EXHIBITING ROSES. 115 



exhibition in Belgium where the flowers were arranged in bottles 

 in stands like ours, and in the " Gardener's Chronicle" he expressed 

 the opinion that this method was greatly superior to that of arrang- 

 ing in boxes. No artificial arrangement in green boxes or yellow 

 boxes could be as beautiful as the bouquets or single flowers. 



President Parkman said that one great advantage of boxes, 

 especially to those who live at a distance from the place of exhibi- 

 tion, is that the flowers can be arranged quietly at home, and 

 then put on the train and brought to the hall in good order, while 

 if shown in bottles they must be arranged in the confusion of the 

 hall. 



Mr. Strong thought the truth lay between the two extremes. 

 The object of the florist is to pass a severe judgment on the 

 flowers. He would leave it to the option of exhibitors whether 

 to show in boxes or bottles. 



William Gray, Jr., thought that all the roses should be required 

 to be shown in boxes, and that the society should furnish the 

 boxes. If both methods were allowed those who showed in bottles 

 M'ould do so at great. disadvantage, for the flowers could not pos- 

 sibly be placed in bottles as fresh as if brought in boxes. People 

 do not come to see a general display, and shows of two thousand 

 varieties would be useless, as well as the bank of ten thousand 

 flowers shown in a French exhibition. He thought it would be 

 well to arrange the roses and plants, as suggested by Mr. Atkinson, 

 after judging. 



II. Weld Fuller approved of the exhibition of roses in boxes 

 when ofl"ered for prizes ; but thought there should be also a liberal 

 show of flowers around the hall to make it attractive, for we have 

 in view a double object, — we wish not only to interest and educate 

 the people, but to draw them here to be educated, and our halls 

 would look bare with only the prize flowers. Besides keeping 

 the roses fresher, the moss produces the best eff'ect, for a green 

 ground is not only agreeable to the eye, but exhibits white and 

 red objects to the best advantage. Red and green being com- 

 plementary colors, each heightens the eff'ect of the other. 



Mr. Hovey thought Mr. Gray was quite correct in saying that 

 roses in boxes would take the prize over those in bottles, for this 

 arrangement originated in " doctoring " flowers. Carnations, for 

 instance, are often kept in place by a piece of pfiper underneath to 

 support the petals, or a missing petal is replaced and neatly fas- 



