CONCERNING ROSE-SHOWS 191 



Jacqueminot, Kleber, and Washington (all Hybrid 

 Chinas), Colonel Coombes, Captain Sisolet, etc. ; and 

 their counsel, like Moloch's, was for open war. 

 They said it was expedient to readjust their 

 boundaries ; and we know pretty well by this time 

 that this means an immediate raid upon the property 

 which adjoins their own. They discovered that they 

 had been for years grossly insulted by their neigh- 

 bours (Aimee Vibert was almost sure that a young 

 potato had winked his eye at her), and the time for 

 revenge was come. No, not revenge, but for en- 

 lightenment and amelioration; seeing that these bless- 

 ings must inevitably attend their intercourse with any 

 other nation, and that, consequently, an invasion, 

 with a touch of fire and sword, was beyond a doubt 

 the most delightful thing that could happen to the 

 barbarians over the way. Geant des Batailles 

 (Hybrid Perpetual) waved the standard of Marengo 

 (ditto), and they sallied forth at once. They routed 

 the rhubarb, they carried the asparagus with resist- 

 less force, they cut down the raspberries to a cane. 

 They annexed that vegetable kingdom, and they 

 retain it still. 



Yes, everything was made to subserve the Rose. 

 My good old father, whose delight was in agriculture, 

 calmly watched not only the transformation of his 



