18G THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



of the Rose, is ignored. But there are really not many 

 scentless Roses, and I think fragrance is sometimes 

 over-estimated. Would Baroness Rothschild have 

 attained no fame without exhibitions ? or is it fragrance 

 which lifts the Rose so high above the mignonette and 

 the violet ? 



Another common complaint against exhibitions is that 

 prizes are given for mere size, and not for beauty. This is 

 not correct : size has its influence, all other things being 

 equal, as it rightly should, a Rose which is good in all 

 points and large being naturally better than one which 

 is equally good but smaller. " But," it may be said, 

 " we hear of so-and-so getting the first prize because his 

 blooms were ' heavier.' Are Roses judged by weight 

 like dead g-eese ? " The answer to this is that " heavier " 

 means greater thickness and solidity of petal ; and it 

 will not take long for a young Rosarian's eye to become 

 sufficiently educated to prefer the thick fleshy petalled 

 and consequently lasting Rose to one that is formed of 

 more flimsy material. 



Another complaint will probably be that show-Roses 

 are all so formal and regular, and that ndglig^e forms, 

 often so truly artistic, are not appreciated. The answer 

 to this will be, that Rose shows are held to test cultiva- 

 tion, as to who can grow the best Roses, rather than 

 decorative powers, as to who can show them the best. 

 A large advantage is held, as it is, by those who are 

 gifted in the power of display, especially in Tea Roses, 

 but if all the merit were in the showing there would 

 be small encouragement for the cultivator in his yearly 

 round of work. 



And also that as the judging must be accurate and 

 by strict rule, so only those formal styles of beaut}^ 

 which can be judged by rule can be held admissible. 



