ROSES— EXHIBITING AND JUDGING. 



07 



seconds, and have little fear of the wrong name being placed to the bloom, seeing that 

 the whole is transferred bodily. The names may be written or printed, but with many 

 changes in varieties the names are usually written. Pieces of cardboard 3 inches by 1 

 are suitable for the purpose. 



So far all is plain and simple, but we now come to a phase in exhibiting roses 

 where experience in selecting the flowers, with taste in setting them up and arranging 

 the colours, are the chief items. Old and faded flowers should never be kept in the stand. 

 More often than not the beginner stages his roses at home and does not make sufficient 

 allowance for the time that must elapse before they are seen by the judges. When 

 staged at home they may be at their highest point of beauty, but a gradual and 

 almost imperceptible change is going on, and so it happens that many blooms have 

 lost their freshness when judging time arrives. A large faded bloom will not 

 count a point with good judges, but a small, fresh, and well-shaped flower will not be 

 overlooked. 



In judging roses five points are given to an extraordinary specimen, four to a very 

 fine one, three to an average high- class bloom, two for a medium one, one point for a 

 bloom below medium, and no point at all for a bad bloom. General evenness, variety, 

 freshness, and arrangement carry the day in many doubtful cases. Choose young and 

 well-formed flowers, and be certain they have a true centre ; have form with freshness, 

 even at the cost of size, as many large blooms are apt to quickly degenerate into 

 coarseness or staleness — two very grave defects. 



There is difference of opinion as regards the best hours to cut roses for exhibition. 

 Late in the evening, just before the dew falls, is a good time to cut Teas and Noisettes ; 

 but where practicable it is generally advisable to cut the Hybrid Perpetuals early in the 

 morning. The Teas and Noisettes seldom lose their colour so quickly as the Hybrid 

 Perpetuals. If it be necessary to start for the show overnight, cut as late as possible 

 and wire all of those needing it. Then, in the morning, there will be ample time to 

 select the best twelve, or eighteen, as the case may be, before the judges come round. 

 Circumstances often alter one's plans, and there may not be time to do the whole of the 

 staging on the ground. In that case do as much as possible beforehand ; but it will be 

 a matter of a few minutes only to set up a stand, provided names are fixed and the roses 

 properly wired before the journey is commenced. 



The weather also makes a great difference in the cutting, as on a dull day one can 

 commence hours before it would be prudent to do so during bright weather. In the 



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