1S73. ] EOSES AND EOSE-CULTUEE. CHAPTEE XVI. 73 



GLADIOLUS ALICE WILSON. 



WITH AN ILLUSTEATION. 



vNE of tlie most remarkable varieties of Gladiolus wliicli has yet appeared. 

 It is, in fact, more like a Lily tlian an Irid, as will be seen from our plate, 

 *^§\ wbicb is a very accurate representation of the aspect of tlie plant. It 

 '2; was exhibited by Messrs. Standish and Co., of Ascot, at the October 

 meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1871, being one of a batch of 

 hybrids which owed their origin to the admixture of G. hrenchleijensis and G. 

 cruentus. Though comparatively small-flowered, it is a very pleasing novelty, 

 the white centre and marginal colouration of rosy-carmine, with little of the 

 ordinary flame-like marking on the lower perianth segments, rendering the 

 lily-like illusion all the more striking. We believe it is not yet in commerce, but 

 it will, no doubt, be offered in due course by the fortunate raisers, Messrs. 

 Standish and Co. — T. Moore. 



KOSES AND ROSE-CULTURE. 

 Chaptee XVI. — On Gathering and Aeranginc} foe Exhibition. 



jO bed with the linnet and up with the lark," should be the motto of the 

 exhibitor. If there are many flowers to look over, there will be close 

 work for the mind, and the work will be somewhat protracted, too, if the 

 best is to be made of everything. If the gathering take place the morn- 

 ing before the day of show (and this is usual), we have not only to consider what 

 each flower is, but what it will become, for wonderful are the changes in buds and 

 flowers in the brief space of a day and night. Buds of to-day, of equal promise 

 to the casual glance, are not of equal beauty as flowers on the morrow. Search- 

 ing examination, constant comparison, and careful judgment are necessary in 

 making the selection, during which the feet traverse many an unheeded step, and 

 the mind undergoes no ordinary degree of tension ; yet the labour is delightful. 

 To gather the flowers in all their freshness and prime — the rose-buds rather 

 than the flowers — before the Fire King has dimmed their beauty — this should 

 furnish hours of perfect enjoyment to the Rosarian. The agreeable coolness 

 of a summex''s mom ; the aspect of earth and sky ever changing, and scarcely 

 two mornings alike ; the pleasing obscurity of distant objects gradually emerging 

 from the waning mist ; the brightness of the sun-lit clouds ; the transparency of 

 colour and rich perfumes of the newly-expanding flowers, assail the senses with 

 unlooked-for joy, while hill and dale reverberate with notes of melody from the 

 feathered tribe. But we must not be diverted from our purpose even by allure- 

 ments such as these. Treasure them up in memory for future meditation and 

 enjoyment, if you will, but do not linger over them just now. You have entered 

 on a course in pursuit of honour and renown, and must walk firmly, closely, 

 warily, if you would win the prize. 



3ed series. VI. E 



