AT A ROSE-SHOW. 285 



the award of his hps is the sure conviction of his 

 heart. 



As the judge enters, the exhibitor leaves the 

 show, first turning to gaze once again upon the 

 exquisite beauty of the scene, the long avenues of 

 Roses, the fairest examples which the world can 

 bring of its most lovely flower. The flat surface 

 of the boxes is pleasingly diversified (or should 

 be) by the stately palm, the graceful fern,, 

 the elegant Humea, by Croton, Caladium,. 

 Dracaena, Coleus, and the like, which not only 

 prevent the uniformity from becoming monoto- 

 nous, and the repetition wearisome, but soften 

 agreeably that blaze of color which would be^ 

 without such contrast and interruption, too bright 

 for mortal ken. These are placed at regular in- 

 tervals in the centre of the tables, singly, or in 

 groups. Pretty specimens of the silver-leafed 

 maple (Acer Negundo variegatiun), about 4 feet 

 in height, were thus freely introduced, and with 

 admirable effect, at one of the Birmingham Rose- 

 shows. 



And now there comes for the young lover 

 who has just made, as it were, his proposals to the 

 Rose, a tedious interval, a long suspense, a ner- 

 vous restless agitation. The lady has always smiled 

 on him, but what will papa say — /. e., the judge? 



