1S69.] THE ROSE. 297 



the hall was full. A gentleman, who earnestly asked my pardon for 

 having placed his foot on mine, seemed perplexed to hear how much I 

 liked it, and evidently thought that my friends were culpable in allow- 

 ing me to be at large. Great indeed was my gladness in seeing those 

 visitors — more than 2000 in number — but far greater in liear'uKj 

 their hearty words of surprise and admiration. 



At the close of the exhibition it was my happy privilege to distribute 

 the thirty-six silver cups which had been specially designed for the 

 occasion, and were, as I need hardly say, prettily and profusely engraved 

 with Roses. The winners were — (of nurserymen) Messrs Paul of 

 Cheshunt, Mr Cranston of Hereford, Mr Cant of Colchester, Mr Francis 

 of Hertford, Mr Turner of Slough, and Mr Hollamby of Tunbridge 

 Wells : and (of amateurs) Mr Giles Puller of Youngsbury, Captain 

 Maunsell and Rev. G. Maunsell, Thorpe Malsor ; Mr R. Fellowes and 

 Rev. R. Fellowes, Sholtesham ; Mr Worthington, Cavendish Priory ; 

 Rev. H. Helyar, Yeovil ; Mr Mallett, Nottingham ; Mr Sladden, Ash ; 

 Mr Fryer, Chatteris ; Mr Walker, Oxford ; Mr Hewitt, and Mr Blake 

 of Ware. Two cups were awarded to my own Roses, the process of 

 presentation being " gratifying, but embarrassing," as ]Mrs Nickleby 

 remarked when her eccentric lover would carve her name on his pew. 



So ended the hrst Rose-Show. It was, as one of its best supporters, 

 and one of our best Rosarians, the Rev. Mr Radclyffe, wrote of it, 

 " successful beyond all anticipation ; " and T went to bed that night 

 as tired, as happy, and I hope as thankful as I had so much good 

 cause to be. 



The Second National Rose-Show was held in the following year, 

 June 23, 1859, at the Hanover Square Rooms, the former site not 

 being available ; and again we had the best Roses of England, a goodly 

 company, and prosperous issues. The general effect, although the 

 introduction of pot-Roses broke gracefully the monotonous surface of 

 the cut flowers, was inferior to that produced in the more genial sum- 

 mer of 1858, and in the more ample and ornate accommodations 

 of St James's Hall. But it w^as now more evident than ever, that 

 although we had toned down our music by substituting strings and 

 reeds for brass, no room in London was large enough for the levees 

 of the Queen of Flowers. Next year, accordingly, after a correspon- 

 dence and arrangement with the directors, 



The Third National Rose-Show was held (July 12, 1860) in the 

 Crystal Palace at Sydenham. Here was a throne-room meet for her 

 Majesty, and 16,000 of her lieges came to do her homage. Naturally 

 and wisely, the Crystal Palace Company resolved, upon this, to have 

 a Rose-show of their own. Long may it prosper ! 



The Fourth National Rose-Show was held under the auspices of the 



