EXHIBITING AND JUDGING 59 



beauty of the same flowers to adorn the home, in 

 consonance with the best methods of floral decoration. 

 Proof of this is seen each season, as the commercial 

 product that most approaches exhibition standard of 

 merit brings the highest returns, financially, to the 

 grower. 



The holding of Chrysanthemum exhibitions, too, 

 has improved the general culture of the flower at the 

 hands of those who, while not participating in the com- 

 petitions, have witnessed the possibilities of good 

 culture when attending the shows. 



PREPARING AND PACKING EXHIBITION FLOWERS 



As the time of the exhibition approaches, close 

 watch must be kept upon the flowers. It may be that 

 some .of those it is desired to exhibit have attained 

 to full perfection a week or more in advance of the 

 date, and to leave them longer on the plant would risk 

 deterioration. These should be cut at once, placed in 

 water in suitable receptacles and stood in a cool, dry 

 room or cellar from which the light may be partially 

 excluded. However, the place should not be darkened 

 entirely, or the foliage will turn yellow. If the water be 

 changed every two or three days and a small portion 

 of the stem cut away, flowers may be kept a week or 

 ten days and yet be fresh and fit for exhibition. When 

 the flowers are not cut till required it should be a day 

 in advance, so that they may be stood in water for at 

 least twenty-four hours previous to packing them. The 

 need of this is obvious, as the plants have been kept 

 on the dry side during the maturing of the blooms, 

 but flower, foliage and stem need to be well supplied 

 with moisture preparatory to the exhibition ordeal to 

 ensure their retaining freshness. Any neglect in this 

 respect may result in a speedy collapse after the flowers 



