30 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



frequently act as one of the judges,* a chief hero 

 of former days was a Northamptonshire butcher, 

 Thorneycroft of Floore. He told me that by ris- 

 ing early, sometimes at 3 A. M., and by working 

 late, he not only carried on an extensive trade, 

 but found time to put up three glass houses of his 

 own handiwork ; and that, in addition to his 

 plants, fruits, and vegetables, he had in cultivation 

 several thousand Rose-trees, most of which he 

 had budded, and all of which he had pruned and 

 cared for likewise with his own hands. From his 

 houses he showed beautiful seedling Gloxinias, 

 which won first prizes and especial commenda- 

 tions ; obtained prizes for specimen plants of re- 

 cent introduction, as well as for those of a more 

 ordinary kind ; while from his Rose-garden he 

 brought collections which often took first and 

 second honors, and were always meritorious. 



Ascending some rungs of the social scala, 

 passing from the bluecoat school of Rosists to the 

 black, we floral ecclesiastics may congratulate 

 ourselves, thankfully and happily, upon our status 

 in the world of Roses. And here again, how of- 



* On one of these occasions some very pretty collections were 

 shown, not only of wild flowers, but of wild ferns and grasses. In 

 three of the latter, exhibited by children of one family, I observed 

 asparagus; and upon my saying to the exhibitors that this was not 

 contemplated by the schedule, my ignorance was at once enhghtened ; 

 — " Please, sir, it says ferns and grasses, and this is sparrow grass !" 



