446 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



among Roses, but among Roses in their most perfect phase. He 

 should know the capabilities of each separate variety as to symmetry, 

 colour, and size, that he may estimate and compare accurately "the 

 merits of the flowers before him. He should know thoroughly their 

 habit of growth, their peculiarities of leaf and wood, that he may 

 correct misnomers, and detect additions or duplicates. He should 

 regard his office as a sacred duty, not only because justice and honour 

 are sacred things, but because there seems to be a special sanctity in 

 such beautiful handiwork of God; and to be untruthful and dishonest 

 in such a presence and purity should be profane in his sight, as though 

 he lied to an angel. But his duty will be his delight also, and thus, 

 having his inclination at unity with his conscience, and his love in- 

 structed by his reason, he cannot fail to fulfil it. Knowing the law 

 thoroughly, and sifting the evidence minutely, he must give the sentence 

 of a righteous judge. Never tiring, when the competition is close, in 

 his keen and patient scrutiny estimating every Rose by a fixed stan- 

 dard, setting down in his note-book, counting, comparing their respec- 

 tive marks of merit and defect, bringing the boxes, if distant, into close 

 proximity, anxiously attentive to the comments of his colleagues, 

 bestowing the same care upon the "cottager's 6" as upon the "nursery- 

 man's 72," he is never satisfied until all doubts are dispelled, and the 

 award of his lips is the sure conviction of his heart. 



As the judge enters, the exhibitor leaves, the show, first turning to 

 gaze once again upon the exquisite beauty of the scene, the long 

 avenues of Roses, the fairest examples which the world can bring of its 

 most lovely flower. The flat surface of the boxes is pleasingly diversi- 

 fied (or should be) by the stately Palm, the graceful Fern, the elegant 

 Humea, by Croton, Caladium, Dracaena, Coleus, and the like, which 

 not only prevent the uniformity from becoming monotonous, and the 

 repetition wearisome, but soften agreeably that blaze of colour which 

 would be, without such contrast and interruption, too bright for mortal 

 ken. These are placed at regular intervals in the centre of the tables, 

 singly, or in groups. Pretty specimens of the silver-leaved Maple 

 (Ace?' Ner/undo variegahim), about 4 feet in height, were thus freely 

 introduced, and with admirable efi'ect, at the last Birmingham Rose- 

 show. 



And now there comes for this young lover who has just made, as it 

 were, his proposals to the Rose, a tedious interval, a long suspense, a 

 nervous, restless agitation. The lady has always smiled on him, but 

 what will papa say — i. e., the judge 1 When next the suitor sees his 

 sweetheart, will she bring with her the written approbation of his suit, 

 even as Miss Wilson returned from the one Professor, her father, to 

 the other Professor, Aytoun, her lover, having a slip of paper pinned upon 



