126 EXHIBITING. 



positions, and then to shut down for their journey. 

 A flower treated thus will get spotted and damaged in 

 hot weather if confined in a small box without air. By 

 all means damp the moss when you get to the show, 

 for this is a great help in a hot tent. Again, when 

 making ready your box, unless very much pressed for 

 time, attend to the medal bloom last, so as to save it 

 and from expanding too rapidly. Now, although such a 

 point as a colour scheme must enter into the arrange- 

 ment of every show-box, yet, if you have a very likely 

 bloom, this should be given the principal position, and 

 only colours calculated to set it off to advantage 

 sihould be placed near it to enforce its catching the 

 judge's eye, a very valued point when the varfety on 

 which you pin your faith, although exceptional of its 

 kind, has to challenge larger varieties for the pre- 

 mier position. Before leaving yo^ir box see that your 

 Rose has a well-written label with its name correctly 

 spelt — a warning much needed, since, if it wins, the 

 uninitiated public are certain to write it down in their 

 books. If successful and an enterprising photo- 

 grapher seeks to immortalise your flower at small cost, 

 do not refuse him the honour, for the pleasure you 

 will derive from the picture in years to come will be 

 well worth the money. It will bring back to memory 

 not only the triumph, but also all your hard labour and 

 care, which, in that case at any rate, resulted in so 

 great a success. To be successful you must start 

 right, that is you must observe all the rules of the 

 game, for after all Rose exhibiting is a sport second 

 to none, and this is the decision of one who, in humi- 

 lity be it written, has held his own in most athletic 

 sports and engaged in many contests with success. 

 The real lover of the Rose is proud to compete with 

 rival growers, and the joy of breaking a thorn in the 

 show tent is life to the true sporting instinct. My 

 advice is, show, and show as big as you can, do not 

 mind defeat; your day will come, either it will be a 

 medal bloom, or else a first, second or third prize for 

 a box or vase of blooms. 



The first time I ever showed I was so disgusted 

 with my effort that I nearly closed my box and placed 



