194 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



soil and keep the bud in a damp state. Pendulous 

 Teas on dwarfs are apt to be splashed with mud in 

 heavy showers, and this forms an additional recom- 

 mendation for standards for such varieties ; no pro- 

 tection short of a universal mulch is much good, but 

 when all Roses are wet, simply dipping a splashed Tea 

 face downwards a time or two in a pail of clear water 

 has often made it look at least as well as its fellows. 



I believe there are very few Eoses which are benefited 

 by being shaded from the sun, except to preserve the 

 colour. Exposure to the sun undoubtedly takes the 

 depth of tint from almost all Teas, making them paler : 

 but still they rejoice in the sun, and it is only in a very 

 hot and dry season that we can afford to keep it from 

 them. There seems to be little effect in shading to 

 jDrevent the ' burning 5 or browning of the petals of 

 dark H.P.s. 



Papering the buds, that is, wrapping them while yet 

 undeveloped in cones of white paper, has sometimes a 

 very good effect with the pointed forms of Teas, making 

 the bud grow longer and preserving the richness of 

 colour. It only answers in quite dry weather ; if rain 

 comes, the paper must all be removed at once or the 

 Roses will commence to rot. 



Boxes of the approved shape and size, with Foster's 

 tubes and wire supports, can now be readily purchased, 

 saving much trouble with the village carpenter. 

 Strength must not be sacrificed to lightness, as heavy 

 men will not scruple to stand on them in railway or 

 horse vans. The corners should be bound with iron, 

 and there should be some readily distinguishable mark 

 on the lid of each, a white bar or star or something of 

 that sort, so that each man can count his own boxes in 

 transit, or find his own lids easily at the end of the show. 



