TIMELY TOPICS FOR THE AMATEUR. 



23 



should be g-iven for as many exhibits of 

 individual varieties of plants as possible, as 

 this g-ives every one interested an opportun- 

 ity to contribute something to the exhibit. 

 The idea of interesting- all classes of our 

 people in the several branches of horticulture, 

 and more especially floriculture, being one 

 of the main objects of our horticultural so- 

 cieties, the arranging of the schedule or entry 

 list with this end in view, will help very 

 materially in securing a thoroughly complete 

 and representative exhibit. 



A paper on " HoW to make our Exhibi- 

 tions More Popular" might be compiled and 

 read by some member at a winter meet- 

 ings. The paper, besides introducing 

 perhaps some new features, would certainly 

 form the basis for a- discussion that would 

 probably bring out many strong points of 

 detail matter that might contribute greatly 

 to the success of an exhibit. 



As an illustration however, one excep- 

 tion to this almost general rule may be 

 mentioned, viz., that of the exhibit of 

 plants and flowers shown recently at the 

 Southern Fair, Brantford. The schedule for 

 this section of the show, was a most com- 

 prehensive one, the amateur and professional 

 classes being quite distinct the one from the 

 other, and both being well represented. The 

 lists for each class were very similar, with 

 the exception that the amateur list invited 

 more exhibits of individual specimen plants ; 

 an additional feature of this class being 

 that of prizes for window boxes, a 

 commendable feature to introduce in a 

 schedule or prize list This system has 

 been in operation for two years, possi- 

 bly longer, and having had the honor of 

 awarding the prizes on the two occasions 

 quoted, I feel justified in mentioning this as 

 an illustration, for the exhibit in both classes 

 were of a very high order, and would do 

 credit to a city double the size of the city of 

 Brantford. 



The remarks made in the December issue 



of the journal, regarding the distribution of 

 plants to scholars might be still further 

 commented on. There is nothing to prevent 

 this plan of distributing plants, etc., to the 

 senior scholars in our township schools as 

 well as to those in town or city schools. 

 Many of our readers who are residing out- 

 side the scope of influence of an horticultural 

 society, but who are interested in floricul- 

 ture, and are perhaps trustees of a township 

 school, or interested in the nearest agricul- 

 tural show, might take up this matter, and 

 thereby not only enhance and encourage the 

 love of floriculture amongst our young 

 people, but also help to brighten up the 

 surroundings of many a home, as well as to 

 furnish an exhibit that would prove an in- 

 teresting and attractive feature of the annual 

 autumn exhibition of the township or village. 

 The distribution need not necessarily be of 

 plants, as seeds or bulbs could be distributed 

 early in the season, so that the flowers from 

 them could be procured tor exhibition at the 

 time required. The amount of labor and 

 the expense necessary to carry this plan into 

 operation would be very small, and would 

 be more than compensated for by the pleas- 

 ure that would be derived in the cultivation 

 of the seeds and plants, and the interest 

 they would excite both in old and young- 

 people \\'herever they were exhibited. 



For the purpose mentioned there is no 

 better plant than the ever popular geranium, 

 as it could be cultivated very easily. Some 

 remarks regarding the culture of this plant 

 have already appeared in this journal 

 that would give sufficient information 

 for the above purpose, the plants might 

 however be allowed to come into flower 

 a little earlier than advised in the 

 article referred to, so that they would be 

 well developed for the date of the exhibition. 

 The varieties of the flower seeds, if these 

 were distributed, might consist of a small 

 packet of mignonette, asters, cosmos, zin- 

 nias, marigolds, and larkspurs. These 



