FEBRUARY. 
41 
stripes with an edging-iron 2^ feet back from the bed, then use the turfing- 
iron, and roll back the turf as far as cut without breaking it off. Proceed next 
to raise the bank to the desired height and shape, allowing sufficient breadth on 
the top so as to be 15 inches wide when completed ; it will then appear as repre¬ 
sented in the annexed woodcut. The slope of bank must be regulated according 
to height, and will look best when made with a pretty sharp angle. Raising 
the soil in the figure is the next operation, and will be easiest effected by 
trenching it over in good wide spaces, and filling the bottom up with stones, 
brickbats, or any open sort of material at command, taking care to keep the 
good soil at top, and about 20 inches deep. The keeping of these grass 
banks may be thought an objection, but we have never found any difficulty 
here, by the use of the scythe, in keeping them as neat and trim as the turf 
on the level. 
The introduction of raised beds will, I think, assist to obviate a great 
sameness, as well as a want of variety and good taste in many flower gardens 
where the beds are wholly on the level surface. 
Gordon Castle . J. Webster,. 
ROSES AND ROSE EXHIBITIONS. 
Considerable discussion having recently taken place with regard to the best 
methods of showing Roses, I am induced to give my ideas on the subject. 
1st. As to Showing with or without Buds. —This, I think, should be left 
entirely to the option of the exhibitor. I do not imagine that any practical grower 
could for one moment seriously entertain the idea of disqualifying a stand of 
flowers because some of the blooms were deficient of buds. In many localities 
the plants will rarely mature an}'' besides the centre bloom, all the surrounding 
buds turning yellow. No one would surely wish them to be exhibited. With 
some kinds it is quite requisite to remove the buds, or the centre bloom would not 
properly expand ; and what judge could place first a stand containing blooms 
crushed into a dozen different shapes, while another collection consisted of 
circular and properly expanded specimens ? So long as Roses are looked upon 
as florists’ flowers, the usual rule of circularity of outline must take precedence. 
We may hope in a few years to see prizes given for cut Roses shown as flowering 
shrubs, in addition to the florists’ varieties. I have seen such at a local show, 
and very effective they were. By this method the general habit and free-flowering 
character can be clearly ascertained. 
2nd. As to whether Roses should be Shown Singly or in Threes. —In 
the classes for nurserymen I think three varieties should always be exhibited, and 
single blooms by the amateurs. My reasons are tbat threes are much more effec¬ 
tive, if properly shown. I do not mean crushed together so as to spoil the outline, 
which should be preserved at any sacrifice, but placed as far from each other in 
the boxes as the single blooms would be. This plan would give growers an oppor¬ 
tunity of testing the constancy of particular kinds, and would also allow exhibitors 
the chance of showing the flowers in three different stages, which, when practicable, 
has a very pleasing effect. Buyers of Roses are always glad to have the oppor¬ 
tunity of learning the constancy of new or recently introduced varieties before 
they purchase, and no method of showing could be adopted that would give the 
desired information so well as by exhibiting the blooms in various stages of growth, 
it being well known that many kinds are only good when thoroughly expanded, others 
when half open, and others before expanding, while the value of such kinds that are 
handsome in all stages of growth cannot be questioned. My reason why amateurs 
should be confined to single blooms is, they would have great difficulty in produc¬ 
ing three fine blooms of every variety, and this must be patent to all. When it is 
considered that many of our large nurserymen grow from fifty to one hundred 
thousand plants yearly, and that our greatest amateurs do not exceed five thousand 
plants, and the majority not near that number, therefore if an amateur is com- 
