XI 



EXHIBITING 



193 



leading to the bloom being " divided " or " quartered," 

 a very serious detriment to the shape of many of the 

 finest blooms. There is no remedy: another bud, 

 if possible, should be chosen in its place. An exception 

 must be made in the case of Madame de Watteville, 

 whose buds are curiously wrinkled to enclose the great 

 wing petals. 



Before the buds begin to open measures must be 

 taken to shelter the delicate blooms from rain and 

 sometimes from sun. Almost all the Teas and certain 

 of the H.P.s are liable to a good deal of injury from 

 rain and sometimes even from heavy dews. Of the 

 many kinds of protectors which have been tried, from 

 old umbrellas to strawberry punnets and tin or glass 

 shades, there are probably none better than the cones 

 made of Willesden waterproof paper which are now 

 manufactured and sold in large quantities. 



My stepfather, the Rev. C. Ward, of Maulden Rectory, 

 Beds, an excellent florist who died in 1879, was I 

 believe the first to use this material for the purpose in 

 the shape of cones. I introduced the subject to the 

 trade, but I have still one made by Mr. Ward, of as 

 good material and shape as those now turned out, 

 though considerable improvements have been invented 

 in the mode of suspension and fastening. In placing 

 the protector over a bud great pains should be taken to 

 see that both are firm and not likely to be moved by 

 the wind. Severe gusts often accompany thunder- 

 storms, the protectors offer a good deal of resisting 

 surface, and the bud if chafed while it be wet is sure 

 to be spoiled. 



The protectors should be raised or removed when 

 the rain is over, particularly if the bud is close to the 

 ground, as they check the evaporation from the wet 



o 



