ggest, the
Romans' favourite "hundred-leaved-rose" mentioned by Pliny. And as it
was found in Southern France at a very early date, it became known as
the "Provence Rose." In spite of all new comers, beautiful and
attractive as they are, the "Old Cabbage Rose" holds its own to-day in
the garden of every true rose-lover, as unsurpassed in fragrance
and colour. Its pure white variety, the _Rose Unique_, discovered in a
garden in Suffolk, in 1777, is far less common and less vigorous than
the pink Cabbage rose. But if it can be induced to grow it is a very
beautiful object in the summer garden, especially as a standard on the
briar. The tiny _Rose de Meaux_ and _Spong_ are also miniature Provence
roses--and as I have said, ought to be more widely grown in English
gardens.

[Illustration: MOSS.

COMMON.]

THE MOSS ROSE, _R. Muscosa_,

originally a sport from the common Provence or Cabbage rose, was also
introduced into England from Holland in 1596; and many varieties have
since been derived from it, some of the newer ones having the additional
merit of being perpetual flowering. The best are the common _Pink Moss_,
_Comtesse Murinais_, _Celina_, _Crested_, _Gloire des Mousseuses_,
_Laneii_, _White Bath_; while there is a delightful little pink, mossed
_Rose de Meaux_. Of the perpetuals, _Blanche Moreau_, _Salet_,
_Perpetual White Moss_, and _Mme. Wm. Paul_ are all good.

The Old Double Yellow Provence, _Rosa Hemisphaerica_ or _Sulphurea_ is
somewhat rare now, and only found in one or two modern catalogues or in
very old gardens.

THE FRENCH ROSE, _R. Gallica_, also called _Rose de Provins_,

as its name implies, is a native of France; but it is also found in
Italy, Switzerland and Austria. A good deal of confusion reigns on the
subject of this rose and _R. Damascena_; for varieties of both are often
misplaced in each other's classes. For instance, the common red
_Gallica_, the "Apothecary's rose," is usually called the _Red Damask_,
and its many striped varieties, especially _Rosa Mundi_, are mistaken
for the true _York and Lancaster_, which is a true Damask rose.

[Illustration: GALLICA.

RED DAMASK

(THE APOTHECARY'S ROSE.)]

_Rosa Gallica_, however, is easily distinguished from _Damascena_. Its
flowering shoots are upright, with few prickles, and rigid leaves. It
seeds very freely; and this accounts for the innumerable varieties which
were in vogue fifty or sixty years ago. It is said that one grower n