compelled to give up its match against time, and the exhibitor hears the thrilling sound which proclaims the Roseshow open. He gives his best hat a final brush; he adjusts for the last time the pretty Rose in his coat (be still, throbbing heart beneath!); and back he goes to his fate. He presents at the door his exhibitor's pass; and then 'affecting to be unaffected," but nervous as a girl at her first ball, he wends his anxious way to his Roses.

Shall the

What shall he find there-defeat or victory? music of the band express to his ears the gladness of his spirit, the triumph of his hope, or shall

"Sharp violins proclaim

Their jealous pangs and desperation,"

in unison with his own? Let him be prepared for either issue. Let him anticipate defeat, as being but a recruit and pupil; but let him remember, when defeated, that more than one great statesman has been plucked for “Smalls"more than one great general has lost his first battle—more than one Royal Academician has had his first picture declined by the hanging-committee. Some faint-hearted candidates for fame never overcome a first discouragement. Entering an exhibition of flowers and fruit at Lincoln some years ago, I met a clerical friend, who informed me con

fidentially that, if I desired to know what a melon ought to be, he would forthwith gratify the wish. Beaming with complacent smiles, he led me to the place of melons; but when we reached it, his countenance fell. The weather was intensely hot, and the thirsty judges had obeyed implicitly the directions of the schedule, that the merits of the fruit were to be decided by flavour. Half of my friend's melon had gone the way of all flesh (fruit), and a card, resting upon the remainder, thus announced the verdict of the censors—

FOURTH PRIZE,

IS.

In vain I essayed to mitigate his woe by cheerful, I may say humorous, remarks as to the melon-cholic retribution which would surely overtake those unrighteous men. It was the sort of thing, he informed me, with which pleasantness had no connection whatever, belonging, as it did, to that sphere of incidents which he described as being “a long way above a joke." Then, with a stern but sorrowful expression, which signified, I thought, that he was going to punish the universe severely, in the discharge of a very painful duty, he turned to me and said—“I shall not exhibit melons again."

Let not the young Rosarian be thus daunted. On the other hand, if victory comes, let him remember always that she only stays with the meek. Where success brings pride, then, as Lamb writes in a Latin letter to Cary, commutandum est he! he! he! cum heu! heu! heu! and all men shall laugh at the braggart's fall.

Again I say, in prosperity or adversity, let him keep the equal mind

"Who misses or who wins the prize,

Go, lose or conquer as you can;

But if you fail, or if you rise,

Be each, pray God, a gentleman."

APPENDIX No. I.

MEMORANDA FOR THE MONTHS.

October.

I BEGIN with this month, because both he who desires to form, and he who desires to maintain, or extend, a Rose-garden, must now make his arrangements for planting in November. Each must decide what Rose-trees and what Briers he will require, and must give his instructions accordingly. The sooner his nurseryman receives the order, the more satisfactorily will it be fulfilled; and a timely communication with his collector of Briers will enable that Thessalian hero, who

to take a survey of the surrounding fences, and to place him first upon his list. The ground intended for Rose-trees or stocks must be thoroughly drained and trenched to receive them.

Commence in this month the first pruning of your Rose-trees, shortening by one-fourth the longest shoots, and thus preventing the noxious influence of those stormy winds, which would other

wise loosen the hold which the tree has upon the soil, and which sometimes decapitate the tree itself. These cuttings will strike, many of them, if put in, about 6 inches in length and closely, in some sheltered place-by a wall, for example-looking north or west, and protected by a hand-glass; or they will strike, some of them, without protection overhead, if planted in a like situation, but deeper in the ground, 7 or 8 inches, with two or three "eyes" above the soil. Such of these cuttings as have made roots should be taken up and potted in the ensuing spring—i. e., in April— should be kept warm under glass for a month or six weeks, hardened by the gradual admission of air, and planted out towards the end of May.

November

is the best month for transplanting. Ah, how it cheers the Rosarian's heart amid those dreary days, to welcome that package from the nurseries, long and heavy, so cleanly swathed in the new Russian mat, so closely sewn with the thick white cord! His eyes glisten, like the schoolboy's when the hamper comes from home, and hardly, though he has read the story of Waste not, Want not, can he keep his knife from the string. Let him plant his Rosetrees as soon as may be after their arrival; but if they reach him, unhappily, during frost or heavy rains, let him "lay them in," as it is termed, covering their roots well with soil and their heads with matting, and so wait the good time coming. When planted they must not be set too deeply in the soil-about 3 inches will suffice —but must be secured (I am presuming that the trees are chiefly low standards, according to advice given) to stakes, firmly fixed in the ground beside them. Some gardeners plant deeply, to save, I