fully stingy and selfish about cutting certain flowers, which in 

 justification to myself was the first time and the last, when all my 

 little world was not free to carry away baskets of my blooms. 



Afterwards I did not take flower shows so seriously. I ex- 

 hibited, just as a matter of course. But I must go on and describe 

 to you that particular exhibit. My greatest treasures were my 

 Lady Alice Stanley roses and heliotrope. They were in a deep 

 oval basket. The inner water tin was half filled with sand. I cut 

 my Stanley roses in several lengths and my heliotrope (Center- 

 fleur) in two lengths. The stems of the silvery-pink carmine roses 

 were thrust into the wet sand and held firmly, the tallest in the 

 center, the others graduating. The short lengths of heliotrope 

 came next the roses and the longer lengths around the edge ex- 

 tending over the basket, lengthening the whole effect. 



This was to be entered in the table decoration class (center- 

 piece). When the two attendants carried it into the tent from the 

 truck, I followed crying. I was so keyed up and excited I could not 

 keep back the tears, and I walked up and down, up and down past 

 my exhibit for hours. No one knew it was mine. I had brought 

 it nearly ten miles and had commenced cutting at daybreak. I 

 had brought a pail and sprinkling can with me and was ready for 

 any emergency. Perhaps you know how difficult it is to get a drop 

 of water at a flower show? 



My other exhibits were Jonkheer L. Mock roses with a defined 

 length of stem. A jar of William R. Smith roses. Low broad 

 bowls of pink Verbenas and Mme. Cecil Brunner roses (center 

 piece class) Aconitums (Wilsonii pale blue) and pink Gladioli. 

 One large basket from the long fresh canes of Dr. Van Fleet, with 

 the glossy perfect foliage left on, made it a rare basket which 

 was filled with amber pink (Nearing) Cactus Dahlias. 



I won every prize given in the class for my exhibits. That was 

 some years ago and I shall never forget how weak and almost hys- 

 terical I was with pleasure and — may I admit it? — pride. 



There is a definite reason for telling you about it — it is this. 

 Every amateur gardener should exhibit at her local flower show. 



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