206 EXHIBITING AND JUDGING 



In the matter of cutting the blooms the writer always 

 selects the blooms at least 48 hours before starting them 

 on their way to shows. This gives them a good chance to 

 get filled up with water and they are harder and better 

 able to withstand 36 or 40 hours in boxes. In packing for 

 the trip, corrugated boxes are used, 42 in. to 48 in. long, the 

 flowers placed in layers, with tissue paper over each layer, 

 and damp newspapers over the stems. Never damp the 

 blooms, or make the paper too wet. We have yet to 

 report a failure by this method. There will be three layers 

 to each box, 01 from 150 to 200 blooms. When arranging 

 them for the exhibition, be sure that the water is not ice 

 cold. We like to set them in water that is moderately 

 warm at fust, then later place them in colder water in time 

 for the judges to pass upon. Flowers that we^e to all 

 intents sleepy when unpacked, revived to a very great extent 

 by this method. 



One gets lots of pleasure by exhibiting, gains lots of 

 knowledge, learns other people's ideas, especially so from 

 the judges. It is fun to see how the same judges will 

 change in ideas from one year to another; it keeps one 

 guessing what to expect will take their eye from one year 

 to the next. But we know of no other way in which one 

 gets so much in touch with all that is good and beneficial, 

 both in pleasure and business, than by exhibiting. It is 

 an incentive to grow better flowers. If we are beaten we 

 go home declaring we won't be licked next year. If we 

 win, so much the better. What better inducement can we 

 get to excel with our favorite flower from year to year? 



A new departure in the method of exhibiting Carna- 

 tions in America was inaugurated at the National Flower 

 Show at Boston in 191 1. A class was there formed 

 calling for '* The best display of Carnation blooms, covering 



