48 THE BOOK OF THE FLOWER SHOW 



temper the seventy of the competition by requiring, say, 

 twenty-four bunches distinct, not more than two 

 varieties of any one kind. If Annuals and Biennials are 

 not to be admitted, the wording of the Schedule should 

 be very explicit on the matter, i.e. " Annuals and 

 Biennials excluded." Vases should be supplied or their 

 size defined. 



Merits Large, fresh flowers and spikes ; graceful 

 arrangement ; large, but not crowded, bunches ; the use 

 of widely varied types of flower and inflorescence. 



Faults. Crowding, and its opposite ; seedpods on the 

 spikes or sprays ; similarity of types in the collection ; 

 inferior varieties. 



Hints. Never use wires or sticks to support the 

 flowers or spikes depend on high cultivation and 

 freshness ; place light subjects where they will show up 

 the brilliance and relieve the heaviness of larger and 

 bolder ones ; magenta, harsh blue, and dull purple 

 flowers are not easy to arrange with other colours, and 

 should be used sparingly ; white and bright yellow 

 flowers are very effective and should be placed at the 

 corners of the group; a large handful of sand in the 

 bottom of the vase will often prevent overturning when 

 wind finds an entrance to the Show tent. 



HOLLYHOCKS 



Though rather formal in appearance the Hollyhocks 

 are stately plants, and as they lend themselves to high 

 cultivation it is not difficult to understand how great 

 was the interest taken in them by the old florists. 

 Rarely are Hollyhocks invited by Schedule framers, 

 nowadays, and one reason is that the dread Holly- 

 hock disease almost always upsets calculations when the 

 finest varieties are intensely cultivated. Holyhocks are 

 exhibited on boards, after the fashion of carnations, or 



