sometimes half the flowers will be white, and the remaining petals of a bright rose colour.

Moss Roses, when grown on their own roots, require a light and rich soil: in such soils, they form fine masses of beauty in beds on lawns. In cold and clayey soils they in general succeed much better worked on the Dog Rose, forming beautiful standards. I have ascertained that they establish themselves much better on short stems, from two to three feet in height, than on taller stems. If short, the stem increases in bulk progressively with the head, and the plants will then live and flourish a great many years.

To give a succession of bloom, the plants intended to flower early should be pruned in October, and those for the second series the beginning of May; shortening their shoots, as recommended for the Provence Roses. Give them also an abundant annual dressing of manure on the surface, in November.

To raise Moss Roses from seed is a most interesting employment for the genuine rose amateur, such a pleasing field is open, and so much may yet be done. The following directions will I hope assist those who have leisure, perseverance, and love for this charming flower. A plant of the Luxembourg Moss and one of the Single Crimson Moss should be planted against a south wall close to each other, so that

their branches may be mingled; in bright calm sunny mornings in June about ten o'clock those flowers that are expanded should be examined by pressing the fingers on the anthers, it will then be found if the pollen is abundant, if so, a flower of the former should be shaken over the latter, or, what perhaps is better, its flower stalk should be fastened to the wall, so that the flower will be kept in an erect position, then cut a flower of the Luxembourg Moss, snip off its petals with a sharp pair of scissors, and place the anthers firmly but gently upon a flower of the Single Crimson: so that the anthers of each are entangled, they will keep it in its position, so that a stiff breeze will scarcely remove it; the fertilising will take place without further trouble, and a fine hep full of seed will be the result; to obtain seed from the Luxembourg Moss I need scarcely say that this operation must be reversed. A wall is not always necessary to ripen seed, for in dry soils and airy exposed situations the above Moss Roses bear seed in tolerable abundance. The treatment of the heps, sowing the seed, and the management of the young plants, as applicable to all, is given at the end of the first part.

THE FRENCH ROSE.

(ROSA GALLICA.)

The French Rose (Rosa gallica of botanists) is an inhabitant of the continent of Europe, growing abundantly in the hedges of France and Italy. In the "Floræ Romanæ" of Sebastiani, published at Rome in 1818, this rose, Rosa sempervirens, and Rosa canina, are said to be the only roses growing naturally in the Papal States. It was one of the earliest roses introduced to our gardens. 1596 is given by botanists as the date of its introduction; and, owing to its bearing seed freely, it has been the parent of an immense number of varieties, many of the earlier sorts being more remarkable for their expressive French appellations than for any great dissimilarity in their habits or colours. The Semi-double Red Rose, grown in Surrey for the druggists, is of this family, and a very slight remove from the original species, which is of the same colour, with but one range of petals, or single. All the roses of this group are remarkable for their compact and upright growth; many for the multiplicity of their petals, and tendency to produce variegated flowers. Some of these spotted and striped roses are very singular and beautiful. The formation of the flower, in

many of the superior modern varieties of Rosa gallica is very regular; so that most probably this family will ultimately be the favourite of those florists who show roses for prizes in the manner that dahlias are now exhibited; that is, as full-blown flowers, one flower on a stem; for they bear carriage better, when fully expanded, than any other roses. In France, this is called the "Provins Rose;" and some varieties of it are classed in a separate division, as "Agathe Roses." These have curled foliage, and palecoloured compact flowers, remarkable for their crowded petals. That very old striped rose, sometimes improperly called the "York and Lancaster" Rose, seems to have been one of the first variations of Rosa gallica, as it is men tioned by most of our early writers on gardening. This is properly "Rosa mundi:" the true York and Lancaster Rose is a Damask Rose.

To describe a selection of these roses is no easy task, as the plants differ so little in their habits; and their flowers, though very dissimilar in appearance, yet offer so few prominent descriptive characteristics. Some of the new varieties lately introduced, though much prized in France, have not yet bloomed well here: the change of climate seems to have affected them. A' Fleurs à Feuilles Marbrées, as the name implies, has its leaves and flowers marbled or stained, as are also its branches. This rose is

so double, that it has as much the appearance of a ranunculus as a rose, and in fine weather is very beautiful; but wet soon disfigures it. Aglae Adanson is a fine marbled rose, something like the above in colour, but with much larger flowers, which are double, finely formed, and open freely. Anarelle is a large cupped and finely shaped rose; its outer petals pale lilac; its centre of a deep purplish rose, distinct and good. Aspasie is one of the most delicate and beautiful roses known; for its form is quite perfect, a little inclining to be globular, like some of the hybrid China roses. Aurélie is much like the last in colour and form, but is delicately spotted with white. Assemblage des Beautés is not quite full enough of petals, but deserves its name, for its varied and finely coloured crimson and scarlet flowers, on one stem, are always admired. Belle Herminie is a semidouble spotted rose, remarkable as being the parent of most of the spotted and marbled varieties. Berlèse is a fine rose, with a dark purple ground spotted with crimson, and before it is faded by the mid-day sun it is very beautiful. Belle de Fontenay is now a well known variety, but quite unique, as its margined flowers are distinct and characteristic.

Bizarre Marbré is a fine marbled rose, very double and well shaped, of a bright rose-colour beautifully shaded. Comte Walsh has been