuilly, near Paris, who distributed them among the rose cultivators of France. M. Bréon named it "Rose de L'Ile de Bourbon ;" and is convinced that it is a hybrid from one of the above roses, and a native of the island. Owing to the original being a hybrid, the roses of this family vary much in their characters; those that retain the leading features I have termed true Bourbons. I shall now notice and describe a few of the most striking and distinct varieties of this very charming group; and begin with Armosa, quite a new variety, very double and perfect in the shape of its flowers, which

Whence the name often given to the Common Bourbon Rose of "Bourbon Jacques."

are of a delicate rose-colour: the plant is of medium growth. Augustine Lelieur is a charming rose, a true Bourbon, so vivid and so beautiful that it cannot be too much recommended: its flowers are very erect, and bellshaped, and as fine in October as in June. Centifolia is a rose equally fine, but quite different in colour, which is delicately pale, something like the old Celestial Rose: its flowers are more double than those of Augustine Lelieur, and quite pendulous from their weight; also a true Bourbon. Diaphane is a small high-coloured rose, almost scarlet. This is not a true Bourbon, but a very pretty rose, of dwarf growth, adapted for the front of a border. Dubourg is also a hybrid Bourbon, of a different character to the last, as it is very robust and makes long shoots, generally terminated by a fine cluster of flowers in rich soils this will make a fine pillar-rose. Duc de Grammont is also a hybrid Bourbon, very dwarf in its habit, with flowers of fine shape, and very double, inclining to purple. Earl Grey is a genuine Bourbon Rose, of first-rate excellence, with large and double flowers, of a fine rose-colour, and the plant of compact though vigorous growth; its flowers have a fault too common with these roses; they do not open well. Faustine is now an old variety; but a very pretty little rose, very dwarf in its habit,

with flowers of that silvery-pale blush, so peculiar to some varieties in this group.

Gloire de Rosomène is a hybrid of most remarkable habits. Its large foliage, luxuriant growth, and beautiful semi-double crimson flowers, make it one of the most desirable of this division; but not for grouping, as it outgrows all its congeners. As a pillar rose it will form a splendid object; indeed, I cannot imagine any thing more imposing in floriculture, than a pillar, from twelve to fifteen feet high, covered with the splendid flowers of this rose from June till October: it will also form a fine standard. Gloire de Guerin, like the last, departs from the characters of the group; but, like all that I have retained, it has the pleasing feature of autumnal flowering. This is a dwarf rose, adapted for the front of the rose border. Henri Plantier is a good variety, with large and double flowers, of nearly a bright carmine: this, like Augustine Lelieur, may rank among the finest of the true Bourbon Roses. Ida is also a beautiful rose, with much smaller flowers, perhaps of a still deeper carmine. The plant is dwarf, yet possesses all the characters of the true Bourbon Roses in the prominency of its buds, and in its foliage. La Tendresse has flowers of a silvery-pale rosecolour, very double and large. Its habit is robust, hardy, and luxuriant, fit for the centre

of the rose bed. This is a most distinct and desirable variety. Latifolia is a fine bold rose, much like Augustine Lelieur in its colour and habit: a good rose, but not required in a collection where that rose is grown. Madame Desprez: this fine and robust rose has never yet bloomed so beautifully in this country as during this autumn (1837): its large clusters of very double flowers have indeed been superb. Monsieur Desprez, a distinguished French rose amateur, raised it from seed about five years since. It is, most probably, a little hybridised with the Noisette Rose, as it blooms in larger clusters than any other Bourbon Rose. Marshal Villars approaches to the China Rose in habit, which takes from it that compact growth peculiar to most of the true Bourbon Roses: this has flowers of a bright purple tinge, very vivid and double.* Phillippart, if not the same as Augustine Lelieur, is too much like it to be grown in the same collection. Psyché is a very remarkable rose, a hybrid of humble growth, with double pale pink flowers, of the most perfect shape. Philémon is a compact and pretty plant, with flowers of a bright purplish rose, erect, and generally so abundant as to cover the whole plant.

The flowers of this rose seldom open well; a distinguished rose amateur has expressively, but whimsically, named Bourbon roses of this character "hard-heads."

Queen of the Bourbons is a new variety, and very beautiful. Its flowers are of a vivid rose-colour, a little tinged with buff, very large and double. Phoenix is also quite new, nearly a true Bourbon Rose of a fine rosy red.

Rivers, so named by a French rose cultivator, who raised it from seed, is a pretty delicate rose, a true Bourbon; and called by the originator an "extra fine rose:" it has not yet bloomed here well enough to support that character. Thimocles is a large and fine rose, very double, and a genuine Bourbon, of luxuriant growth, and distinct character. Victoire Argentée is one of those beautiful silvery-pale roses, with very double flowers; a true Bourbon, and a fine and distinct variety. The White Bourbon was raised from seed by Monsieur Desprez, who annually raises immense numbers of Bourbon and other roses from seed, to procure new varieties. This rose is a little hybridised with the Noisette, which has given it a clustered character, and, unfortunately, taken from its flowers that bold and peculiar shape, so beautiful in the Bourbon Roses. The French cultivators are at deadly strife respecting this rose; some swearing, by all their saints, that it is a veritable Bourbon, while others as stoutly maintain that it is a Noisette Rose. An Englishman, after listening to such warm disputants (Frenchmen generally are), and to