226 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



as not only do we want to see what can be done in the shortening 

 days, but there are many fine roses that are only fit for show in 

 autumn ; and, indeed, if autumn shows were held periodically, the 

 Bourbon roses would immediately rise in popular estimation. Earnest 

 rosarians are too apt, like other men, to look at the matter from one 

 point of view only. It is true that roses may be brought together in 

 abundance in autumn, but it is always a question if spectators can be 

 found to appreciate them. We may be sure of this, that after the 

 12th of August, when Parliament will be prorogued, there will be 

 an end of great gatherings in London, and a more precipitous rush 

 of the wealthy, and indeed of all classes except the very poorest, to 

 the scenes of rurality which severally attract townsfolk in the long 

 vacation, than there has been for many a year past. JS'ot that 

 money abounds, but the excitement and wearisomeness of the debates 

 on the Keform Bill, and the tremendous climax of the visit of the 

 Sultan, the Pacha of Egypt, and the Belgian rifles at the closing of 

 the season, will render rest and quiet doubly necessa^-y; and we do 

 not think there is any great chance of an autumn rose show meeting 

 with such success as to cover the expense which must be incurred to 

 render it eftective. 



But, leaving the question of an autumn show, let us consider 

 what the customary exhibitions have done for us. We have particu- 

 larly noticed, and the particulars giv^ further on, under the head 

 of " Gatherings from Exhibitions," will furnish the reader with the 

 nieans of noticing, that a very small proportion of old roses have 

 been shown this season, the newer kinds have almost wholly filled 

 the stands. When we speak of old and new in this connection, we 

 must be understood as going back only five years, at the utmost; 

 more than nijie-tenths of all the roses shown at the Crystal Palace, 

 Kensington, Birmingham, and Hereford were varieties introduced 

 within the past five years. We are dealing now with matters of 

 fact, and if therefrom we may proceed to matters of opinion, we 

 would venture to say that the thorough rosarian must soon fall in 

 arrear of the fashion and the march of improvement, unless con- 

 stantly adding to his collection the best of the newer varieties. 

 The use of the word " fashion," in the last sentence, may tend to 

 disguise or obscure our meaning. The truth is, fashion has scarcely 

 any influence at all on the relative degrees of favour shown to any 

 particular rose. If it is the best of its class, it goes to the front 

 rank; if the worst, it is quickly discarded, and thus the exhibition 

 becomes an unerring test of the merits of the several varieties for 

 exhibition purposes, and .we may be guided by the returns, if 

 flowers of the finest possible quality are a desideratum. Exhibitors 

 do not seek new varieties or old varieties when preparing for the 

 exhibition ; they simply seek for the best flowers, and if in the end 

 we find the newer kinds to be predominant, we may pretty safely 

 conclude that the newer kinds are the best. 



Amongst the annual importations from the continent, there are 

 always many bad varieties mixed with good ones ; the trade are 

 compelled to buy all, but very soon the process of sifting and 

 selecting commences, and we are not long in learning which are the 



