CHAPTER XIV. 



STAGING 



Staging Plants In arranging plants for exhibition much depends 

 upon the schedule, which should be thoroughly digested to conform with 

 the rules and regulations. Then consider space allotted, and if next the 

 wall to be viewed from one side only, the tallest plants should be put in 

 the background and others graduated to the shortest in front. 



If the exhibit contains more than one color this should be considered 

 and arranged for best effect. Groups for the center of the hall are ar- 

 ranged on the same plan, but such exhibits are viewed from all sides and 

 will require greater effort to bring out uniformity. 



In France the space allotted to plants is covered with light soil, into 

 which the pots are plunged and the earth covered with green sod. In this 

 way they have the appearance of being permanently planted, which adds 

 greatly to the attractiveness of the exhibit. 



Staging Blooms Collections of cut blooms are generally shown one 

 in a vase, arranged on tables usually at the side of the hall, so there is 

 but one congregational side. Such tables will accommodate three rows 

 in width and after the vases or glasses are so placed the blooms are ar- 

 ranged so the middle row will be slightly elevated above the first and the 

 back row above the second. The object is to have each bloom show dis- 

 tinctly both its size and form. The largest ones should be placed in the 

 back row and the smallest in front. When placed in this manner they 

 appear to be nearly all of a size. The light and dark colors should be al- 

 ternated as much as possible for the best effect. 



If there are restrictions as to length of stems this must be considered 

 at the beginning, but if left to the discretion of the exhibitor ten or twelve 

 inches for the first row will be about right, and three to six inches longer 

 for each of the successive rows, according to the depth of the bloom. 



The foregoing rule is practical where the tables are of regulation 

 height, about 2 ft. 7 in., but if only a foot or so from the floor it will hard- 

 ly be necessary to make any distinction as to length of stem, inasmuch as 

 the exhibit will be viewed from above. When the tables are built terrace- 

 fashion the stems may be nearly or quite the same length. 



Boards The board system so popular in England for staging col- 

 lections is seldom used or little known to American exhibitors. It con- 

 sists of a board 18x24 inches nailed to end pieces so that the front will be 

 three and the back six inches above the table and are painted green. Holes 

 are bored to accommodate twelve blooms, three rows front to back. The 

 petals of each bloom are supported by a funnel-shaped cup terminating 

 with a tube into which the stem is inserted and when properly adjusted 

 a wedge is crowded between tube and stem to hold securely. The stem 



