Exhibitions and Progress 



By Wm. 

 Once more the chrysanthemum held full sway, and 

 once more the Queen of Autumn undoubtedly proved its 

 popularity. Why not? "There is a season for every- 

 thing," and a season for chrysanthemums, and there al- 

 ways will be, because the mum specialists throughout the 

 United States and Europe are keeping abreast of the 

 times with sterling novelties. Is there anything to equal 

 or compare to chrysanthemums in the way of a massive 

 exhibit at a nominal outlay? They may be used in so 

 many different ways to good advantage, either as cut 

 flowers or for decorative effect. Take the gorgeous colors 

 and combinations of the singles, semi-doubles and pom- 

 pons at our command today. One cannot but marvel 

 and say to the bussy : Hybridist, your work is a monu- 

 ment to your painstaking efforts ; you have produced 

 colors and combinations almost indescribable, particu- 

 larly so among the singles and small flowering varieties. 

 What a wonderful future there is in store for those cre- 

 ations of colors and combinations of usefulness. That 

 must compel admiration on the part of whoever has the 

 good fortune to look upon them. In visiting a few of the 

 different exhibitions this Fall it was not difficult to detect 

 that many of the flower loving public were decidedl\' par- 

 tial to those smaller dainties. But what about the big fel- 

 lows? Thev are still as enchanting as ever; in fact, our 

 chrysanthemum exhibitions would lose much of their 

 attractiveness minus the big numis. How interesting it 

 is to look back, say a quarter of a century or more, and I 

 dare say there are many that would remember such va- 

 rieties as Elaine and Baron De Prally, Mme. Lacroix, 

 Belle Paul, M. C. Audiguer, Fair A'laid of Guernsey, and 

 many others too numerous to mention. The Frenchmen 

 at that date were giving us some of the best up-to-date 

 exhibition material, which were wMthout doubt wonderful 

 improvements over their previous rivals, and in watching 

 the steady progress as the years roll on, steadily climb- 

 ing the ladder till I am almost persuaded to believe that 

 the hybridizers, in regard to size, have reached nigh the 

 top round. But if size has nearly reached its limit, there 

 will, without doubt, be new wonders of the hybridizers" 

 skill repeated in future, the same as in the past — if not in 

 size, perhaps in other directions to fascinate the public 

 and show the steady advancement of the Creator's ob- 

 jects. 



Granting that horticulture and floriculture have gone 

 ahead with leai)s and bounds during the past quarter of 

 a century, supposing we analyze these great achievements 

 not only in chrysanthemums but along other lines. 

 Time and space will not permit me to enter into all chan- 

 nels of improvements at this time, but I think I can put 

 this question to the readers who are in close touch with 

 progress and improvements. Would the same headway 

 have been accomplished, minus our horticultural socie- 

 ties? For my part I do not hesitate to say no. It is. in 

 my opinion, the different horticultural societies that have 

 sprung up here and there throughout the States that are 

 either directly or indirectly responsible for the rapid 

 .strides that have come to our notice in the way of new 

 w^onders in the horticultural and floricultural world. No 

 matter whether it is a commercial growers' society or 

 private, you will find generally that each and every so- 

 ciety has just one motive in view — to advance hor- 

 ticulture and floriculture in all its branches. It is not a 

 difficult jiroblcm to carry our minds, back a period of say 

 fifteen years or so: at that date there were many young 

 .societies strug<,ding with one object in mind, that was 



Turner. 



for the strong to help the weak to stimulate a keener in- 

 terest in everything pertainirig to fruit, vegetables and 

 flowers, and it is not necessary for me to dwell on how 

 well the great majority has succeeded. 



Horticultural societies and annual exhibitions are the 

 keynote to success and advancement in all horticultural 

 Ijursuits. It is the friendly rivalry among the different 

 growers, connected with the societies, and each succeed- 

 ing year from the date of organization, progress has been 

 the word. Not only has this been noticed in a higher 

 standard of culture, but also in arrangements of exhibits 

 jilaced before the public in a more artistic and attractive 

 manner. I dare say I may be pardoned in oft'ering this 

 suggestion to the young man making his first attempt to 

 bring his product before the public. Don't endeavor or 

 aim at too large an exhibit, but rather have quality in 

 mind in preference to quantity. The young fellow that 

 commences with these objects in mind will not regret it 

 as time goes on. 



Of course we are aware that all cannot procure the 

 first prize paster, and we are also aware that it is an 

 honor to receive a second or a third award, provided 

 the exhibits are of exhibition standard. WHienever a 

 grower is collecting his material together for exhibition 

 purposes, naturally he would be apt to size up the sit- 

 uation, and see whether any improvement could be 

 made. The intended exhibitor should feel that he may 

 not secure the desired mark, but that the other fellow 

 will have to step some to surpass. It is not intended that 

 this should convey in any sense self-praise, but just a 

 mere business matter in sizing up the situation, also to 

 impress that nothing but high grade material should 

 grace the exhibition floors. Ordinarily grown fruit, flow- 

 ers and vegetables are looked upon and forgotten, 

 whereas an exhibit of the highest order is apt to be 

 thoroughly ground into our minds, so that the impres- 

 sion is there for all time, and the fact of the matter is, 

 today the exhibitions to be a success must be of sterling 

 merit. Possibly some of the weaker societies cannot 

 comply with all those desirable qualities, but I am 

 strongly of the opinion that unless all exhibits are above 

 the average growth there is no use of exhibiting at all. 

 h'ifteen or twenty years ago the public was not educated 

 up to the same high standard they are today. Referring 

 to exhibitions that will leave a lasting impression, I 

 would say, though the S. A. F. never made another 

 attempt to produce an exhibition, they have undoubtedly 

 in their past efforts planted impressions upon our minds 

 that will stay with us for the balance of our lives. Such 

 events will be pleasant to recall at any time. No doubt, 

 as time goes on, particularly so in late summer and fall 

 shows, more substantial encouragement will be provided 

 for both fruit and vegetables; a step in the right direc- 

 tion, \\'hat is there more interesting than high quality 

 fruit and vegetables tastefully arranged? Indeed, col- 

 lections of vegetables arranged with skill are proving one 

 of the drawing cards among the j^atrons and general 

 public, whereas in years gone by -they were thrown to- 

 gether with no thought to arrangement to any extent; 

 it was just a question of vegetables placed in any out of 

 the wav place where the judges could see to award the 

 prizes.' It is possible that with the right encouragement 

 fruit and vegetables in the near future may be one of our 

 prominent features at our exhibitions. It would seem 

 to me doubly interesting in having the same keen com- 

 petition in fruit and vegetables that is now found in the 

 other classes. 



