DRESSING BLOOMS FOR SHOW. 95 



about much in going to the show, or there will be a good 

 deal to do to them to put them right again. 



Japanese for Show, 



Japanese blooms want but little dressing for show. Any 

 crippled florets should be pulled out. Some of the straight- 

 petalled varieties may have some short petals in the centre. 

 These should all be pulled clean out. Then hold the flower 

 the wrong way upwards, and give it a smart shake. The 

 longer petals will ibe found to fill up the place of the shorter 

 ones, and thus give the flower a deeper and more graceful 

 appearance. Remember, at the same time, one may pull 

 as much as one likes out of a flower, but nothing must 

 be added. Of course, there are ia good many opinions as 

 to the propriety of dressing Japanese chrysanthemums, 

 but, for my part, I am unable to see why it should be per- 

 missible to dress incurveds and that the line should be 

 drawn at Japs. I have known judges to disqualify ex- 

 hibitors for dressing Japanese incurveds, such as Mrs. 

 Barkley, W. R. Church, and others, because the florets 

 had been reflexed. The question ought to be decided by 

 every Society, a rule being inserted in the schedule plainly 

 stating whether reflexing was allowable or not. At Edin- 

 burgh the magnificent specimens are usually shown with 

 long, beautiful florets reflexing naturally, while in the South 

 of England equally magnificent specimens may be noticed 

 with the florets artificially reflexed. In 'both caises the effect 

 is the same lovely. But, as I have said, some 

 judges would disqualify in 'the latter instance, forgetting 

 apparently that climatic variations make reflexing neces- 

 sary. On a bright, sunny day all Japanese chrysan- 

 themums reflex more or less ; and surely the grower who 

 strives after perfection of form, remembering that " a 

 thing of beauty is a joy for ever," should be allowed to 

 assist Dame Nature a little in this respect. 



Other Varieties. 



Anemones want but very little dressing ; merely pull any 

 loose or straggling florets out, arrange the guard florets 



