384 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



At our first National Rose-Show we commenced a reform of these 

 incongruities, and soon afterward disannulled them by an act of uni- 

 formity as to size and shape. The amateur must therefore order his 

 boxes, which any carpenter can make for him from inch deal, to be of 

 the following dimensions : — 



Length. Breadtlu Height. 



For 24 Eoses, 4 feet. 1 foot 6 inches. Back of box 6 inches, front 4. 

 »> ^° »> 3 ,, ,, ,, „ 



„ 12 „ 2 feet 2 in. 

 >> 6 ,, 1 foot 6 in. ,, 



The covers, being 7 J inches in depth at the back, and 5 inches in front, 

 4 feet 1 inch in length, 1 foot 7 inches in breadth, and having a nar- 

 row beading within the four sides, half an inch from the bottom of the 

 lid, overlap the boxes, leaving ample room for the Roses, and are 

 secured for travelling by stout leather straps. Within the boxes some 

 exhibitors have holes j^ierced at equal distances on a uniform surface 

 of wood ; but as Roses differ in size, it is more convenient to have the 

 facility of placing them where we please, and for this purpose it is 

 desirable to have strong laths (3-4ths of an inch in depth, and 1 inch 

 7-8ths in width) extending the length of the box. These laths should 

 be six in number, and should be nailed on two strong pieces of wood, 

 crossing the box one at each end, 2 inches below the surface. The 

 upper and lower laths should be fixed l-8th of an inch within the box, 

 and the four remaining so arranged that there will be five interstices 

 1^ inch in width — three for the Roses, and two merely to reduce the 

 weight. There will be a space oi 1^ inch between the laths and the 

 upper edge of the box, to be filled as follows : Cover the laths with 

 sheets of brown paper, two deep, and cut to fit the box, and upon 

 these place the best Moss you can obtain. I get mine from trunks of 

 trees in a neighbouring wood ; have it carefully picked over and well 

 watered the day before a show ; and then, using the coarser portion for 

 a substratum, make my upper surface as clean and green and level as 

 I can. 



It would, I think, repay the Rosarian to grow Moss specially for this 

 purpose, such as would thrive- — S. denticulata, for example — in rough 

 boxes and waste places, under stages, or in vineries. Some years ago 

 I placed a lining of zinc, 2 inches deep, at the top of one of my 

 Hose-boxes, filled it with earth, and soon obtained from it a charming 

 surface of S. apoda. The effect of twelve beautiful Roses resting upon 

 this bright-green moss was lovely ; but oh the weight when we bore 

 them to the show ! no mother in all the world would care to carry such 

 a bulky babe. 



