on his birth-day, which was towards the middle of November, it excited only laughter and disdain among the Romans. So abundant were they

then in Rome, that, to quote Martial, "In all the streets we inhale the perfumes of spring, and see sparkling the fresh garlands of flowers: send us wheat, Egyptians, and we will send you roses.'

It seems, also, that the Romans forced flowers by means of hot water, in their forcing houses, so as to produce roses and lilies in December, for Senecaf declaims against these inventions. Martial also says, book 12. epigram 127. "That roses, formerly only seen in spring, had in his time become common during the winter." If we may thus judge from the ancients, our autumnal and our winter roses, and even our forcing by hot water, which has been thought to be so recent an invention, are all of high antiquity; but, if we may credit Pliny and others, the Romans could not approach us in variety. The rose of Pæstum, the rosa bifera alluded to by Virgil ‡, appears to have been the only autumnal rose known. This, according to Pliny, bloomed in the spring, and again in the autumn. Many botanists have searched for this rose near the ruins of Pæstum,

* Martial, book 6. epigram 80.

"Non vivunt contra naturam, qui hieme concupiscunt Rosam; Fomentoque aquarum calentium, et calorum apta imitatione, bruma lilium florem vernum exprimunt ?"- Epist. 122, 8.

Georgics, book 4. verse 18.

*

and other parts of Italy, but no species or variety has been found at all approaching to it in character. Our very old Damask Rose, the red monthly, not the comparatively new rose," Rose à Quatres Saisons" of the French, but the red monthly rose of our oldest writers on gardening, is probably the rose which was cultivated so extensively in Egypt and in Rome for its quality of flowering in autumn. I have frequently observed the stools of this variety, when pruned late in spring, not only to flower in June and September, but also in the latter month to put forth branches, which in October were covered with flower buds. Now these, owing to our cold rains in November, never come to perfection; but in the warm climates of Egypt and Italy, they would doubtless bloom abundantly even as late as November. Modern gardening has made rapid strides in rose culture: our varieties of autumnal roses are already almost innumerable; and among them are the most fragrant and beautiful roses known.

THE PERPETUAL MOSS ROSE.'

A new race of moss roses has within these few years sprang up, and likely to be very interesting. They are not abundant autumnal

*These are old plants used for layering, and are cut down closely every season.

bloomers, but still they do bloom under good culture. Perpétuelle Mauget, a rose raised at Orleans some years ago, is one of the best, but it is a most delicate grower: budded on the rose Félicité Perpétue it may, perhaps, be made to do better. Its flowers are very double, wellshaped, and of a nice bright rose colour.

General Drouet has semi-double flowers of a bright crimson; and Herman Kegel, a rose much like it, with flowers more shaded with purple, -are vigorous growing varieties.

Marie de Bourgogne and René d'Anjou are two new roses of this class, said to be good and distinct. The culture of these hybrid Moss Roses should be the same as that of the Hybrid Perpetuals.

THE PERPETUAL DAMASK ROSE. (ROSIER DAMAS À FLEURS PErpétuelles.)

This division has as much variety in its origin as in its appearance; it would, indeed, be a difficult task to trace the parentage of some of the justly esteemed varieties of this family. Our old red and white monthly roses have, no doubt, contributed their share of sweet assistance; for, in many of them, the powerful fragrance of these two very old damask roses is apparent, and no perfume can be more pleasing.

Bernard, or Pompon Perpetual, is a most beautiful rose, with rather small flowers; but these are very double and finely-shaped, of a delicate pink tinted with salmon, and very fragrant. This rose will flourish better on the Manetti stock than on the Dog Rose: it is a most desirable rose.

The Crimson Perpetual, Rose du Roi, or Lee's Crimson Perpetual, deserves a few extra words of comment. This fine rose was raised from seed, in 1812, in the gardens of the palace of Saint Cloud, then under the direction of Le Comte Lelieur, and named Rose du Roi; owing, I suppose, to Louis the Eighteenth soon after that time being restored, and presenting an opportunity for the Court gardeners to show their loyalty: it is not recorded that its name was changed during the hundred days to Rose de l'Empereur! It is asserted that it was raised from the Rosa Portlandica, a semi-double bright-coloured rose, much like the rose known in this country as the Scarlet Four-Seasons, or Rosa Pæstana; which, Eustace tells us, in his Classical Tour, grows among the ruins of Pæstum, enlivening them with its brilliant autumnal flowers. This proves to be a traveller's tale.

Every gentleman's garden ought to have a large bed of Crimson Perpetual Roses, to furnish bouquets during August, September, and October: their fragrance is so delightful, their colour so rich, and their form so perfect.

In France the Crimson Perpetual bears seed abundantly, but its produce are, for the most part, varieties partaking largely of rosa gallica; it is, however, like our old and excellent Provence Rose, liable to sport: in this way it produced the Rose Bernard; and more recently a good variety has been originated in the same manner; but, like most good roses, it has more than one name. Rose du Roi à fleurs pourpres is its legitimate appellation. A cultivator in France, un peu de charlatan, named it Mogador, soon after the French victory over the Moors. It has proved, indeed, a superb rose colour, brilliant crimson, slightly shaded with purple; shape, cupped and elegant : its flowers are, perhaps, a little more double than those of its parent; and its habit is more robust. Laurence de Montmorency is a good rose; flowers, very large, cupped, finely-shaped, and very double; colour, deep rosy pink, tinted with lilac. I observe that its foliage has lost the downy appearance of the Damask rose; thus showing its departure from the habits of this family; another remove, and it would have been placed with justice among the Hybrid Perpetuals. Madame Thelier is a delicate and pretty rose; colour, pink; flowers, middle-sized; habit, rather delicate stock.

Julie de Krudner and La Favorite are nearly of the same delicate pink, and are very fragrant and pretty. Celina Dubos, a white, or nearly