EXHIBITING ROSES 129 



and at the same time regular in shape and of good 

 colour. The boxes should in the first instance be 

 placed in a cool shed, the tubes filled with water, and 

 the surface of the box covered with the freshest and 

 greenest moss obtainable. It is not a good plan to 

 set up Roses in a shady place in the open air. This 

 being done, the selected blooms, as they are cut, should 

 be placed in the tubes and labelled. The blooms must 

 be cut with stems sufficiently long to allow of their 

 ends reaching the water when raised to the required 

 height at the exhibition. A little experience will show 

 in what stage of development the different varieties, 

 according to their respective staying power, require to 

 be cut. The best blooms should next be chosen, and 

 after having been wired, should be placed in the box 

 intended for exhibition and labelled. Blank labels of 

 a suitable size can be obtained of Messrs. Blake and 

 Mackenzie, School Lane, Liverpool, or they can be 

 had from the same firm with the names of the Roses 

 already printed on them. In order to keep the flowers 

 from unduly expanding on their way to the show, 

 each bloom should be tied round with double Berlin 

 wool. In doing this the outer row of petals should 

 be left free. The best form of tie, as it will not slip 

 and yet can be readily removed, is made by taking 

 one end of a piece of wool about a foot long and 

 twisting it twice round the other end. The loop thus 

 formed is placed over the middle of the bloom and 

 inside the outer or guard petals, and then drawn by 

 the two ends of the tie close round the flower, so as 

 to clasp it firmly and yet not too tightly. Before 



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