THE SIX OF SPADES. 173 



engaged, the best must be made of some young M.P. 

 as durstn't say No for his life. 



As to choice of ground, it's best to get near a rail- 

 way station, to have a good approach, and a good 

 entrance, and plenty of room for your tents, bands, 

 and cetrer. I say tents, because it's a mistake to have 

 a flower-show under slates instead of under canvas. 

 If there isn't a crowd, it won't pay ; and if there is a 

 crowd, there's no getting out of it. There's certain 

 fishes as don't want to meet other fishes, and there 

 should be plenty of sea-room for all. The best o' 

 friends don't like being jammed together, like a load 

 o' linseed-cake ; and if you gets a Whig boot on a 

 Tory corn, or a Low Church elbow into Broad Church 

 ribs, you'll interfere with harmony. I see a pair of 

 ladies once, as weren't on speaking terms, squeezed 

 together in the middle of a crowd, until they looked 

 like a two-headed nightingale. Then a band in a 

 room ! you might just as well bring our Church organ 

 and play it in this garden-house. And, I'll just add 

 here, being on music, if you've a decent band near 

 home, stick to neighbours, and they'll stick to you. 



The next toepick on the tappy is the schedule or 

 prize-list, and upon this, in my opinion, depends to a 

 very great extent the success of the whole concern. 

 Some committees seem to think that if they give 

 plenty of small prizes, and so let everybody have a 

 chance, as they say, they are sure to have a good 

 display ; but the consequence is that first-rate 

 gardeners won't sacrifice their time or risk their 

 plants for such paltry rewards ; the public is dis- 

 gusted with a collection of rubbish, and a lot of 



