154 THE FLORIST. 



he is intending to exhibit, and in what class ; and until he does 

 this, his productions are not allowed to proceed to the place of un- 

 loading. Before this rule was established, it was not unfrequent for 

 an exhibitor to make himself acquainted with the strength of an 

 opponent, and then enter the lists accordingly. We will, however, 

 leave the van-road, and taking a footpath through a part of the Gar- 

 dens containing the glass erections, we reach the tents. Here are 

 to be seen plants standing about in all directions ; gardeners busy- 

 arranging them in places pointed out by one of the Society's officers 

 appointed to this duty ; labourers with hand-barrows, carrying the 

 contents of the vans to the different exhibitors ; persons are to be 

 seen moving about in all directions, with choice specimens under 

 their arms ; and a multitude of gardeners, not exhibitors, walking 

 about and examining the different plants, — a privilege granted them 

 upon the understanding that they move amongst them carefully, and 

 keep out of the exhibitors' way. It is a most interesting sight to 

 watch how all the confusion of beauty gradually assumes the most 

 admirable forms of arrangement ; no noise, no bustle, nothing to 

 indicate that the smallest difficulty exists. Each exhibitor, as he 

 gets his collection arranged, goes to a place appropriated to this 

 purpose, where several clerks, in answer to his application, supply 

 him with cards on which the necessary letters are written, with 

 which he returns to the tent, where a person who performs this duty 

 tacks them down upon the stage in front of his collection. It is to 

 be remembered that all the plants are secured for travelling safely, 

 and consequently that, as they are arranged, all extra supports have 

 to be removed; cotton-wool, &c, that has been placed to prevent 

 injury to the flowers in their transit, is also taken away, and every 

 thing that detracts from their beauty. The litter made in doing 

 this is swept up and removed by persons appointed to the service ; and 

 the exhibitor, after arranging all his plants, taking a look to see that 

 all is as it should be, goes in search of " the Doctor." Professor 

 Lindley, the Vice-Secretary of the Horticultural Society, is early on 

 the ground, and moving about in all directions, sees that every thing 

 is going on properly ; he is also at hand to refer to in cases of dif- 

 ficulty respecting the arrangement of plants. As the day advances, 

 he generally takes a place where he is readily found. The exhibitor 

 goes to him and asks for tickets : these are of two kinds, — the one 

 for breakfast, the other for admission when the grounds are thrown 

 open for the visitors at one o'clock. Regular and well-known ex- 

 hibitors are supplied with both forthwith ; to others the questions 

 are put, " What have you brought?" If important enough to merit 

 tickets, the additional question is asked, " Are they arranged ?" if they 

 are, the tickets are given ; if not, they are refused until that is done. 

 If the matters brought for exhibition are unimportant, tickets are 

 not granted. By the time all the plants are arranged, it is full half- 

 past nine, and men are seen sweeping out all the tents, gathering 

 the litter together and removing it ; and before the principal exhibitors 

 have had a look at the general features of the whole, it is ten o'clock, 

 and a body of policemen, commencing at the further extremity, cour- 



