VASE EXHIBITS 97 



in the public estimation, the other types are being grown 

 in larger quantities, and there is little fear of the exhibition 

 Chrysanthemum losing ground for many years to come. 



Another question that is raised from time to time is 

 the advisability of introducing new classes at the shows. 

 For some time past we have seen the large Japanese 

 blooms exhibited in vases, three or five of one variety 

 in a vase, and though they look somewhat less formal 

 than the older method of exhibiting on boards the present 

 system has restricted competition, the prizes offered in a 

 great many instances being insufficiently valuable to com- 

 pensate for the outlay in purchasing new boxes and in 

 conveying them from place to place. Further, the quality 

 of the flowers displayed in the vases is not equal to those 

 shown on boards. There may be here and there a show 

 where the vase class is extra good in quality, but these 

 are exceptions to the rule. 



Well set up flowers in vases look well and often give 

 one the impression that they are better and larger than 

 they really are. The award for the best bloom in the 

 show is frequently given for a flower exhibited in a vase 

 class, but if it is compared carefully with the best bloom 

 on the boards it rarely stands the test. Though the flowers 

 are close together on the boards the judging can be done 

 more accurately than in any other form of exhibiting. 



A very pleasing class is one for twelve blooms, to 

 be arranged in either a vase or basket with any suitable 

 foliage. Such a class usually produces good competition, 

 and whether the flowers used are one, two, or several 

 varieties, many striking arrangements are to be seen. In 

 such a class the autumn foliage already alluded to in the 

 previous chapter will help considerably, and those who 



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