CLIMBING ROSES.

DIVISION FIRST. THE AYRSHIRE ROSE (ROSA ARVENSIS HYBRIDA).

It is the opinion of some cultivators, that the varieties of the Ayrshire Rose have been originated from the Rosa arvensis, or creeping single White Rose of our woods and hedges. But this is contradicted by botanists, who assert, that the original Ayrshire Rose was raised in Scotland from foreign rose seed: it may have been; but to judge from its habit, I feel no hesitation in asserting, that it is merely a seedling hybrid from our Rosa arvensis, having acquired much additional vigour, as all hybrid roses nearly invariably do, from some accidental impregnation: perhaps no rose can be more luxuriant than this; for the Single Ayrshire, and that semi-double variety, known as the Double White, will often make shoots in one season twenty to thirty feet in length. Several of our prettiest varieties have been raised from seed by Mr. Martin, of Rose Angle, Dundee; but the first in the Catalogue, the Ayrshire Queen, the only dark Ayrshire Rose known, was originated by myself, in 1835, from the Blush Ayrshire, impregnated with the Tuscany Rose. But one seed germinated, and the plant produced has proved a complete hybrid. Its flowers are of the same shape, and not more

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double than those of the Blush Ayrshire, its female parent; but they have all the dark purplish crimson of the Tuscany Rose. It has lost a portion of the vigorous climbing habit of the Ayrshire, but yet makes an excellent pillar rose. Till we can get a dark Ayrshire Rose, double as a Ranunculus, it will be acceptable. The Double Blush, or Double Red of some catalogues, is a pretty early rose, a vigorous climber, and as a standard forms a beautiful umbrella-shaped tree. Bennet's Seedling is a new variety found growing among some briars, by a gardener, of the name of Bennet, in Nottinghamshire. It is a very pretty double and fragrant white rose. Dundee Rambler is the most double, and one of the best in this division; it blooms in very large clusters, much in the Noisette fashion, and is truly a desirable rose. Elegans, or the Double White, is one of our oldest varieties; its flowers are semi-double, and, individually, not pretty, as their petals in hot weather are very flaccid; but then it blooms in such large clusters, and grows so vigorously, that it forms an admirable Wilderness Rose. Jessica is a pretty, delicate pink variety, distinct and good. Rose Angle Blush is like Jessica in its colour, but is much more luxuriant in its habit. I am sure that this rose in strong soils will make shoots in one season more than twenty feet in length.

* Rosa Thoresbyana of the Floricultural Cabinet.

Lovely Rambler, or the Crimson Ayrshire, is too semi-double, and its petals too flaccid, to be much esteemed; it is mentioned here to prevent its two imposing names from misleading the amateur. Myrrh-scented: this name has been applied to two or three roses having the same peculiar scent; this variety has semi-double flowers of a creamy blush. Queen of the Belgians is a fine rose, with very double flowers, of a pure white; this is a most vigorous climber, soon forming a pillar fifteen or twenty feet high. Ruga is now a well-known variety, said to be a hybrid between the Tea-scented China Rose and the Common Ayrshire; it is a most beautiful and fragrant rose. Splendens is a new variety, with very largecupped flowers, of a creamy blush; this rose has also that peculiar "myrrh-scented" fragrance.

Ayrshire Roses are some of them, perhaps, surpassed in beauty by the varieties of Rosa sempervirens; still they have distinct and desirable qualities they bloom nearly a fortnight earlier than the roses of that division; they will grow where no other rose will exist; and to climb up the stems of timber trees in plantations near frequented walks, and to form undergrowth, they are admirably well adapted; they also make graceful and beautiful standards, for the ends of the branches descend and shade the stems, which, in consequence, increase rapidly in bulk. It seems probable that Ayrshire Roses will grow to an enor

mous size as standards, and surpass in the beauty of their singular dome-shaped heads many other roses more prized for their rarity.

The following extract from the Dundee Courier of July 11th, 1837, will give some idea how capable these roses are of making even a wilderness a scene of beauty:

"Some years ago, a sand pit at Ellangowan was filled up with rubbish found in digging a well. Over this a piece of rock was formed for the growth of plants which prefer such situations, and amongst them were planted some half dozen plants of the Double Ayrshire Rose, raised in this neighbourhood about ten years ago. These roses now most completely cover the whole ground, a space of thirty feet by twenty. At present they are in full bloom, showing probably not less than ten thousand roses in this small space."

CLIMBING ROSES.

DIVISION SECOND. ROSA MULTIFLora.

The Rosa multiflora, or many-flowered rose, is a native of Japan, from whence it was brought by Thunberg, and introduced into this country in 1804. Several of the varieties in the catalogue have been raised in Italy, where these pretty roses flourish and bear seed abundantly. In the neigh

bourhood of Florence the Double Red may be seen climbing to an enormous extent, and large plants, completely covered with thousands of its very double and perfect flowers, having a fine appearance. The Single White is also grown in Italy ; from this I have this season (1837) raised several hundreds of seedlings; the seed I received from Signor Crivelli, of Como, an Italian Rose amateur, very much devoted to gardening; all the varieties of this family are interesting, as they differ so much from other roses. Alba, or the Double White, is rather a misnomer, for it is not pure white, but rather a pale flesh-colour, pretty and distinct. Crivellii is a new variety, and one of the prettiest; its flowers are of a brilliant and changeable red, very unique; it is a free grower, and well deserves attention. Elegans is a most beautiful little rose, changing from blush to nearly pure white: it is a little hybridised, and consequently more hardy than the true Rosa multiflora. Fragrans is a most robust growing variety, but it has not yet bloomed in this country. Scarlet Grevillia or Russelliana is a hybrid, differing much in character from the other varieties of this family; it is more hardy, but does not climb so freely; still it is a beautiful and distinct rose: its large clusters of shaded crimson flowers have a fine effect on a pillar. Grevillia, or the Seven Sisters' Rose is a vigorous climber, blooming in large clusters, which show a curious diversity of colours;