m of the wild
type of most of them are involved in much uncertainty."[792]
Nevertheless Mr. Rivers in referring to _R. Indica_ (p. 68) says that
the descendants of each group may generally be recognised by a close
observer. The same author often speaks of roses as having been a little
hybridised; but {367} it is evident that in very many cases the
differences due to variation and to hybridisation can now only be
conjecturally distinguished.

The species have varied both by seed and by buds; such modified buds
being often called by gardeners sports. In the following chapter I
shall fully discuss this latter subject, and shall show that
bud-variations can be propagated not only by grafting and budding, but
often even by seed. Whenever a new rose appears with any peculiar
character, however produced, if it yields seed, Mr. Rivers (p. 4) fully
expects it to become the parent-type of a new family. The tendency to
vary is so strong in some kinds, as in the Village Maid (Rivers, p.
16), that when grown in different soils it varies so much in colour
that it has been thought to form several distinct kinds. Altogether the
number of kinds is very great: thus M. Desportes, in his Catalogue for
1829, enumerates 2562 as cultivated in France; but no doubt a large
proportion of these are merely nominal.

It would be useless to specify the many points of difference between
the various kinds, but some constitutional peculiarities may be
mentioned. Several French roses (Rivers, p. 12) will not succeed in
England; and an excellent horticulturist[793] remarks, that "Even in
the same garden you will find that a rose that will do nothing under a
south wall will do well under a north one. That is the case with Paul
Joseph here. It grows strongly and blooms beautifully close to a north
wall. For three years seven plants have done nothing under a south
wall." Many roses can be forced, "many are totally unfit for forcing,
among which is General Jacqueminot."[794] From the effects of crossing
and variation Mr. Rivers enthusiastically anticipates (p. 87) that the
day will come when all our roses, even moss-roses, will have evergreen
foliage, brilliant and fragrant flowers, and the habit of blooming from
June till November. "A distant view this seems, but perseverance in
gardening will yet achieve wonders," as a