THE CARNATION MANUAL. 97 



position, and by their stiffness stay there. But 

 the long-necked, movable petal of the Carnation 

 is so easily either mislaid or displaced by the 

 wind as to hide more or less of its proportions and 

 beauty, several deep under other petals. 



Nature, therefore, having done her part, it 

 remains for us to commence where she has left 

 off, or has been ill-treated by rude winds ; and to 

 bring to light all the beauty of the flower, placing 

 each petal in its best attitude and position, and 

 arranging the natural gifts and graces of the 

 flower, so that all the most finely marked petals 

 shall be displayed to the best advantage. 



The skilfid dresser naturally has tha advantage 

 over the man who, for want of eye, judgment, 

 forethought, patience, taste, delicacy of touch, 

 "can't get into it," and therefore says, "AboHsh 

 dressing !" He is much the same kind of objector 

 as the tailless fox, who did not like to see other 

 foxes possessing what he had not got, and so 

 said to them, " Abolish tails ! " 



The novice, in this as in any other line of 

 study, art, or pleasure, may expect to have to 

 learn by experience. Of course he will be at some 

 disadvantage. It is not for skill and experience 

 to come down to his level : he must work up 

 to the level of experience and skill. He will 

 soon be on the way to this if he is a plucky, 

 patient, watchful man ; true, and not shallow and 



