188 The Rose Garden. 



rays. As our flowers advance our pleasures and anxieties increase. It is difficult 

 to judge correctly of the time a bud requires to expand, some remain as buds 

 for many days after they show colour, others expand very rapidly. The hard 

 buds, of which we may instance Hybrid Perpetual La Reine, are slowest in expand- 

 ing, and remain longest in a showable state. The less double flowers, as Hybrid 

 Perpetual General Jacqueminot, and Tea Madame Falcot, advance more rapidly, 

 and are in general proportionally ephemeral. This is the best guide we can offer 

 to the unpractised eye, though by no means an unerring one. If, after all our care, 

 our specimens are far too early or too late, it is better to allow them their natural 

 course than to resort to violent measures ; it is better to show fine specimens not 

 arrived at or beyond their glory, than to produce what might be construed as bad 

 cultivation. Roses will not submit kindly to the large amount of forcing or keeping 

 back which Azaleas and some other plants will endure. 



We have already stated our views on tying' up and training, but there is some 

 doubt whether that system tells best on the exhibition tables. There, one side is 

 to the wall, so that at best not more than three-quarters of a round plant can be seen. 

 Now,.it is evident that by leaving the back of a plant bare, or thinly set with branches, 

 a greater display can be made with the same material than when the branches are 

 set at equal distances all round, as by the former practice more flowers are brought 

 into full sight. Yet a skilful judge will surely detect the false show ; and if the round 

 plants are in other respects nearly equal, we opine he would give his decision in their 

 favour. Be this as it may, a perfect plant must yield its possessor a greater pleasure 

 and more solid satisfaction than an ill-balanced or imperfect one. 



These remarks bring us to the period of exhibition. If the distance be great 

 the plants should be packed for travelling the day before. All is bustle and 

 anxiety. A light spring van is the best . vehicle for their conveyance, the space 

 in which from four to eight large plants will fully occupy. The surface of the soil 

 of the pots should be covered with nice green moss. Each flower-bud must have 

 a stick to support it during the journey unless the variety produces its flowers in 

 trusses, when a stick to a truss is sufficient but should not be tied so tight as to 

 prevent an easy motion. If the flowers are heavy, soft tissue-paper should be drawn 

 closely round them without compression ; if produced in trusses, wadding may be 

 placed among them to support and prevent them from bruising each other. In 

 packing, the plants should stand clear of each other, and all free from contact with 

 the sides of the van. Between the pots moss or sawdust should be tightly pressed, 

 at least half their depth, to keep them from shifting. A light tilt must go over the 

 van to exclude sun, rain, or dust, the last of which, by-the-bye, it is not always easy 

 to do. But all is ready, and there is nothing like being at the place of exhibition 

 in time. A careful person ought to accompany them, as the pace at which they 

 travel should be a steady walking one. Attention, John ! From home to the 



