208 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



Eose scent from a pamphlet called Bhodologia, by 

 Mr. J. Ch. Sawer, F.L.S., of Brighton, which will 

 be found useful to those interested in the scent 

 of Eoses, especially from a commercial point of 

 view. 



So it is a charge against shows that scentless 

 Eoses are encouraged, and fragrance, a chief part of 

 the dowry of the Eose is ignored. But there are 

 really not many scentless Eoses, and I think frag- 

 rance is sometimes over-estimated. Would Baroness 

 Eothschild have attained no fame without Exhibi- 

 tions ? or is it fragrance which lifts the Eose so high 

 above the mignonette and the violet ? 



Another common complaint against exhibitions is 

 that prizes are given for mere size, and not for 

 beauty. This is not correct : size has its influence, 

 all other things being equal, as it rightly should, a 

 Eose which is good in all points and large being 

 naturally better than one which is equally good but 

 smaller. "But," it may be said, "we hear of so- 

 and-so getting the first prize because his blooms 

 were ' heavier.' Are Eoses judged by weight like 

 dead geese ? " The answer to this is that "heavier " 

 means greater thickness and solidity of petal ; and it 

 will not take long for a young Eosarian's eye to 

 become sufficiently educated to prefer the thick 

 fleshy petalled and consequently lasting Eose to 

 one that is formed of more flimsy material. 



Another complaint will probably be that show- 

 Eoses are all so formal and regular, and that negligee 

 forms, often so truly artistic, are not appreciated. 

 The answer to this will be, that Eose shows are 

 held to test cultivation, as to who can grow the best 

 Eoses, rather than decorative powers, as to who can 



