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A BOOK ABOUT ROSES 



thought that my friends were culpable in allowing me 

 to be at large. Great, indeed, was my gladness in 

 seeing those visitors — more than 2000 in number — 

 but far greater in hearing their hearty words of 

 surprise and admiration. 



* No words can describe,' again to quote Professor 

 Lindley, writing in the Gardeners' Chronicle a few 

 days after the Show, * the infinite variety of form, 

 colour, and odour which belonged to the field of 

 Roses spread before the visitors. At the sides were 

 crowds of bunches, daintily set off by beds of moss ; 

 in the middle rose pyramids, baskets, and bouquets. 

 In one place, solitary blossoms boldly confronted 

 their clustering rivals ; in another, glass screens 

 guarded some precious gems ; and in another, great 

 groups of unprotected beauties set at defiance the 

 heated atmosphere of the Hall.' 



Yes, they defied this adversary ; they defied and 

 defeated with their delicious perfume the foul smell 

 which at that time invaded London from the Thames ; 

 but there was one opponent, one only, whom they 

 could not subdue. They had to fight that day, not 

 only the wars of the Roses, the civil war for supre- 

 macy among themselves, but they had to meet a rival, 

 against whom they concentrated all their powers in 

 vain. 



A few months before the Rose-show, I made the ac- 



