^ But often it happens that the very roses we 

 have decided to cut for exhibition or some other 

 special purpose are bHghted by a severe sun, or 

 spoiled by a sudden shower or prolonged rain, 

 making them unfit for the honor we had intended 

 to confer upon them. It has always been my prac- 

 tice to protect such favorites by providing them 

 with a " panoply," one of the simplest things in 

 the world to make. Select stakes about a foot 

 taller than the top of the bush and on top of 

 the stake tack on a wooden " picnic-plate," about 

 eight or ten inches in diameter. You realize that 

 these panoplies, even when the picnic-plates are 

 painted, green do not add any beauty to the garden 

 and should only be used to protect such roses as 

 are desired for a very special need. Because our 

 roses show their appreciation of this protection 

 from a beating rain, and even though we realize 

 that it is welcome relief to some of our sun weary 

 ones, yet we must not be tempted to use these 

 rather unsightly shields indiscriminately. 



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