52 THE BOOK OF THE FLOWER SHOW 



RHODODENDRONS 



At the Flower Shows held in spring in the favoured 

 South and South-Western districts the Rhododendrons 

 with their rich and glowing colours almost put the 

 lighter Daffodils out of countenance. They are so fine, 

 so interesting, and so useful, that wherever rhododendrons 

 are a success Classes should be provided for them if the 

 date of the Show coincides with the average date of the 

 height of the flowering season. Boxes on stands are often 

 used, the trusses or heads of bloom, each with its 

 rosette of leaves, being set in tubes of water, just as 

 roses are. A better plan is to show Rhododendrons in 

 vases of varied height, or, if the vases are all of one size 

 there should be tier staging. In a competition the use of 

 blocks, inverted pots, etc., to raise the vases should 

 not bepermitted, because the man who has some distance to 

 travel is handicapped ; he must either carry a supply of 

 blocks with him, purchase or hire some at the Flower 

 Show, or trust to the good nature of his fellow-com- 

 petitors, and this latter is often a negligible quantity. 



For exhibition purposes Rhododendrons might well be 

 grouped into HIMALAYAN species, varieties, and hybrids, 

 HARDY GARDEN varieties, and GREENHOUSE varieties. 

 The latter group would often contain the former, but it 

 would have the advantage of the yellow, orange, and 

 scarlet flowers of the Javanese hybrids. 



Merits. Large, full, and high truss ; shapely flowers ; 

 purity of colour ; fine spots or blotches in the garden 

 varieties , healthy leafage below the truss. 



Faults. Small, loose, or flat truss ; stained or damaged 

 flowers ; poor colouring ; misshapen flowers. 



Hints. Arrange the trusses so that the colours do not 

 clash with or detract from each other; the rosette of 

 leaves should rest lightly on the stand or vase rim and 

 not be pulled or pushed down tightly. 



