HOW TO SHOW THE ROSE. 257 



to see, couldn't think of proposing at random, made blun- 

 ders, apologies, retreats. It seemed as though all these 

 charming flowers would be left to "wither on the virgin 

 Thorn," when one of them was permitted to leave her home 

 upon a visit to a distant friend. She returned in six weeks, 

 bien fiancee, and six months after was a bride. The rest fol- 

 lowed her example. So it is that six scarlet Roses or six 

 pink Roses in close proximity perplex the spectator, and 

 depreciate each other by their monotonous identity ; iso- 

 lated or contrasted, we admire them heartily. 



The Rosarian will learn much as to the effective arrang^e- 

 ment of Roses for exhibition by keeping one of his boxes, 

 surfaced with moss and filled with tubes, in his hall or 

 in some cool place near his Rose-garden, and by making 

 experiments therein, with a view to discovering the most 

 pleasing combinations as to colour, and the most graceful 

 gradations as to size. 



Nor let the exhibitor, amateur or professional, suppose 

 that these matters are of no importance. It is true that 

 priority is won by the superior merits of the Roses, care- 

 fully examined and compared ; but in cases where these 

 merits are equal, then the best arrangement as to form and 



colour will certainly influence, and probably determine, the 



R 



