Chapter 2 (extract 5) of "Roses for English Gardens" by Jekyll and Mawley (1902), in which Miss Jekyll goes through the merits of two species roses, Rosa alpina and Rosa arvensis, and their derivatives. She also mentions "Rosa rubrifolia" in the alpine group, which is now called R. glauca.
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Rosa alpina has given us the class of free-growing Roses known as Boursault. Of late years so many more and better climbing kinds have been raised, that the Boursaults will probably be less and less used, especially as the crimson varieties of the Amadis type have a rather unpleasant colour. One of this race, the Blush Boursault, would be worthy of a place in every garden if it were not that the flowers are seldom perfect. Every now and then there is a good one, and then it is the loveliest thing in the garden, with its almost matchless tinting of tender milk-white deepening to a wonderfully pure rose colour in the centre. Of the others, Morletti, of rather deep pink colouring, is the best. The alpinas may be known by their smooth red-barked stems, the mature ones being without prickles. R. rubrifolia, with pale pink flowers, red stems and red foliage, is also an alpina. In fruit they are conspicuous because of their long-shaped hips.
The field Rose (R. arvensis), one of the two of our commonest native hedge Roses (the one with the white, rather clustered flowers), has some good garden varieties. One with large single flowers and strong rambling habit is an old favourite of mine, and another, half double, is equally good and still more free of bloom.
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