Every lover of the queen of flowers must hail with satisfaction the result arrived at by the Committee of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society to give that prominence to the Rose which its merits deserve. The recent papers on the cultivation of the Rose which appeared in the 'Gardener,' from the pen of so skilful a cultivator as S. Reynolds Hole, will no doubt have given, and will give, an impetus to Rose-growing in Scotland, which, I trust, will be exemplified by the quantity and superiority of the Roses exhibited at the forthcoming show in Edinburgh. It is not with the view, however, of writing a treatise on the cultivation of the "Queen," or to descant on the probable appearance "she" may make at "her levee" at Edinburgh on the 13th July, but to refer to a custom prevalent in Scotland with Rose exhibitors, and which, I think, is of sufficient importance to merit a moment's attention.

"The competition in Roses to be open to all, whether they be members of the Society or not." So states the Society's schedule, which circumstance is likely to bring out a sprinkling of English exhibitors. Now the custom to which I referred is, surrounding the Rose with Rose-leaves. This is, as I before stated, invariably the practice in Scotland; the same thing practised in England renders the stand subject to disqualification. If one or two judges from England were to judge the Roses at Edinburgh, it would certainly be galling to Scotch exhibitors, who are unaware of the fact I allude to, to find "Disqualified" written on their exhibition card. It is an open question whether or not leaves ought to be added. Some say that a Rose always looks best when surrounded by its own leaves; this I admit, when they are its own leaves - that is, leaves attached to its stem, but not counterfeits. We do not exhibit Dahlias, Hollyhocks, Asters, Marigolds, etc., with a bunch of leaves surrounding them, and why the Rose ? I think something definite should be arrived at by the Committee of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society on this point, and so put all on equal footing.

I would suggest that the Secretary of the Society intimate to those parties who have given notice of their intention to compete whether such a practice will or will not be admissible. - J. A.