EXHIBITING ROSES 



THE growing and preparing of Roses for exhibition is, 

 of course, a branch quite apart from the ordinary routine 

 of Rose-growing. It is obvious that this must be so, 

 for the aims of the two departments are so different, 

 that equally differing methods must be followed. The 

 aim of the exhibitor of Roses is to procure a certain 

 limited number of blooms, each of which should be, in 

 its way, perfect. For this he is quite willing to sacrifice 

 the profusion of blooms which is, on the other hand, the 

 aim of the man who grows his Roses for their beauty and 

 scent in the garden. The exhibitor is willing to sacri- 

 fice the many to the one or two perfect individuals, 

 while the ordinary grower prefers to see his Rose tree 

 covered with flowers, individually perhaps less perfect, 

 but each contributing to a perfect whole ; so that he 

 who decides to devote himself to growing Roses for 

 exhibition must make up his mind to a severe discipline 

 both for himself and his plants. His first and primary 

 task is the same as that of the ordinary grower ; he must 

 have his plants in the best possible condition for them to 

 bear his exhibition blooms. They must be strong and 

 well-nourished, but they should not be allowed to keep 

 more than a certain restricted number of shoots, so that 

 the whole strength of the plant may be directed towards 

 the chosen buds. As soon as the buds are seen, all but 

 those selected should be removed, leaving one only to 

 each shoot. Any which appear later should be at once 

 picked out with a knife without wounding the shoot. 

 Each shoot should be secured to a separate stake, and 



