IRISH GARDENING. 



83 



Having placed your box on the stage, open 

 the lid slightly, just enough to admit a little 

 air, and then leave it alone. Keep your hands 

 off the Roses as long as ever you can. Many 

 first-rate blooms are past their best at the time 

 of judging because an impatient exhibitor 



Society gives the following caution : — " A bloom 

 dressed so as to alter its character shall count 

 as a bad bloom." If we bend back the outer 

 petals away from the others and make the 

 flower something like a Water Lily, its character 

 is altered ; it is a bad bloom. 



Photo by] 



British Queen. 

 A new, pure white Hybrid Tea. 



[S. Me G reel y <£ Son. 



has worried them and got them ready too 

 soon. 



(2) Dressing the Blooms. — Before the judging 

 all ties must be removed and the flowers opened 

 out. Dressing is an art ; it recpiires an artist's 

 eye ; it is successful only when it presents each 

 variety in its true form. The object of dressing 

 is not to make the flowers appear large, but 

 beautiful. On this subject the National Rose 



See that there are no duplicates in the box 

 and that all are correctly named. Partially close 

 the lid and await the warning bell. Then remove 

 the ties that remain on and leave the tent. 

 Go right away while the judges are at work. 

 When the judging is over take down the names 

 of the Roses you have staged. A list of Roses 

 exhibited will show at the end of the season 

 which varieties have proved most useful. 



