CHILDREN'S FLOWER SHOWS 179 



plate and Tumbler decorated (very difficult to 

 accomplish, but receptacles possible in every home), 

 and last but not least Best Trimmed Hat with 

 natural flowers and foliage. Of course some of the 

 children are naturally more fond of flowers than 

 others, but when once their interest is aroused they 

 are very keen and " their " flower show has become 

 quite an event in the village. It was noticeable, 

 too, how quickly they grasped colour-schemes (a 

 mixture of crude colours being one of the principal 

 failings in exhibits from grown-ups at most shows), 

 and how quickly they realise when an opponent wins 

 that it is choice of colour before quantity of variety 

 that the judges, usually three of the leading resi- 

 dents, like best. Even a Sunday-school teacher can 

 profitably spare five minutes for general talk about 

 flowers, and as so often happens when a buttonhole 

 is brought her, can point out why colours blend or 

 the reverse. It used not to occur to these youth- 

 ful folk to follow Nature's mixture of colours but 

 they are learning that where pink flowers have 

 yellow centres other yellow flowers of the same tone 

 can quite well be arranged with them. Then, too, we 

 have many mauve flowers, which, as age increases, 

 show pink shades, and to emphasise this blending of 

 shades is one of the main points in our floral decora- 



