148 CUT FLOWEES. 



from about the middle of the previous year's wood, when it is 

 well matured. The points of merit in Roses are: (1.) Size; 

 (2.) form ; and (3.) colour of the flowers. The larger the bloom 

 the better, pi-ovided it is full in the centre and of a good shape. 

 The petals should be thick, glossy, and regularly disposed, free 

 from all blemishes and notched edges, and the colour should 

 be clear and fresh. The blooms should always be exhibited 

 with foliage, which gives them a fresh and finished appearance, 

 and where it is necessary to add foliage it should not be over- 

 done, good ta.ste easily determining the right proportion. 



STOCK. 

 There are several kinds of Stocks {Mattliiola), which among 

 them furnish a succession of flowers from early in the season 

 till late in autumn. So-wn the previous year and treated as a 

 biennial, the Brompton Stock begins the season, followed by 

 the Ten Weeks' Stock, an annual the name of which indicates 

 its precocity ; after which the Intermediate or East Lothian 

 Stock carries on the supply as long as mild weather lasts. 

 Seed should be saved from only the very best strains ; and for 

 Ijroducing double flowers, the plants from which the seed is 

 saved should be as old as it is possible to keep them before 

 allowing them to bear seed. The seed of Intermediate and 

 Ten Weeks' Stocks should be sown at the same time, and 

 the plants treated in the same manner as Asters. Stocks 

 should be exhibited either in a "single spike" — the proper 

 way as cut flowers — or the whole plant should be set up, with 

 or without the root ; but whatever form is adopted, it should 

 be clearly stipulated in the prize schedule to prevent confusion. 

 The points of merit are : (1.) Length and diameter of the 

 spike; (2.) number and quality of the flowers, which should be 

 perfectly double ; and (3. ) substance of the petals, of which the 

 colour should be clear and bright. 



STOVE FLOWERS. 

 This class is so profuse in excellent kinds of cut flowers for 

 exhibiting in bunches, that it is rather difficult, in making a 

 selection, to know exactly which to leave out. However, the 



