EXHIBITIONS 



EXHIBITIONS 



1191 



ful grouping of plants of congenial character will 

 always inspire enthusiastic admiration among cultured 

 and discriminating visitors, and if the flower pots are 

 hidden from sight by moss or other natural material, 

 the pleasing effect will usually be further enhanced, 

 particularly in the case of plants which might natu- 

 rally grow together. 



It is well known among flower-growers that the 

 time of day, the condition of development, and other 

 factors have a considerable influence on the keeping 

 qualities of their product. A sojourn in a cool, dark 

 room over night with stems deeply immersed in fresh 

 water is really an essential with many flowers if they 

 are to remain for any time in good condition in the 

 atmosphere of an exhibition hall. Nothing is more dis- 

 figuring in a flower show than a lot of wilted blooms. 

 Much depends upon the style of vases used. Vases 

 spreading at the top and narrowing to a point at the 

 bottom, while perhaps the most graceful in form, are 

 very destructive to flowers, the small quantity of 

 water available at the base of the stems soon becoming 

 heated and impure. Constant changing of water, and 

 keeping down the temperature of the hall will help to 

 preserve the exhibits. Table baskets and dinner-table 

 exhibits generally, as often arranged, scarcely last 

 until the first visitors are admitted. Only those in 

 which the flower-receptacles are such as contain water 

 can give any satisfaction in a flower show. 



The background against which flowers are shown, as 

 the color and material of the walls, covering of tables, 

 and so on, has much to do with the general impression, 

 favorable or otherwise, on the visitor. Green the 

 natural foliage green is unquestionably the "middle 

 of the road" background hue for flowers. Back of and 

 beyond green, the neutral grays and browns, and some- 

 times pure white, are pleasing and satisfactory. It is 

 worth noting that, while terra-cotta or flower-pot tones 

 are usually beyond reproach as a background for liv- 

 ing green, yet a brick wall is a disheartening condition 

 for this purpose, showing that it is not alone color 

 which decides the appropriateness of exhibition hall 

 walls or drapery. 



The number of specimens usually shown in cut-flower 

 classes depends upon the kind of flowers, the ingenuity 

 of the schedule-makers, and the demands of the occa- 

 sion. The more extensive and pretentious the exhibi- 

 tion, the larger should be the classes. Roses and carna- 

 tions in half-dozens, for example, have little value 

 in a large exhibition. Fifties and hundreds alone will 

 impress the visitors. When individual blooms, or groups 

 composed of individual varieties are displayed, much 

 depends upon the taste shown in color-arrangement. 

 This is especially important with such subjects as 

 chrysanthemums, dahlias, gladioli and sweet peas, 

 all of which afford wide scope for demonstration of 

 taste in exquisite blending, contrasting and gradation 

 of color-tones, qualities which should count for much 

 in the final decisions of the judges. The question of 

 the height of tables or platforms on which flowers are 

 shown is one which should be carefully considered in 



Elanning an exhibition. There are flowers which should 

 e looked down upon if their full beauty is to be seen. 

 Others must arch overhead to display their graces, and 

 there are many intermediate steps. As a rule, exhibition 

 tables are set too high. 



One main reason for the flower show being its educa- 

 tional value, the proper and legible labeling of species 

 and varieties is essential. In no other respect are our 

 exhibitions so deficient. A neat label, attached so it 

 can be read without handling, and legible at a fair 

 distance, is something rarely seen at a flower show, 

 while obtrusive advertising cards or award cards 

 frequently spoil the beauty of an otherwise creditable 

 staging. 



Competitive exhibitions properly conducted and 

 entered into with the right spirit are, as before said, 



calculated to accomplish much good for the art of 

 horticulture. Emulation in a friendly contest for honors 

 is a strong factor in the success of a show, but the kind 

 of rivalry which stimulates jealousies, envenoms dis- 

 appointment and incites to angry protests over judges' 

 decisions, is one of the most mischievous elements that 

 can intrude upon the scene. In order to discourage the 

 protesting habit and minimize the demoralizing influ- 

 ence of questionable decisions, great care should be 

 exercised always in the selection of competent, disin- 

 terested and impartial judges. Their names should be 

 announced a sufficient time in advance so that every 

 intending exhibitor may know who is to pass upon his 

 exhibits. 



It is now a generally established custom to inclose 

 the name of an exhibitor in an envelope bearing only 

 the class number, the identity of the exhibitor not to 

 be disclosed until after the judging has been completed. 

 Some very excellent systems of cards, record books, 

 envelopes, and so on for this purpose have been devised 

 and are in general use. W M . J. STEWABT. 



Exhibition of fruits. Fig. 1469. 



The educational value of carefully planned exhi- 

 bitions of fruits can scarcely be overestimated. That 

 this fact is appreciated in increasing measure each 

 year is demonstrated by the growing number of such 

 exhibitions that are being held throughout the coun- 

 try. Commercial fruit regions do much of their adver- 

 tising by means of these annual affairs, and there are 

 few towns or hamlets, however unpretentious, without 

 their yearly fruit show promoted by the grange, the 

 school, the church, or some other organization whose 

 aim is progress in country affairs. 



Foresight, with careful attention to details, is essen- 

 tial if the possibilities of an exhibition are to be devel- 

 oped to the utmost. The larger number of such events 

 are held in the fall, since fafl is Nature's harvest sea- 

 son for fruits. This means that preparation must 

 begin in midsummer to insure the greatest measure of 

 success. There are many things that the grower can 

 do at this time to secure high-class fruit for exhibition 

 purposes, and no other should be considered. 



The best fruit is often found near the top of the tree, 

 if thorough spraying has been done. It is the best 

 because conditions there are most nearly ideal for its 

 development. As the fruit increases in size and the 

 weight upon the branches becomes greater, the side 

 branches settle more closely together, while the top- 

 most branches and those most nearly upright in habit 

 of growth, always advantageously situated, have an 

 increased opportunity to receive the abundance of air 

 and sunlight so essential to normal and perfect fruit. 

 Fruit on such branches invariably possesses the highest 

 color of any on the tree, and color is of vital importance 

 for the matter in hand. The color may be heightened 

 and the size increased if the fruit is thinned until the 

 specimens hang 6 inches or more apart. A branch may 

 be headed back, and occasionally one may be removed 

 entirely to the benefit of those remainingj if good 

 judgment is used. This matter of thinning is of con- 

 siderable importance in the securing of high-class 

 exhibition fruit, whether the fruit be apple, orange, 

 ape. 



The production of exhibition specimens by abnormal 

 processes as by ringing or girdling is not allowable, 

 unless for the express purpose of showing what can be 

 accomplished by such practices: fruits produced by 

 such means should not be shown in comparison or 

 competition with specimens produced under recognized 

 and standard methods. 



The specimens should be allowed to remain attached 

 to the parent plant as long as possible. The longer 

 they remain thus, the more intense will be their color 

 :ui'l the greater will be their size. Pears especially 



