ance in this country, under the name of the "L'Ile de Bourbon Rose," said to have been imported from the Mauritius to France, in 1822, by M. Noisette. It attracted attention by its peculiar habit, but more particularly by its abundant autumnal flowering: still such was the lukewarmness of English rose amateurs, that no attempts were made to improve this pretty imperfect rose by raising seedlings from it, though it bore seed in large quantities. This pleasing task has been left to our rose-loving neighbours the French, who have been very industrious, and as a matter of course, have originated some very beautiful and striking varieties, and also, as usual in such cases, have given us rather too many distinct and fine-sounding names attached to flowers without distinctive characters. In a little time we shall be able to rectify this very common floricultural error. Many fables have been told by the French respecting the origin of this rose. The most generally received version of one of these is, that a French naval officer was requested by the widow of a Monsieur Edouard, residing in the island, to find, on his voyage to India, some rare rose, and that, on his return to L'Ile de Bourbon, he brought with him this rose, which she planted on her husband's grave: it was then called Rose Edouard, and sent to France as "Rose de L'Ile de Bourbon." This is pretty enough, but entirely devoid of truth. Monsieur Bréon, a French botanist, and now a seedsman in Paris, gives the following account, for the truth of which he vouches: "At the Isle of Bourbon, the inhabitants generally enclose their land with hedges made of two rows of roses, one row of the Common China Rose, the other of the Red Four Seasons. Monsieur Perichon, a proprietor at Saint Benoist, in the isle, in planting one of these hedges, found amongst his young plants one very different from the others in its shoots and foliage. This induced him to plant it in his garden. It flowered the following year; and, as he anticipated, proved to be of quite a new race, and differing much from

the above two roses, which, at the time, were the only sorts known in the island." Monsieur Bréon arrived at Bourbon, in 1817, as botanical traveller for the government of France, and curator of the Botanical and Naturalization Garden there. He propagated this rose very largely; and sent plants and seeds of it, in 1822, to Monsieur Jacques*, gardener at the Château de Neuilly, near Paris, who distributed them among the rose cultivators of France. M. Bréon named it "Rose de L'Ile de Bourbon ;" and is convinced that it is a hybrid from one of the above roses, and a native of the island. Owing to the original being a hybrid, the roses of this family vary much in their characters; those that retain the leading features I have termed true Bourbons. I shall, now notice and describe a few of the most striking and distinct varieties of this very charming group; and begin with Armosa, quite a new variety, very double and perfect in the shape of its flowers, which are of a delicate rose-colour: the plant is of medium growth. Augustine Lelieur is a charming rose, a true Bourbon, so vivid and so beautiful that it cannot be too much recommended: its flowers are very erect, and bell-shaped, and as fine in October as in June. Centifolia is a rose equally fine, but quite different in colour, which is delicately pale, something like the old Celestial Rose: its flowers are more double than those of Augustine Lelieur, and quite pendulous from their weight; also a true Bourbon. Diaphane is a small high-coloured rose, almost scarlet. This is not a true Bourbon, but a very pretty rose, of dwarf growth, adapted for the front of a border. Dubourg is also a hybrid Bourbon, of a different character to the last, as it is very robust, and makes long shoots, generally terminated by a fine cluster of flowers: in rich soils this will make a fine pillar-rose. Duc de Grammont is also a hybrid Bourbon, very dwarf in its habit, with flowers of fine shape, and very

* Whence the name often given to the common Bourbon rose of “Bourbon Jacques."

double, inclining to purple. Earl Grey is a genuine Bourbon Rose, of first-rate excellence, with large and double flowers, of a fine rose-colour, and the plant of compact though vigorous growth. Faustine is now an old variety; but a very pretty little rose, very dwarf in its habit, with flowers. of that silvery pale blush, so peculiar to some varieties in this group.

