224 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



it expands to its full Rosehood. But I should never desire 

 to show all my Roses of this form, however varied by 

 colour, size, or foliage, knowing how much I should lose for 

 lack of contrast and diversity. 



With reference to colour, I would explain that I mean by 

 endurance a colour which will best bear the journey to the 

 exhibition, and the heat of the exhibition hall. I have kept 

 this important consideration in mind in the selection which 

 follows of Show-Roses. 



After reading rule 3, the novice may ask, How am I to 

 know the most perfect phase and the fullest development 

 of a Rose .'' My answer to this is, Go to one of our princi- 

 pal Rose-shows, or to one of our most extensive Rose- 

 nurseries at the end of June, or early in July, so that 

 you may see the flower in its glory. The sooner that 

 the young Rosarian knows what a Rose may be, and 

 therefore what it ought to be, the better. Many a man's 

 handwriting has been cramped and spoiled by copying 

 bad copies, and using bad pens ; and many a man, who 

 might have been a successful florist, has failed, because 

 he has not seen flowers in perfection, nor the cultural art 

 in its perfection, until it was too late. I have known 

 several instances in which men, brought up, as it were 



