186 The Rose Garden. 



point. Much will depend on the materials in hand. Contrast should, I think, be 

 aimed at ; but with regard to the exact tints fitted for each position the eye of 

 him who arranges is usually best qualified to determine. We say nothing of the 

 art of dressing Rose-blooms for the exhibition table as we have never studied or 

 practised it. 



A neat and commodious method of naming is, to procure some deal sticks, about 

 four inches long and half an inch wide, gradually tapering to a point. Let them be 

 painted white, the names written in a round legible hand, with a good dark pencil. 

 Or small strips of card-board, the names written in ink. placed in the front of each 

 sort, are both neat and convenient. 



But the flowers are arranged, and what is to be done with them during the 

 interval that must elapse ere they depart for the scene of competition ? Shall the lids 

 be placed on the boxes, and the flowers be kept closed from the air? By no means. 

 Seek as cool a place as possible, where there is no draught, and where the light is not 

 too strong. There place them till the time of departure. So necessary do many 

 exhibitors consider it that the flowers should not be wholly closed from the air, that 

 they have several holes made in the ends of their box-lids with a small augur. This 

 I have found by experience a capital contrivance to admit the dust, and if these 

 holes are made use of, they should be stopped with corks when travelling on a 

 dusty road. 



But besides the flowers of Roses, the plants are exhibited grown in pots ; and 

 it remains for us to say something of them. The advantages gained by their 

 introduction are, that the character and habit of the variety are shown. Cut Roses 

 create a great display, but Pot-Roses afford us more extensive information. We may 

 propose to ourselves, while viewing them, these questions What is the habit of the 

 variety? Is it a free-grower, or otherwise? Is it a good trusser? A Summer or 

 Autumn bloomer? These questions cannot always be answered by presenting a 

 mere flower or bunches of flowers ; but the introduction of Pot- Roses offers the 

 means of a ready solution. In cultivating these for exhibition it is necessary to 

 grow at least double the number required to be shown. This is no overdrawn 

 calculation, as all who have any experience in the matter will testify. There is 

 no difficulty in flowering every plant, but there is a difficulty in bringing all to 

 perfection at a settled point of time. Remember, the Rose is one of the most ephemeral 

 of flowers, and the day of exhibition is a fixed one. These facts, however, should deter 

 no one from growing for exhibition, for they affect all exhibitors alike ; all fight on 

 equal ground ; and the greater the difficulties to contend with, the greater is the 

 triumph when achieved. For exhibition plants we should recommend many kinds to 

 be grown on their own roots. Although with such the cultivator will not be able to 

 appear in the field at so early a date, yet he may ultimately attain to a more distin- 

 guished position. Certain kinds will not last long in health when budded : superior 



