ROSES AT THE ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 163 



instance of a fruit show, it would be a much more easy 

 task to fulfil the requirements of good taste, to satisfy the 

 convenience of the judges, and of the exhibitors, than in a 

 general flower show, and yet as a rule it is precisely in 

 these less complicated shows that the least attempts are 

 made at good grouping. Mr Paul has now shown us how 

 the thing can be done, and the advantages are so self 

 evident that we shall expect to see many others following 

 in his footsteps. The annexed plans will show the general 

 method of arrangement better than long description, and 

 will, we think, make it manifest that it is quite possible to 

 secure a beautiful and effective arrangement without 

 interfering with the convenience of the judges and 

 connoisseurs. Almost any change would be a relief from 

 the stereotyped monotony and ugliness of our present 

 system. The idea of Mr Paul, which he so successfully 

 carried out, was to show the effect of groups of beds of 

 Roses on grass, with due attention to harmony of colours. 

 In most cases each bed was occupied with one variety 

 only, but beds of mixed colours were occasionally intro- 

 duced for the sake of variety. In some groups strong 

 contrasts were arrived at, in others harmony of colouring, 

 shade softening into shade. The flowers were placed in 

 short stone bottles, in which the flowers were loosely 

 arranged with buds and leaves as they grow naturally on 

 the bushes. The extent and completeness of the arrange- 

 ment may be surmised from the fact that about 6000 

 trusses of flowers were used. The varieties employed 

 were those best suited for planting in masses, such as 

 General Jacqueminot, Firebrand, Madame Victor Verdier, 

 crimson ; Marquise de Castellane, Peach Blossom, Madlle. 

 Therese Levet, rose coloured ; Madame Plantier and Mrs 

 Bosanquet, white ; Madame Falcot, yellow ; and most of 

 the leading Roses, new and old, of every colour and shade 

 Taken individually, Firebrand, which may be described as 

 a crimson Baronne de Rothschild, was the most effective 

 in the show. 



