146 THE FLORIST. 



strips of wood, iron bars, or even cordage, run up every eight or ten 

 feet from the front horizontal bar to the one under the coping (g). 

 If the strips are not considered sufficiently strong to sustain the 

 covering, wooden uprights may be substituted as a support for the tie (Ji). 



The whole of the frame and supports (e,f\ h) can be easily put up 

 and removed, and may be used when the fruit wants protection in the 

 autumn, equally as when the bloom requires it in the spring. It now 

 remains to notice the best material for protecting the bloom ; this should 

 be so arranged on rollers as to draw up to the coping (g) when not 

 wanted. Woollen netting is perhaps the best known protection against 

 frost ; but, as it is necessary that the bloom be kept dry if possible, a 

 thin waterproof material is yet wanted, manufactured sufficiently thin 

 and light, not to be inconvenient in drawing up and letting down, and 

 yet impervious to rain. We hope manufacturers will try what can be 

 done towards supplying this deficiency in horticultural shadings. In 

 the mean time Shaw's tiffany, or Brown's shading, dipped in oil and 

 dried, would answer the purpose of excluding damp and a great deal 

 of rain, and would last for a number of years, substituting netting for 

 the autumn, when birds, wasps, &c, only are to be kept from the fruit. 



That these, our thoughts on this subject, very hastily thrown 

 together, may require some modification in carrying them out in old 

 gardens, we are free to admit. When new gardens or new walls are 

 in course of formation, we see no difficulty in the matter ; and we are 

 very strongly impressed with the conviction, that a concentration of all 

 our best varieties of fruit trees, so as to admit of an entire covering 

 when necessary, will be found as sound in practice as it will in the end 

 prove to be economical when glass cannot be afforded. 



MODE OF SHOWING CUT ROSES. 

 I perceive, from your reports of exhibitions, that Roses are described 

 as being shown in trusses — trusses of three, and single trusses ; if by 

 this is meant that a Rose truss consists of a full bloomed Rose, a bud 

 or two and a leaf or two, as upon one stalk, it must be a great improve- 

 ment upon the plan adopted at our flower shows in the country, where 

 they compel us to exhibit single blooms stuck into a stand. To my 

 mind no exhibition of this glorious flower can be more wretched than 

 thus severing it from its beautiful natural appendage. The first 

 bloomed Rose in a truss is generally the finest, and the accompanying 

 buds and leaf go as far as the bloom itself in declaring what the culture 

 has been. I do hope our country shows will adopt this mode, which 

 must be regarded as a point in advance ; but hitherto all protests on 

 the subject have been ineffectual. 



The most beautiful box of Roses I ever saw were shown eight or ten 

 years ago, in trusses, and in small bouquets, bedded upon damp moss. 

 There is a degree of repose and a charm given to the flower in such a 

 position, so much more pleasing than a single bloom stuck in a tube upon 

 a stand ; and I think he must be a dull censor indeed who could not 

 judge merit more easily. 



W. M. 



