Rosa pristina A personal introduction to a love affair with roses which began in 1918 - taught by a keen rosarian - mulching, spraying, budding, grafting - the commercial criteria - a rose grower's vision. Rosa antiqua Early, simple roses - medieval gardens and the double rose - the arrival of China roses - the influence of French roses - professional hybridizing - growers learn new techniques -changing designs of rose gardens. Rosa romana An empire puts its power behind the rose - their origins - symbol of excellence, symbol of status - Paestum - Pliny's listings - the Egyptian suppliers - the resulting excess. Rosa sacra First rejected, then adopted by the church - Marian symbolism - the Rosary - architectural roses - the white rose, the red rose and blood - other religions - Jung's views - the Rev. Reynolds Hole - a symbol of mourning. Rosa nominata A case history - preponderance of female names - other sources of names - colour, Latin, and naming procedure - stories behind names - missionaries - puffs. Rosa femina Ancient civilizations feminize the rose - the Greeks and the Romans - medievalists and poets - Josephine and womanly devotion - Malmaison - Redoute - Lady Portland - Renoir, roses and ladies - the English rose. Rosa amatoria Sappho's lovers - Young men's lovers - Roman de la Rose - Rosa Mundi - Carpe diem - Rozenkavalier - the male buttonhole - lovers turn elsewhere. Rosa picta ... Rosa scripta ... Rosa utilis ... Rosa mutabilis Micropropagation - hybridization - ancient technicians - understanding genetics -genetic engineering today - rose breeders' suc-cesses - opposition and controversy. Rosa principalis Claims for the rose as a royal symbol - English Kings - the Wars of the Roses -its real origins - Papal roses - heraldry - national emblems - the Labour party - the progress of roses from rich to poor. Rosa moderna Rose cloning - Francis Meilland and 'Peace' - plant breeders' rights - commercial preferences - other famous breeders - David Austin, the English rose, and the 'old' roses.