EXHIBITING. 113 



There has been considerable discussion amongst 

 Rose growers ot recent years as to the desirability of 

 giving special points for scent when judging Roses at 

 shows; this in itself will testify to the true state of 

 things in the Rose world. The idea is good, but it is 

 not practical ; for, as we all know, the perfume of a 

 variety ofttimes varies according to the stage of its 

 development when it is cut, and also, to a large extent, 

 to methods of cultivation. Again, the judging of ex- 

 hibits is already no easy matter, and takes far too long-, 

 as it is. What it would come -to if judges with highly 

 developed or defective olfactory powers were to discuss 

 the varying amounts and qualities of perfume, good- 

 ness only knows. It would gradually resolve itself into 

 a general treatment of giving all known scented varie- 

 ties an extra point, and thus we should ^et ofttimes 

 most doubtful adjudications. 



The only way to improve matters is to encourage 

 the trade to study the real wishes of the general public, 

 and to interest all growers in each new Rose possess- 

 ing those qualities which place it above competing 

 rivals. Every year new Roses are placed upon the 

 market, and find their way into our nurseryman's lists 

 to captivate the public for a w^hile as the latest novelty, 

 and to add a name or names to an ever-growing army 

 of varieties, which becomes more and more perplexing 

 to the amateur and onerous for the trade to keep in 

 commerce. Nearly every trader, as far as it is pos- 

 sible, gives a fair description of each variety, but in 

 all things there are degrees of excellence, and it is 

 hardly for them to put one variety before another, for 

 such preference can only be decided by general opinion, 

 and to get an honest result the public should be placed 

 in a position to judge. At all shows it is most notice- 

 able the way even connoisseurs will bend down to smell 

 some exquisite flower, and I have repeatedly witnessed 

 looks of surprise and disappointment at the finding of 

 no scent, while I have ever noticed the great pleasure 

 evinced when the perfume came up to expectations. 

 Now, it is seldom that anyone would care to bend down 

 over innumerable blooms, especially if frequently dis- 



