258 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



verdict. I can recall several instances in which, ccBtcris 

 paribus, tasteful arrangement has given the victory. The 

 material for operation has been equally good ; the modus 

 operandi has been the point of excellence — the artistic effort 

 of the more accomplished horseman has saved him from a 

 dead heat. 



Time was when the exhibitor had good excuse for the 

 introduction of flowers faulty in shape and too much alike 

 in colour. Time was (and I recall it happily, for we vexed 

 not ourselves about that which might be, but delighted our 

 hearts in that which we had) when our dark Roses, such as 

 Boula de Nanteuil, D'Aguesseau, Ohl, and Shakespeare — 

 our pink Roses, such as Comtesse Mole and Las Casas — 

 our white Roses, such as Madame Hardy, — were painfully 

 wide awake when they reached the show, and our collection 

 had " eyes " like Argus. We are dismayed now if a Cyclops 

 shows himself, even in our "48." A marvellous develop- 

 ment and progress has been made both in the form and 

 complexion of the Rose, and every season brings us new 

 treasures. See what we have gained in the last few years — 

 to the darker varieties we have added such Roses as Alfred 

 Colomb, Charles Lefebvre, Duchesse de Caylus, Due de 

 Rohan, Exposition de Brie, Leopold L, Marie Beauman ; 



