SUMMER OR JUNE ROSES.

THE PROVENCE, OR CABBAGE ROSE.

Rosa Centifolia, var. Provincialis.

Or all the imported species this was the first introduced to our hemisphere, and several of its varieties have become widely disseminated throughout our country and the British Provinces, but they are seldom met with in Mexico and South America. It has long and deservedly been the favorite ornament of English gardens; and if, as seems very probable, it was the hundred-leaved rose of Pliny, and the favorite flower of the Romans, contributing in no small degree to the luxurious enjoyments of that great people, it claims attention as much for its high antiquity, as for its intrinsic beauty. 1596 is given by botanists as the date of its introduction to our gardens. That " prince of gardeners," Miller, says that it is the prettiest of all roses; and this idea still prevails to a great extent in the agricul tural districts of England, where, in the farm and cottage gardens, the Cabbage Rose and the Double Wall-Flower are the most esteemed inmates; forming in their turns, with a sprig of rosemary, the Sunday bouquet of the respectable farm-servant and cottager.

The groves of Mount Caucasus are said, by Berbestein, to

be the location of its natural growth, as are also Languedoc and Provence; but the claims of these latter have been disputed and doubtless extends no farther than the fact, that it there first became naturalized to the soil and climate. The French appellation of "Provins" Rose, applies solely to the Rosa gallica, or French Rose, and it was given to that species in consequence of its being grown very extensively for distilling in the vicinity of the town of that name, 99 miles from Paris, in the department of Seine and Marne. One can scarcely refrain from a smile at the puerile statement made by an American (not by birth) writer, who professes on his title-page to publish "An accurate description of all the finest varieties of Roses," that the "Cabbage Rose" has obtained the name of "Provins" from being cultivated at the town above referred to, when in fact the term of "Provins" has never been applied to any other than the "Rosa gallica." In doing this he commits the gross blunder of adopting the title of the "Provins or Cabbage Rose" for this whole class, and cnumerates all the varieties of Provence Roses separately as "Provins" Roses. The results of this unaccountable blunder do not stop here, but has caused him to increase the confusion by another misapplication equally palpable under the head of "Rosa gallica," which I shall notice in its place. A very old rose amateur in France informed. Mr. Rivers that the species with single flowers is found in a wild state in the southern provinces; and it is therefore very probable that it was called the Provence Rose, from growing more abundantly in that locality. It has, however, an additional name in France, it being also called the "Rose à Cent Feuilles," from the botanical name, Rosa centifolia, or Hundred-leaved Rose. Hybrid roses, between this and Rosa gallica, are denominated Provence Roses by the French amateurs of the present day. Mr. Rivers remarks that, when he was a young rose-fan

cier, this name often misled him, as he was very apt to think that it referred to the Scotch and other small and thickly-leaved roses, and did not for a moment suppose that the term was applied to the petals or flower-leaves.

The Provence, or Cabbage Rose, although its fame is contested by numerous modern aspirants, still retains its ancient prerogative of being "a favorite flower," and vies with the most estimable in size, beauty, and fragrance. With us, however, it is a less abiding friend than in Europe. In the humid atmosphere of the British Isles, and of a large portion of continental Europe, the expansion of its flowers. continues during six or eight weeks of the Summer months, whereas beneath the vivid and powerful rays of our Columbian sun, some varieties bloom but for a few days and none exceed a fortnight's duration. The French and English Rose fanciers have experienced great difficulty in deciding as to the varieties that legitimately belong to this species, in consequence of the multitude of seminal progeny produced during late years, connected with the natural and artificial hybriding of this with other species. I will now proceed to describe a few of the finest varieties that are deemed to belong to this class, selecting from those that are exceedingly varied in form, and in the disposition of the petals. The term "Cabbage" Provence Rose, is derived from the form of the old variety and of several others, which are of a round cupped form, very compact before expansion, and never becoming flat. This parent of a countless family has wood of vigorous growth, sparsely studded with thorns, and its flowers are of a clear and delicate pink hue. It flourishes most in a half shady position, the direct rays of our sun being too powerful and often killing the shoots.

The Dutch, or Large Provence, is very large, bright red, equally fragrant, but less double than the preceding. It is

much esteemed for forcing, and unlike the Cabbage Rose, it expands fully. This variety appears to have existed longer, and to be more widely disseminated in our Atlantic gardens than any other. The Belgic Provence, or Belgic Blush, is totally distinct from the preceding, of a delicate silvery blush color, very double, and blooms in profuse clussters. Anemoniflora has the central petals imperfect, and partially fimbriated, imparting to it somewhat the appearance of a semi-double Anemone, whence its title. It is perhaps more curious than beautiful. Belle Ruineuse is of a pale rosy blush hue, very double, and beautifully cupped. The Celery-leaved Rose, or Rosa Apiifolia, is also a curious rose, unlike any other: its leaves are, perhaps, as much like imperfectly curled parsley as celery. The Curled Provence is as beautiful as curious, having fine globular-shaped flowers, with petals waved in a very peculiar manner. Cricks, or Yorkshire Provence, has great affinity to the old Cabbage Rose, varying only in being a shade darker and in a more free expansion of its flowers. Crested Provence will be found among the Moss Roses, which I as well as Mr. Rivers, have deemed its most appropriate location. Coligny, is an extremely beautiful new French variety, of a crimson hue, marbled with white, and very desirable. Dianthaflora, Oiellet, or the Pink-flowered Rose, is a curious variety, with imperfect laciniated petals, unlike any other rose, and something like a pink. Duchesne is slightly hybridized, with very large, finely-shaped, rosy blush flowers. De Nancy is a cupped flower, very large, and of a brilliant rose color. De Rennes is of a globular form, large, and of a silvery blush hue. Fenelle de la Chine is deep rose color, with curious foliage. Foliacée is very large, and rose colored; there is a flesh colored variety of the same name among the Hybrid Provence Roses. Grand Bercam is a large flower of a deep rose color, and

one of the darkest of its class, but less perfect in form than many others. Grande Agathe, also known as the Läcken Provence, is indeed a grand rose, remarkably double, and finely formed. Its flowers are of the palest flesh-color, and like some others of the true Provence Roses, its clusters of bloom are too heavy and pendulous to be seen with effect on dwarf plants. Glandulosa, is rose color, the leaves gilded on the margin. Kingston, an ancient variety, very small, rose colored, full double and pretty. The King of Holland is a very old variety, with immense globular flowers, and curious sepals; so that the flower-bud seems surrounded with leaves. Lilacina variegata is much admired, although somewhat variable; the color is lilac striped with white. The Monstrous Provence, Cabbage-leaved, or Centifolia bullata, has that large and curious inflated foliage, which we have no expressive name for, but which the French call "bullé;" it is a vigorous-growing plant, with flowers like the Old Provence. La Reine de Provence really deserves to be the queen of this division. Its large and finely shaped globular flowers have a good effect when suspended from a standard: these are of a pale lilac rosecolor, distinct and beautiful. Petalless, or Sans petales, a very singular variety. Pompone, very small and pretty, rose colored, and full double. Pompone carné, or blanc, of same size as the preceding, but of a pale incarnate hue. Rochebardon is deep rose colored and beautiful. Royal Welsh Provence is a very large and beautiful rose, of a fine blush color, and the shoots grow vigorously. Scarlet Provence is an old variety, one of those misnomers that in flowers so often lead to disappointment: it was probably the first Provence Rose that made an approach to scarlet; but the faint carmine of its flowers is very far removed from that rare color among roses. The Sylvain is of cupped form, brilliant rose color, and very superb;