2o6 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES 



very grateful to find such a genial soil and excellent 

 supervision for a plant which was growing rather too 

 large for me — that is, to transfer to abler hands a 

 work which, with all its gratifications, interfered at 

 times unduly with my other engagements. Moreover, 

 to tell you all the truth, in the happy springtide of 

 1 86 1 I had a correspondence which occupied all my 

 time, upon a subject which occupied all my thought 

 — a subject more precious, more lovely even than 

 Roses — I was going to be married in May. 



From that date to the year 1877, the National Rose 

 Show was held at Kensington ; and though since the 

 establishment of the National Rose Society (at the 

 suggestion, and under the admirable administration, 

 of the Rev. H. H. D'Ombrain), it has held its exhi- 

 bitions, two and three annually, in various parts of 

 the country, so that all who show Roses might have 

 an opportunity of winning its prizes, and all who love 

 Roses might come and see, it has kept its chief 

 festival for some years in the Palace of Crystal, and 

 never fails to attract a large, appreciative crowd. 



Have I created in thy breast, O amateur, a desire 

 to win honour at Queen Rosa's tournaments ? Have 

 you an ambition to see upon your sideboard cups of 

 silver encircled by the Rose ? Listen, and I will now 

 tell you what Roses to show and how to show them. 



