476 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



ARRANGEMENT OF VEGETABLES AT ROYAL 

 CALEDONIAN SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



Whilst the memory of the Autumn Show of the Royal Caledonian 

 Horticultural Society is still green, it may not be amiss to note a few 

 thoughts which were given birth to whilst inspecting the Exhibition 

 both closely and as a whole from the gallery encircling the Waverley 

 Market. Of primary importance as to the general aspect of the ex- 

 hibition, were the groups of plants arranged on the floor of the building 

 by the Lawson Seed and Xursery Company, and which certainly con- 

 stituted the most striking feature in the Exhibition. It is scarcely too 

 much to expect that the other trade firms will at future shows boldly 

 follow and improve on the innovation so successfully initiated by the 

 above-named firm. Following that, it may be hoped that the Staging 

 Committee may see their way to group all plants on the floor, relegat- 

 ing the ugly tables now in use to some auction mart, where a better 

 use may be found for them by some of the buyers. Then there are the 

 vegetables. Could not there be a mode of setting up these brought 

 into use at the shows, somewhat more in keeping with the dignity 

 of the Society 1 Instead of huddling the several kinds in the collec- 

 tions together into a flit tray-box, would it not be more in keeping 

 with the fruit-tables to stage the vegetables in the same manner. 

 The difference in the get-up of a collection of vegetables, where the 

 different sorts are set up singly in dishes and arranged to the best 

 advantage, is as different, perhaps more so, as would be the tout 

 ensemble of a first-class collection of fruit huddled closely together in 

 a tray in the one case and in the other as at present staged. And so 

 also with the classes for particular kinds of vegetables : neatly set up 

 on dishes, the interest in these would be greatly increased. It would 

 also be an advantage were the Council to state in the schedule the 

 number of each particular vegetable required when staged in a col- 

 lection — as, for instance, two Cauliflowers or four, a brace of Cucum- 

 bers or two brace, and so on with other kinds. Whilst writing on 

 these matters, might I be allowed to draw attention to a vegetable 

 greatly slighted by the Society in question ? Why is the noble Tuber 

 lefc out in the cold ? Well-grown Potatoes, when shown in collec- 

 tions, say of twelve to twenty-four sorts, form a feature not only of 

 interest but of beauty to a horticultural exhibition. Let us hope 

 that the Council will overlook our humble friend no longer, and that 

 if they do introduce the Potato in its finest form to the notice of the 

 Edinburgh public, there will be a clause to the effect that they be 

 staged, not on rough boards, but with each kind separately set up on 

 dishes. 



