the last-named a very moderate grower-the flowers small, bright, pink, and pretty.

The varieties of this group require the same general treatment as the Hybrid Chinas, and must be equally well fed; but they bear pruning closer, and require it. Those which grow most vigorously, and in the style of the Hybrid China, should be less severely pruned; but such as Paul Ricaut, President Pierce, and Lord John Russell, being moderate growers, may be shortened to within five or six buds of the base, and at the same time all the spurs which have produced bloom must be removed entirely. Where an early bloom is required, prune in November, and for a late bloom at the end of April. When required to bloom in their natural season, prune about the middle of February.

8. AUSTRIAN BRIER ROSES.

L. Rosa lutea. F. Rosier capucine.-This small family of roses enjoys quite an aristocratic reputation, and in their way rank with white elephants, and other rarities that are spoken of in whispers. The original species is reported to be common on the hills of North Italy, and has been known in English gardens since 1596. They constitute a very distinct group, the species producing single yellow and copper-coloured flowers of great beauty, and the varieties superb double yellow flowers, which are greatly and deservedly prized,

both for their intrinsic loveliness and the difficulty of producing them. The Single Yellow is the finest in respect of colour of all yellow roses. This and the Austrian Copper will succeed best on their own roots. Harrisonii is a fine double yellow rose of American origin; and Persian Yellow, introduced from Persia in 1838, is also an exquisitely beautiful rose, which, if properly managed, blooms most profusely. Both these do well as standards on the brier; Harrisonii may also be grown dwarf for beds, or trained to cover a pillar. All these roses require a pure air and a warm, moist, rich soil. With these aids they grow freely; and, to ensure a good bloom, it is only necessary to be careful in pruning to slightly shorten the strong shoots, and leave all the twiggy side shoots untouched.

9. SCOTCH ROSES.

L. Rosa spinosissima. F. Rosier Pimprenelle.These hardy, free-growing, and sweet-scented roses are only fit for the roughest purposes, such as forming hedges and covering banks, and for the margins of wilderness walks. They will grow in any tolerably good soil, and they bloom very early in spring, before any other roses are to be seen out of doors. Their blossoms are very pretty, but have, as yet, all the characteristics of wild roses, and, therefore, are unworthy of a place in the rosarium. There are many varieties, which differ but slightly from each

other. The best are Loch Ness, pale rose; Flora, deep rose; Plato, lilac rose; Snowball, white; Arthur's Seat, blush; Townsend, blush; William IV., pure white; Venus, dark red. Stanwell Perpetual, with pink flowers, blooms freely in the autumn, and is the only one of this class that does so. If introduced to gardens, the best way to use them is on their own roots, as dwarf bushes to form clumps and beds, which will be very gay in May with a profusion of flowers. The yellow roses in this section are chiefly interesting, because of the prospect they afford of obtaining from them some good varieties by the fertilization of their flowers with the pollen of some of the yellow roses that are most prized. All the Scotch roses bear seed abundantly, so those who like to engage in raising seedlings have at present a wide field before them; but, as the varieties acquire more doubleness, seed will be less plentifully produced, and the sphere of operations will be more contracted.

10. AYRSHIRE ROSES.

L. Rosa arvensis.-The Ayrshire roses have no merit as exhibition flowers, but there are no climbing roses to surpass them for hardiness, profusion of bloom, and ready adaptability to almost any purpose where a rampant growth is one of the first requisites. Hence they answer admirably to clothe dead trees, form festoons and archways, cover banks,

and crown the roofs of rustic buildings with mountains of wild growth and charming flowers. When worked on tall briers they form the most graceful of all weeping trees, and require no pruning beyond occasional thinning, either to reduce their size when necessary, or to allow of the admission of air and light to the centre of the tree. In selecting climbing roses it should be remembered that the Ayrshires are less beautiful than the varieties of Sempervirens, but they are much hardier; they will grow where no other rose will, for all they really require is a little light, and they bloom a fortnight earlier than the Sempervirens. The best are Splendens, Ruya, Queen of the Belgians, and Miller's Climber.

11. MULTIFLORA ROSES.

Rosa multiflora.-The type of this group is a native of China and Japan, introduced here in 1804. They differ greatly from all other roses; one of the finest is Grevillei, or the Seven Sisters' rose, a climber which grows with tremendous vigour, and blooms so profusely that a fine plant will show thousands of blooms of several distinct shades of colour, all expanding at the same time. All these roses are tender, and unfortunately have a habit of growing very early in spring, so that their first shoots are frequently cut off by frost. They require a very dry, warm position, a rich, deep, well-drained

soil, and to be scarcely at all pruned, the strong ripe shoots being left nearly their full length. Where the climate suits them, as in some sheltered spots in the south and west of England, they may be trained to pillars, or grown as weeping stan- . dards, for either of which purposes they are admirably adapted in habit of growth and bloom. Standards planted in places where they would be likely to suffer in winter might be taken up in autumn, their roots packed in moss, and be kept in a warm shed or dry cellar, and be planted again in spring. There are few amateurs, however, who will consider them worth so much trouble when, after all, they are still subject to many risks of injury, by sudden changes of weather, when making their first growth.

12. EVERGREEN ROSES.

L. Rosa sempervirens.-The original of this section is a free-growing and very beautiful wild rose of Italy. The varieties are not numerous, but they are very pretty, and are much prized as climbers. They are furnished with an ample, handsome, dark green foliage, which is retained great part of the winter, but never the whole winter through. Their flowers are small, and are produced in clusters; they are mostly pale in colour, and very fragrant. Princesse Marie has the most colour of any, being of a bright rosy-pink; Myrianthes is very beautiful;