202 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



Truly much depends upon the setting up and final 

 aiTangement of the Roses at the place of exhibition, 

 and, in Teas especially, a man who shows his Roses well 

 will often beat a worse performer even though the latter 

 have better raw material. An old friend and rival, 

 who by his splendid showing had often beaten me 

 when I felt my blooms were naturally the finer, once 

 most good naturedly set up my Teas as well as his own 

 at the Crystal Palace, though we were showing in the 

 same class. Poetical justice was for once triumphant, 

 for we came out equal first. 



Though perhaps a pity, it is inevitable that the art 

 of display should have this advantage ; it would never 

 do for the judges to pull the blooms about and see 

 what they are capable of. So the beginner must learn 

 how to show his Roses to the best effect in the first 

 place by watching others ; and he will find that, next 

 to experience, plenty of patience with a good allowance 

 of time is the principal requisite. 



Little care will be needed with those blooms that are 

 just right and likely to remain right when they meet 

 the eyes of the judges. But some, though still perfect, 

 may give cause for anxiety lest they should open too 

 far and show an eye, and weak blooms of thin varieties 

 will sometimes do this very soon in a hot tent. If the 

 shape Avill admit of it they had better be tied up for 

 the present as before recommended, and tested again at 

 the last. But the judges may be delayed and a younger 

 though smaller bloom is generally the safest. An old 

 hand by keeping the points of his Roses tied up till the 

 last minute will sometimes present for judgment fine- 

 shaped perfect blooms which two or three hours later 

 have opened and lost their form and beauty. It may 

 be matter of regret that this can be done, but some 



