50 THE BOOK OF THE FLOWER SHOW 



overlapping petals ; well-defined eye ; purity and depth 

 of ground colour ; regularity of colour markings ; con- 

 trasting colours in Fancy varieties ; clear, even colouring 

 in Selfs. 



Faults. Faded margins ; small and flimsy flowers ; 

 poor colouring ; irregular outline ; irregular or badly 

 defined eye. 



Hints. By means of mulching, syringing, and the use 

 of insecticides, keep the flowers free from disfiguration 

 by rain splashes, red spider, and green fly ; shade and 

 protect the opening flowers with pieces of cardboard 

 fixed to stakes, or extend very thin canvas over the beds 

 during hot sunshine ; thin out the growths, and stake 

 those retained ; remove unnecessary flower-buds ; about 

 three weeks elapses from the appearance of the bud to 

 the full expansion of the flower ; handle Pansy flowers 

 carefully ; if pulled down too tightly on to the stands, 

 the flowers appear to lack substance ; the best specimens 

 have slightly reflexed margins, and if the latter just 

 touch the stand the flower looks full and substantial. 



PICOTEES 



The remarks made under " Carnations " apply mostly 

 to Picotees also. There are YELLOW-GROUND and 

 WHITE-GROUND Picotees, and in each group there are 

 heavy-edged and light-edged varieties. The depth, 

 richness, and definition of the heavy edge and the fine- 

 ness of the light edge are points of merit. The 

 White-ground varieties are grouped as follows : Red, 

 Heavy-edged; Red, Light-edged; Purple, Heavy- 

 edged ; Purple, Light-edged ; Rose or Scarlet, Heavy- 

 edged ; Rose QT, Scarlet, Light-edged. 



YELLOW-GROUND Picotees are now judged by the same 

 standard as are WHITE-GROUND varieties, consequently 

 the inclusion of Yellow-ground " Fancies " i.e. those in 



