2l6 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



bition were ;^300 ; and as a matter both of feeling 

 and finance I stood by the entrance as the clock 

 struck two, anxiously to watch the issue. 



No long solicitude. More than fifty shillings — 

 I humbly apologize — more than fifty intelligent 

 and good-looking individuals were waiting for ad- 

 mission ; and these were followed by continuous 

 comers, until the Hall was full. A gentleman, 

 who earnestly asked my pardon for having placed 

 his foot on mine, seemed perplexed to hear how 

 much I liked it, and evidently thought that my 

 friends were culpable in allowing me to be at 

 large. Great indeed was my gladness in seeing 

 those visitors — more than 2000 in number — but 

 far greater in heai^ing their hearty words of sur- 

 prise and admiration. 



** No words can describe," again to quote Pro- 

 fessor Lindley, writing in the Gardenei's' Chronicle 

 a few days after the Show, " the infinite variety of 

 form, color, and odor which belonged to the field 

 of Roses spread before the visitor. At the sides 

 were crowds of bunches, daintily set off by beds of 

 moss ; in the middle rose pyramids, baskets, and 

 bouquets. In one place, solitary blossoms boldly 

 confronted their clustering rivals ; in another, 

 glass screens guarded some precious gems ; and 

 in another, great groups of unprotected beauties 



