206 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



" Lars Porsenna of Clusium, 



When by his gods he swore, 

 That the great house of Tarquin 

 Should suffer wrong no more " — 



I vowed that her Majesty should have her own again, and 

 in a court of unparalleled and unassisted splendour should 

 declare herself monarch of the floral world. 



Carrying out this loyal resolution, I forthwith suggested 

 in the pages of TJie Florist (April 1857), to all Rose- 

 growers, amateur and professional, " that we should hold 

 near some central station a Grand National Rose- 

 Show — a feast of Roses, at which the whole brotherhood 

 might meet in love and unity, to drink, out of cups of 

 silver, success to the Queen of Flowers." And I must con- 

 fess that, when I had made this proposal to the world, I 

 rather purred internally with self-approbation. I felt con- 

 fident that the world would be pleased. Would the world 

 send me a deputation } Should I be chaired at the London 

 flower-shows .'' Perhaps I should be made a baronet. For 

 some days after the publication of the magazine I waited 

 anxiously at home. I opened my letters nervously, but the 

 public made no sign. Had it gone wild with joy, or were 

 its emotions too deep for words } Weeks passed and it still 

 was mute. I was disappointed. I had thought better of 



