EXHIBITING. 129 



I have said very little about the cutting of our 

 blooms; this is best left until the morning of the show, 

 but Tea Roses can be cut the day before, and if stood 

 in water in the dark they will grow a little, and cer- 

 tainly the petals will be easier to dress. 



Most Roses go to sleep at night ; that is, their 

 petals shut somewhat, and it is safest not to disturb 

 them, for you can do very little with them until the 

 sun is up. The value of Roses like Horace Vernet 

 cannot be well determined until the sun is up, and it 

 is not wise to cut your reds too early, as they lose 

 their fire and brilliance if kept too long in water. 



A good deal of judgment is necessary as to what 

 to cut first, especially when you have many Roses to 

 wire and stage, but it is a golden rule to start with 

 the Teas, for these grow in water. Then cut and wire 

 up your white and pink Roses that are ready the even- 

 ing before, and write all labels as you cut, ana 'place 

 them in their tubes. Leave your youngest blooms 

 until the last moment. Experience alone will teach 

 you what to cut and when to cut, but speaking gener- 

 ally, a Rose to last well should be one on the under- 

 developed side that will stand being cut the evening 

 before the show. When cut and wired up all Roses 

 should be tied, and thick worsted should be used to 

 hold in place the petals until they are brushed out in 

 the show tent. Always take a goodly number of spare 

 blooms, for you are certain to want one or more, and 

 even the most careful exhibitor will meet •with acci- 

 dents. 



In dressing a Rose there is nothing to beat the 

 handle of your budding knife and a large camel's hair 

 brush ; scissors I have never used ; no, not even to 

 remove a damaged petal. Indeed, most of the work 

 can be done with your first finger and thumb and a 

 puff of breath blown sharply into a tightly closed 

 bloom to loosen the petals should be enough. In dress- 

 ing a Rose always work from the outer petals, laying 

 these low before the next row Is touched. Cupped 

 petals require often the pressure of the tip of the first 



