AUGUST. 225 



ROSE, EUGENE APPERT. 



[Plate 154.] 



For the following account of this beautiful Rose, prefaced by 

 a few well-timed remarks on the late great National exhibition 

 of this Queen of flowers in the Hanover Square Rooms, we are 

 indebted to our excellent correspondent, " S. R. H." He 

 says : — 



It may interest some readers of the Florist to have details of the 

 development of a " National Rose Show " from one who has watched 

 it " behind the scenes." Well then, when even Regent Street is still, 

 and all its costly stores are barred and shuttered, there comes at sun- 

 rise, to the Square of Hanover, a hansom cab, which, stopping at " the 

 rooms," sets down, to the especial gladness of its horse, a " Geant " 

 secretary, a gardener " of robust habit," Rose-boxes and carpet bags 

 galore. The bell is answered by a porter, who, doubtless, wishes the 

 exhibition at Jerusalem, and murmurs to himself " The Rose be 

 blowed," as he pilots the secretary through the dark passages, where 

 forms are standing upon each other without any ceremony, and up the 

 darker staircase to the room. There the new light of day reveals to the 

 rejoicing Rose-grower that his stanch and faithful ally, Mr. Edwards, 

 has all in readiness the lists set out for the tournament, and the course in 

 excellent order for the race, and that he has, in consequence, nothing to 

 do but to unpack his stationery in the room appropriated to him, to take 

 a look at his Roses (a very brief one, for the day is too early for his 

 midland garden), and then to await the arrival of his friends. They do 

 not keep him long in suspense. Before six o'clock, two tilted waggons, 

 which have travelled through the summer's night from the grand 

 gardens of Hertfordshire, stand at the portals, ready to unload ; and as 

 the covering, which has screened those dainty passengers from wind and 

 dust, is opened, you may see two such collections of Roses in pots, as 

 make the eyes sparkle and the nose rejoice. To what shall we compare 

 them ? They might be a bevy of beautiful Sabine girls, decked in their 

 festival attire, and hiding in a corner from the Romans ; but the latter, 

 you see, have discovered them at last, and bear them away ruthlessly. 



And, now, light wain and cart and cab arrive in quick succession. 

 The cry is still they come. Enthusiastic amateurs, who have been up 

 all night, heavy of eye, and hairy of lip, longing for bath and razor, but 

 longing still more to see how their Roses have travelled, and as anxious 

 about each individual bloom as though it were their first-born babe. 

 And, smiling at their earnestness, " old hands " and men of business, 

 taught by defeat as well as by victory, and by the vicissitudes of a 

 hundred fights, not to be over confident or over careful. Yes, they 

 smile, well pleased to see in others the zeal which they have known and 

 lost, and I verily believe would give up all their experience, all their 

 medals and their cups, to feel once more in their fulness the first 

 ambitions of youth. 



But there is no time now for scrutiny of others, or surmise as to their 

 thoughts, for the boxes are unlocked, or unhooked (as the rase may be), 



VOL. XII., no. cxc. Q 



