EXHIBITING. 127 



it under tlic bench; but a more sporting- instinct for- 

 bade it, and instead I mentally resolved to take a first 

 next year, which I did, and on more than one occasion. 

 Then a friend who persuaded me to exhibit had to 

 look to his laurels. Soon, however, he was playmg- 

 second fiddle at all shows, and I was challenging^ the 

 trade in small open classes, winnings my share of 

 prizes and learning- lessons and evolving ideas of 

 value. 



Did I set my iieart on winning a twelve distinct 

 varieties in hot competition, then I showed a box of 

 24 varieties and a vase. My rivals noted the strength 

 of my vase and my 24 box, and staged accordingly, 

 trying to beat me in all. A glance would tell me my 

 fate had I left my exhibits as staged, but wisdom is 

 justified of her children, and before the bell rang to 

 exclude exhibitors from the show tent, lo and behold! 

 like a quick-change artist a bloom of a similar variety 

 had been exchanged from my 24 to the 12 box, or 

 vice versa, and my vase, had played a similar hand 

 in the game, so that what was weakness when my 

 rivals gazed upon the exhibit now was strength be- 

 yond their power to cope with, and the bell soon put 

 them out of court. I wired my vase Roses as for my 

 box, simply bending down the wires, which were 

 easily bent back into place on the change being made. 

 Oh, the joy of beating a rival who had visited your 

 box at least ten times to weigh up your strength be- 

 fore risking a bloom in another direction, in which 

 possibly you were also competing. 



What laughter and what good fun to see him 

 hustle all to no purpose ; ofttimes what consternation 

 to find you had left it too late, or he was playing a 

 similar game, or you had forgotten and left two of a 

 variety in a box and got disqualified from trying to 

 be too clever. It was my greatest joy to interest new 

 growers in exhibiting, and often I have staged exhi- 

 bits to beat my own and those of other friends. 



