34 THE BOOK OF THE FLOWER SHOW 



Faults. Coarseness ; faded lower florets ; hollow 

 centres ; thin, flimsy flowers. 



Hints. Soot dressings are desirable as they deepen 

 the colour of the leafage, intensifying the floral colouring, 

 and keep pests at bay. Never cut asters in full sunshine. 

 Strip the lower leaves from long-stemmed flowers. 



CAMELLIAS 



As exhibition flowers Camellias now rarely receive 

 any consideration at the hands of Schedule-framers, 

 though the flowers and plants are again coming into 

 favour for general purposes. 



Size, breadth, and smoothness of petal, substance, 

 purity, or brilliance of colouring, and regular arrange- 

 ment of the petals, were the chief points of merit in 

 years gone by when Camellias occupied a high place 

 among exhibition florists' flowers. 



CARNATIONS 



One of the first flowers to receive attention at the 

 hands of florists was the Carnation, and with this, as 

 with any other flower that forms the attraction for a set 

 of growers or fanciers, exhibiting became essential at an 

 early stage. How far back one would have to go in 

 Floricultural history to find evidence of the first Carna- 

 tion Show I do not know, but well over a hundred years 

 ago, as shown by a coloured plate in the Botanical 

 Magazine of 1788, there were Show Carnations as fine 

 in their size and markings as any seen in the present 

 year of grace. 



" Dressed " Carnations are exhibited on boards or 

 stands, and each flower has a paper collar or " card " 

 under it. "Undressed" flowers are shown usually in 

 vases, and in some Classes a little Carnation foliage must 

 be associated with the blooms. Unfortunately, judges 



