JUNE. 159 



The second principle (which, by the way, is applicable to more 

 important concerns) is this. To ensure confidence in your awards, 

 take care to fix your judges with the full responsibility of their deci- 

 sions. And for this purpose, first, let them be few in number, so that 

 the responsibility shall not be divided ; and secondly, let their names 

 be published. 



Now, without in the least degree impugning the decisions at the 

 Upton Park show, the method of awarding the prizes there adopted 

 was about the most objectionable in point of principle that can 

 be imagined : the competitors themselves being the judges ! And, 

 passhig by the absurdity of a man's being both exhibitor and judge, 

 observe how capable of abuse the system is. Suppose an exhibitor 

 to induce his friends to exhibit under a pre-arrangement to vote for 

 his seedling, what could prevent his obtaining a prize for the worst 

 weed ever raised } This is an extreme case ; but it suggests a minor 

 degree of the same kind of abuse, more easily practised, and more 

 mischievous, because more difficult of detection. Will it not be 

 better to avoid suspicions of this kind } Let one judge, or at most 

 three judges, be appointed, whose names shall be known and pub- 

 lished beforehand : one judge must act impartially at all events if he 

 has a grain of reputation to lose. Three judges are likely to act 

 impartially, if they are previously advertised as judges, because the 

 public and the periodicals are on the watch, and their own reputation 

 for honesty and sound judgment is at stake. As long as the judges 

 are known, and are few in number, they are virtually responsible for 

 their decisions ; that responsibility not only prevents them from play- 

 ing false, but does more, it prevents them from being suspected : 

 a beaten exhibitor consoles himself under defeat as long as he can 

 bring himself to believe that he has been fairly beaten ; but if any 

 doubt exists on this head, there is an end at once to all right feeling 

 and all legitimate and honourable competition. 



With a very sincere wish for the permanent prosperity of this ex- 

 hibition, I invite attention to this subject, because I feel convinced, 

 that to be useful, it is necessary, first, that the prizes should be 

 thrown open to a more extended competition ; and secondly, that 

 they should be awarded by known and responsible judges. 



Amateur. 

 Cornwall, March 11 th, 1850. 



[All the points in the letter of our esteemed correspondent have 

 had the careful attention of the subscribers to the fund. The best 

 answer to all the objections raised is this — the plan is pursued, and 

 found to answer, in societies for promoting the excellence of other 

 objects than flowers. Personally, we should prefer appointed judges; 

 but where are we to obtain them } However, the whole subject is 

 now under consideration ; and we invite communications and sub- 

 scriptions immediately, as the day and place of exhibition must soon 

 be fixed and advertised. — Editor.] 



