HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES 5 



Novelty is the spice of life, and in every exhibition, 

 no matter what its kind or size, unless there are new 

 plants, new contributions, new methods of staging, or 

 new kinds or varieties of the special subject dealt with, 

 enthusiasm wanes, and interest sinks. It is most 

 unfortunate for any Society when it becomes a fore- 

 gone conclusion that certain prizes will fall to certain 

 competitors, and it sometimes happens that the salvation 

 of a Society is effected by means of a young and daring 

 David who is not afraid to try and lower Goliath's 

 colours. He often succeeds. 



The creation of new classes should be the concern of 

 every Committee, for even if such classes be somewhat 

 of a failure, they provide texts for the talkative, and 

 suggest something of greater interest. Too often, also, 

 a Committee is overweighted by those who know they 

 have an excellent chance of winning certain prizes, and 

 so certain classes are included in the schedule year after 

 year, even though they have ceased to interest the 

 general public. 



There are many ways in which a general Flower 

 Show may be of great educational value. Correct and 

 legible labelling of plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables 

 should be enforced at all competitive displays. Quite 

 frequently any complaints made against incorrect 

 and illegible labelling are met by the statement that, 

 however desirable correctness and legibility may be, it 

 is impossible to secure thejn by rule. I venture to 

 differ. A rule should provide for the imposition of a 

 penalty for bad labelling, and the addition of points 

 for good labelling. Such a rule would have the 

 desired effect upon those who have grown careless, and 

 who enter in more classes than they can properly 

 manage. 



Fine produce is an excellent object-lesson. Every 

 competitor who has real grit wants to reach the top, and 



