124 EXHIBITING. 



schoolmaster in this respect, and before we get medal 

 blooms of some varieties'many a good bud will grow 

 out at the centre or become deformed, and so spoilt. 



Here it must be mentioned that the three faptors 

 that decide a perfect Rose are size, colour, and shape, 

 and it may be added, in case of a tie, scent. All, 

 therefore, that can be done to develop either of these 

 to the fullest extent must be done to win our prize. 



Size and shape depend upon the subjects we have 

 already considered, even careful cultivation ; so does 

 also colour to a very large degree ; yet there is another 

 influence that tends to impair rather than improve all 

 colour that must be considered. This is shading. 

 There is quite a large percentage of medal blooms e'er 

 they are brought into the show tent that will have to 

 have undergone a period of shading to protect them 

 from severe rains, too fierce a sun, or from being- 

 blown to pieces by violent winds. 



It is no mean art to know when or how to shade, 

 for, as every grower is aware, the less shading you 

 employ, the stronger the bloom and the finer the 

 colour. Still, we dare not run risks of damage, and, 

 since shading also will help us to retard too forward a 

 bud, we make every use of the neat little caps de- 

 vised for this purpose. These can be obtained from 

 John Pinches, of 3, Crown Buildings, Crown Street, 

 Camberwell. 



Learn, therefore, when to shade, and remember 

 always never to leave a rain-soaked shade close down 

 over a bloom, to be dried in turn by the sun, else your 

 flower will rot, or at any rate get discoloured; also, 

 excess of shading will cause the petals to lose their 

 substance, and to become papery in texture and pale 

 in colour. This is especially noticeable in such varie- 

 ties as *' Bessie Brown " and " Mildred Grant." 

 Equally important as shading is the tying with very 

 thick worsted the centre petals of the flowers. This 



