XI 



EXHIBITING 



203 



risk is run, and ingenuity and boldness, provided that 

 all is fair, should have their chance of reward. 



Some blooms will be found hardly more than buds, 

 and these will require a little assistance to make them 

 open further. The National Rose Society was quite 

 right in framing rules against "dressing" when this took 

 the form of forcibly bending down the outer petals by 

 creasing them. This gives quite a different appearance 

 and shape to the Rose. Yet a little assistance, by re- 

 moving short malformed or discoloured outer petals, and 

 by gently pressing back at the base the next row is a 

 legitimate accessory of the art of exhibiting. 



The handle of a budding knife was the instrument 

 formerly used for opening a bloom, and I have seen a 

 pencil do wonders in experienced hands ; still a camel's 

 hair pencil of fair size is the best thing to use, for it 

 is soft and does no injury to the petals and may be 

 utilised for the removal of specks of dirt, aphides or 

 thrips. Work patiently away at the outer row of 

 petals only, without creasing them down : it is no use 

 meddling much with the inner rows, except by a sharp 

 puff or two from the lips which will sometimes im- 

 prove matters somewhat. 



Some sorts cannot be opened at a show, Reynolds 

 Hole for instance ; however much the petals be pressed 

 back, nothing short of creasing or mechanical obstruction 

 will prevent them from closing up again. I remember 

 a case where a fine-looking bloom of this variety was 

 being examined by the judges as the most likely candidate 

 for the silver medal for best H. P. The owner of the 

 Rose at the door of the tent was anxiously watching the 

 movements of the arbiters, and was horrified to see one 

 of them pull the bloom downwards through his lightly 

 enclosing hand. Click I the petals, released from the 



