444 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



of our midland shows, so frequently, that my success became monoton- 

 ously irksome to the competitors generally, but specially to one of these 

 covetous exhibitors who grow Roses only for gain. He induced, as it 

 afterwards transpired, two other growers of the Rose to combine with 

 him in an attempt " to beat the parson ;" and so sure was this clique of 

 success, that they brought a couple of bottles of wine to the show, 

 to be quaffed from the cup, which I won easily. In the afternoon I 

 happened to come upon the conspirators drinking their port in a quiet 

 corner of the grounds, and one of them not only invited me to partake, 

 but, as from a sudden impulse, and as though the truth must come out 

 with the wine, to my intense amusement, and to the still more intense 

 amazement of his friends, revealed all the history of their little game. 

 He declared that he was thoroughly ashamed of "the job," and was 

 heartily glad they were beat. Truly it was a strange confession, but 

 I believe the penitence was sincere. 



The Despondent Exhibitor is also an exceptional, but by no means 

 discreditable, variety. He is physically incapable of festive emotions 

 — " a sad, gloom-pampered man," but a good Rosarian, and a righteous. 

 If a cloud crosses the sun, he shuts up like a Gazania or a Crocus ; if 

 a few drops of rain fall, he hangs his head like Virgil's poppies, 



" Lassove papavera collo, 

 Demisere caput, pluvia quum forte gravantur." 



He never has the slightest expectation of a prize. He has had more 

 caterpillars, aphides, blights, beetles, and mildews in his garden than 

 ever were seen by man. So he tells you with a slow and solemn tone, 

 looking the while as though, like Mozart composing his own requiem, 

 he listened to some plaintive music. I used to regard him with a ten- 

 der pity, as being unhappy. I used to sigh 



"Alas for him who never sees 

 The stars shine through his cypress trees ! " 



But our further acquaintance has convinced me that he has a relish 

 "^for melancholy. I watched him once, when I knew, but he did not, 

 that he had won a first prize, to see what effect success would have 

 upon him. He came slowly to his Roses, and read the announcement 

 with an expression of profound despair, just as though it had been a 

 telegram informing him that the bank, in which he had placed his all, 

 proposed a dividend of fourpence in the pound ! 



Warned by these rare examples against anger, avarice, and despond, 

 assured that the horses which rear, bite, kick, and sulk, are seldom 

 winners of the race, let the young exhibitor now acquaint himself with 

 his colleagues generally, and let him learn from them, as from men 

 who have not lived in vain amid the beauties and the bounties of a 



