60 THE BOOK OF THE FLOWER SHOW 



" break," or to have " broken," and they have then to 

 stand or fail by the standard of excellence set up for 

 the finely marked Show varieties. 



Merits. Large cup-shaped flowers ; broad, rounded 

 segments ; purity of ground colour 5 regularity and 

 brilliance of markings ; clear, unmarked base ; fresh- 

 ness ; substance. 



Faults. Unequal segments ; discoloured base ; un- 

 decided ground colour ; irregular and weak markings ; 

 faded edges ; weather stains. 



Hints. Carefully shade the flowers from bright 

 sunshine and shelter them from rain ; a wooden frame- 

 work over the beds, with canvas covering, will serve 

 the purpose. To keep the flowers in shape and to 

 prevent the pollen dust from staining the flower, use 

 a deep pill-box without top or bottom ; open the flower 

 with the fingers and slip the rim of thin wood inside. 

 This contrivance also helps to expand a young bloom. 



VIOLAS 



These pretty and sweetly scented flowers invariably 

 attract a great deal of attention when exhibited in good 

 style. The common practice is to set up the flowers in 

 flat, triangular bunches of six or ten flowers, and though 

 this system is a barbarous one it must be conceded that 

 flowers so displayed are very effective from a Flower 

 Show point of view. Further, the system permits a 

 competitor to make up his bunches before leaving home, 

 and then all he has to do on reaching the Show is to 

 put the bunches in the tubes of water or arrange them 

 on a sheet of black velvet thrown over a slanting board, 

 and spray them with water. I have a strong objection 

 to flowers (floral designs excepted) being shown out of 

 water, and if I could have my way, would not permit their 

 display unless the stems were in water or wet sand. 



