210 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



It cannot be doubted that the popularity of the 

 Eose, and its greatly increased cultivation, have been 

 much fostered by Eose shows and by the National 

 Eose Society which encourages them. With a 

 possible exception in the matter of fragrance, I do 

 not think that exhibitions have fostered any undesir- 

 able qualities in the flowers : it is true that some 

 modern show varieties are weak and difficult to 

 grow, but they are often so lovely that it would 

 have been a great loss if they had not been known : 

 and even the few scentless forms would, I believe, 

 have found a footing on their merits. 



A young exhibitor should begin by making sure 

 that he knows a good Eose when he sees it — that 

 he is well acquainted with the types and ideals 

 which authority, as represented by the National 

 Eose Society, requires. And the first thing to be 

 learnt is that " form," the shape of the Eose, is the 

 most important point of all. 



In Latin, " forma," shape, is " beauty," and 

 " formosus, ' shapely, is "beautiful." Form comes 

 before colour as drawing before painting. A tumble- 

 down cottage or a lopsided spray may be picturesque, 

 but it is only formal beauty that is amenable to the 

 strict rules necessary in competition. The "tumble- 

 down " style of beauty may be admired in the 

 garden, but cannot be admitted to judgment at 

 Eose shows. A Eosarian soon becomes accustomed 

 to look upon form as the primal beauty of the Eose, 

 and to regard colour, though necessary, as a 

 secondary consideration. 



Unfortunately, no proper terms have yet been 

 devised and used for the different types of form in 

 Eoses, for it cannot be denied that the expressions 



