260 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



finger into the heart of a magnificent Due de 

 Rohan, in his anxiety to assure us, his coadjutors, 

 that the Rose was too fully blown. Oh, how I 

 wished that the Due, to whom we voted by a 

 majority the highest marks, had been armed for 

 the moment with a ferret's teeth! 



The arrangement of Roses with regard to their 

 color has not been studied as it deserves to be. 

 With some few exceptions, the nurserymen arc 

 not successful in this matter ; but it is very dif- 

 ficult for them to find the time, granting the taste 

 to be there, for a minute assortment of the large 

 collections which they are called upon to show ; 

 and knowing that the awards will be made upon 

 the merits and demerits of the individual flowers, 

 they are not solicitous about minor details The 

 amateur, with more leisure than the man of busi- 

 ness for the study of the beautiful, and for the 

 most effective display of his fewer flowers, ought 

 to excel, but, as a rule, does not. His Roses are 

 very rarely made the most of in this respect, but 

 are frequently marred and spoiled, the colors 

 clashing and contending with each other, instead of 

 combining against their common adversary. It is 

 told of a highly- sensitive dame, whose silly pride 

 was in dress, that she went into hysterics before a 

 large party when her great rival in millinery came 



