LECT. x QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 151 



A. This rarely indeed happens unless the exhibits in a class 

 are too small throughout, and then the quality of those to which 

 prizes are adjudged is fully considered. 



Q. Then do you wish us to understand that judges attach 

 more weight to high quality than to individual size of the 

 articles exhibited ? 



A. That is so, as a rule, and subject to the produce being of 

 good usable size, for of course if anything is too small to be 

 useful that of itself is a fault ; but when anything is so over- 

 grown as to degenerate into coarseness it is also a fault which 

 good judges are not likely to overlook. 



Q. Can you give briefly a few examples of merits and defects 

 in vegetables as a guide to the inexperienced who may like to 

 exhibit for prizes ? 



A. Yes : take potatoes : rough, specked, deep-eyed tubers 

 weighing about half a pound each, but irregular in size as well 

 as shape, would have no chance against others about half the 

 size, uniform, shapely, with shallow eyes, also free from spot or 

 blemish. Again, huge carrots, turnips, beet or parsnips with 

 thick fangs jutting out of the sides, and the roots cankered, 

 would be set aside in favour of smaller specimens, straight, 

 smooth, clean and cankerless. A cabbage weighing seven or 

 eight pounds with a hard split heart and caterpillar- eaten leaves 

 would be superseded by one less than half the size but firm, yet 

 fresh and tender-looking, and the surrounding leaves perfect. 

 A cauliflower a foot across, yet yellowish and beginning to open, 

 might perhaps get a third prize, while one as small again, yet 

 close and pure, would easily win the first. Huge pods of peas 

 if hollow, as many are, would be set aside in favour of smaller, 

 if fresh, and full of tender seeds. The largest kidney beans if 

 pale in colour and tough would be quickly placed behind smaller 

 but greener pods as brittle as glass. Big vegetable marrows so 

 hard in the rind as not to yield to pressure by the thumb-nail 

 would not be equal in merit to medium-sized fruits so tender 

 that the skin offers little or no resistance to such pressure. 

 Large thick-necked onions fail in competition with smaller yet 

 good bulbs with thin stems, or no neck worthy of the name. 

 Then when specimens are shown in pairs, or any other numbers, 

 they should be as even in size as possible, as large and small 

 placed together weaken the exhibit. The point to remember is 

 that specimens with the fewest faults win the highest prizes, and 

 this applies to fruits and flowers as well as to vegetables. 



Q. Can you point out the best initial steps to take in the 

 formation of Cottage Garden Societies ? 



A. When cottagers' and allotment holders manifest a desire in 



