Exhibiting Pot Roses. 189 



exhibition all depends on you. You must neither trot, gallop, nor canter. If you 

 do the consequences may be disastrous. Put your horse to his easiest walking pace, 

 having reckoned up beforehand the time he will require for the journey. Having 

 arrived early, you will find the tents only partially occupied ; 'but the place for Roses, 

 as for other objects, is already assigned. For you the north side of the tent is the 

 best ; indeed, for Roses as cool and shady a place as possible should be apportioned, 

 as some flowers will lose colour in a few hours in a sunny or hot position. In pro- 

 ceeding to set up the plants it is well to calculate the elevation at which they show 

 best ; to which raise them by means of blocks of wood of different thicknesses, about 

 the diameter of the bottom of the pots. The sticks used merely as supports in 

 travelling should be withdrawn. When the plants are all nicely adjusted each 

 should have the name placed to it in a position where easily seen, written in 

 a bold legible hand, or done in the Egyptian style with Indian Ink. At the grand 

 Metropolitan exhibitions visitors are often so numerous that many cannot get near 

 the objects exhibited ; for their information, then, this is particularly desirable. 

 All is now finished, and we await the decision of the judges, viewing the productions 

 of our contemporaries and anticipating the result. Perhaps, on returning to the tents 

 after judgment has been pronounced, our plants are not so high in the scale as we 

 expected to find them. A feeling of disappointment may arise. Shall we take 

 umbrage at it ? Certainly not. This would be foolish and ungenerous. Let us ask 

 ourselves this question : Which is the more likely, that the Censors men selected, 

 as they should be, on account of their professional knowledge and known probity 

 which, we say, is the more likely, that they should have shown an indifference to or 

 prejudice against our plants ; or that we, the owners thereof, have been indulging in 

 an overweening fondness ? The answer is apparent. And let us ask ourselves again, 

 if there is any disgrace in being beaten. Certainly not. Every place here is 

 honourable. If A produces good plants, it is no discredit to him that B produces 

 better. Nor would it always be correct reasoning to say that the latter is the more 

 skilful cultivator. The air, or the soil, or the means at the disposal of B, may enable 

 him to accomplish with ease that which is impracticable with A. If our plants are 

 good, never mind those of our contemporary being better ? Are not both engaged in 

 the same work, both interested in the advancement of a favourite flower? Let us 

 persevere, and we may probably reach the summit of our ambition at some future time. 

 In packing for returning the same care is requisite as before, if the plants are in- 

 tended to be shown elsewhere, or, indeed, if any store is set by the flowers yet unfolded. 

 Under other circumstances the flowers may be cut off, which saves much time in 

 repacking for travelling. But if the flowers are preserved the plants may serve for 

 other shows, although they must be considered in greater perfection when possessed 

 of expanded flowers and others yet to come, than when showing expanded flowers 

 only. 



