HOW TO SHOW THE ROSE 235 



preceding the shows, and having acres of young trees 

 to select from, can generally find Roses of such calibre 

 as will ensure to him a continuance of perfect beauty 

 for the next four-and-twenty hours ; but I strongly 

 advise the amateur, who has no such wealth of 

 material, and must make the most of his limited 

 means, to cut his Roses, whenever he has the option 

 — that is, the time — upon the morning of the show. 

 If the weather is broken, and the clouds without and 

 the barometer within warn you of impending rain, 

 then gather ye Roses while ye may, in the afternoon 

 and the evening before the show ; but if it is 



* In the prime of summer time, 

 An evening calm and cool,' 



let your Roses rest after the heat of the day, and cut 

 them on the morrow, when they awake with the sun, 

 refreshed with gracious dews. Nevertheless, if these 

 dews are exceptionally heavy, you must not cut 

 while — 



* The plentiful moisture encumbers the flower. 

 And weighs down its beautiful head,' 



but you must bide a wee till the sunshine dries its 

 tears. 



Wherefore, early to your bed, my amateur, your 

 bed of Roses and of Thorns ; for as surely as the 



