224 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE CHAP. 
quarters open, but some will stand the full exposure 
of their charms, and thin-petalled sorts should be 
shown when not more than half open. It is now 
the universal practice to tie up the centres of all 
pointed blooms to prevent their opening too soon, 
and sometimes it may be advisable to do this on the 
plant a day or even two before the show. Soft 
cotton or wool—not too thin—should be used, and 
the outer row of petals being left free, the point or 
spike of the bloom should be firmly tied round 
sufficiently low to prevent slipping. The form of | 
knot should be the first half of an ordinary knot, 
only with two turns instead of one: an inch or two 
of ends should be left, and then the advantages are, 
that though the knot will not slip it can always be 
tightened by pulling the ends, and is very readily 
removed. 
Teas are much more lasting when cut than H.P.s, 
especially if they be really good blooms of first-class 
sorts. Onone occasion I showed as a specimen of 
Comtesse de Nadaillac at three separate shows ; on 
the first occasion it won the distinction as best Tea, 
on the second the medal as best Rose, and the stand 
in which it was exhibited won first prize at the third 
show. On another occasion I showed twelve Teas 
unsuccessfully at one show: the same blooms with 
the exception of two or three were shown two days 
later at another place where the competition was 
quite as severe, and won first prize. Much rain had 
fallen in the two days and freshly cut Teas were 
spoiled. 
In the hot season of 1893, I cut a bloom of Marie 
van Houtte on the Monday and showed it, well in 
my winning stand at the Crystal Palace, on the 
