248 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



trunks of trees in a neighboring wood ; have it 

 carefully picked over and well watered the day 

 before a show; and then, using the coarser 

 portion for a substratum, make my upper surface 

 as clean and green and level as I can. Fronds of 

 ferns, especially of Adiantum, are sometimes pret- 

 tily introduced. 



It would, I think, repay the Rosarian to grow 

 moss specially for this purpose, such as would 

 thrive — Selaginella denticulata, for example — in 

 rough boxes and waste places under stages or in 

 vineries. Some years ago I placed a lining of 

 zinc, 3 inches deep, at the top of one of my Rose- 

 boxes, filled it with earth, and soon obtained from 

 it a charming surface of S. apoda. The effect of 

 twelve beautiful Roses resting upon this bright- 

 green moss was lovely ; but oh ! the weight when 

 we bore them to the show ; no mother in all the 

 Avorld would care to carry such a bulky babe. 



A wee story about moss, and we leave it. I 

 remember an exhibitor, of whom it was said thkt 

 he was never known to pay a compliment, or to 

 praise anything which did not belong to himself, 

 except upon one occasion. Having won the first 

 prize for Roses he went in the joy of his heart to 

 his chief rival, and surveying his collection, de- 

 liberately and frankly said : " Well, John, I must 