Gloire de Rosamene is a hybrid of most remarkable habits. Its large foliage, luxuriant growth, and beautiful semi-double crimson flowers, make it one of the most desirable of this division; but not for grouping, as it outgrows all its congeners. As a pillar rose it will form a splendid object; indeed, I cannot imagine any thing more imposing in floriculture, than a pillar, from twelve to fifteen feet high, covered with the splendid flowers of this rose from June till October: it will also form a fine standard. Gloire de Guerin, like the last, departs from the characters of the group; but, like all that I have retained, it has the pleasing feature of autumnal flowering; and, owing to the brilliancy of its flowers, it is quite an acquisition to Bourbon Roses with the exception of Diaphane and the last described, none yet approach it in deepness of colour. This is a dwarf rose, adapted for the front of the rose border. Henri Plantier is a most superb variety, with large and double flowers, of nearly a bright carmine: this, like Augustine Lelieur, may rank among the very finest of the true Bourbon Roses. Ida is also a beautiful rose, with much smaller flowers, perhaps of a still deeper carmine. The plant is dwarf, yet possesses all the characters of the true Bourbon Roses in the prominency of its buds, and in its foliage. La Tendresse has flowers of a silvery-pale rose-colour, very double and large. Its habit is robust, hardy, and luxuriant, fit for the centre of the rose bed. This is a most distinct and desirable variety. Latifolia is a fine bold rose, much like Augustine Lelieur in its colour and habit: a good rose, but not required in a collection where that rose is grown. Madame Desprez: this fine and

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robust rose has never yet bloomed so beautifully in this country as during this autumn (1837): its large clusters of very double flowers have indeed been superb. Monsieur Desprez, a distinguished French rose amateur, raised it from seed about five years since. It is, most probably, a little hybridised with the Noisette Rose, as it blooms in larger clusters than any other Bourbon Rose. Marshal Villars approaches to the China Rose, in habit, which takes from it that compact growth peculiar to most of the true Bourbon Roses: this has flowers of a bright purple tinge, very vivid and double. Philippart, if not the same as Augustine Lelieur, is too much like it to be grown in the same collection. Psyche is a very remarkable rose, a hybrid of humble growth, with double pale pink flowers, of the most perfect shape. Philemon is a compact and pretty plant, with flowers of a bright purplish rose, erect, and generally so abundant as to cover the whole plant.

Queen of the Bourbons is a new variety, and very beautiful. Its flowers are of a vivid rose-colour, a little tinged with buff, very large and double. Phoenix is also quite new, and described as a true Bourbon Rose, of a fine crimson.

Rivers, so named by a French rose cultivator, who raised it from seed, is a pretty delicate rose, a true Bourbon; and called by the originator an "extra fine rose:" it has not yet bloomed here well enough to support that character. Thimocles is a large and fine rose, very double, and a genuine Bourbon, of luxuriant growth, and distinct character. Victoire Argentèe is one of those beautiful silvery-pale roses, with very double flowers; a true Bourbon, and a fine and distinct variety. The White Bourbon was raised from seed by Monsieur Desprez, who annually raises immense numbers of Bourbon and other roses from seed, to procure new varieties. This rose is a little hybridised with the Noisette, which has given it a clustered character, and, unfortunately, taken from its flowers that bold and peculiar

shape, so beautiful in the Bourbon Roses. The French cultivators are at deadly strife respecting this rose; some swearing, by all their saints, that it is a veritable Bourbon, while others as stoutly maintain that it is a Noisette Rose. An Englishman, after listening to such warm disputants (Frenchmen generally are), and to so " much ado about nothing," would coolly turn away and smile at such violent altercation, and their making a trifle "light as air" a matter of such grave importance. Walner is a true Bourbon Rose, dwarf, bright-coloured, and very distinct and pretty.

In the preceding notices of sorts, I have purposely mentioned the habits of those that deviate a little from the characters of the generality; in forming a clump, it will therefore be seen which to place in the front, and which in the centre; several varieties in the catalogue not noticed here are equal in beauty to those that are; but as their habits have nothing particularly distinctive, I have, to avoid being tedious, not described them.

Bourbon Roses most certainly show themselves to greater advantage on stems from one to three feet in height, than in any other mode of culture; if on their own roots, they are too near the ground, and the autumnal rains spoil their delicate blossoms, by dashing the dirt upon them. They seem to grow well in all soils, but I should recommend, in spite of the above objection, those who have only a dry and poor sandy soil, to have plants on their own roots, as the Dog Rose will not flourish in such soils; though cultivated roses in soils of the same description will grow most luxuriantly. Nature often seems to delight to puzzle us gardeners with anomalies that cannot be fathomed, clever as we are in our generation.

I hope, in a few years, to see Bourbon Roses in every garden, for the "queen of flowers" boasts no members of her court more beautiful; their fragrance, also, is delicious, more particularly in the autumn; they ought to occupy a distinguished place in the autumnal rose garden, in clumps