414 Management of Horticultural Exhibitions. 



bringing together many rivals, which always adds to the at- 

 tractions offered to the company. 



By our ninth rule, the premiums are to be large or small, 

 according to the difficulties of cultivation, and the preparation 

 for exhibition. Without meaning to offer, or entertaining the 

 least disrespect whatever to nurserymen, we leave them out 

 of the question, because it is a part of their business to attend 

 exhibitions, and they have a large interest in sustaining hor- 

 ticultural displays apart from any desire to gain premiums. 

 Indeed, in one instance, in one of the towns in England, an 

 example has been set which is certainly worth imitating 

 here ; in this case the nurserymen literally turn out the best 

 contents of their houses, and exhibit all their flowering plants 

 to gratify the visitors, and do not enter into competition at 

 all. But we are not to calculate on this liberal and profita- 

 ble method of promoting horticulture prevailing every where 

 or to any extent. Generally speaking, premiums are not ap- 

 portioned to the difficulties of growth and preparation, but 

 are too frequently unequal, improper, and sometimes ludi- 

 crous. At one of the Chiswick exhibitions some years ago, 

 a premium of a silver medal was given to the cut bloom of a 

 magnolia, with which the gardener had about as much to do 

 in producing it, as we had. Premiums have also been given 

 for the cut flowers of Dianthus barbatus, and yet, at the 

 very same exhibition, a large number of very excellent plants 

 have gone unrewarded, for no other reason than because the 

 premiums allowed for plants had been exhausted on a few. 

 Here, at our own exhibitions, have we seen premiums thrown 

 away upon common plates full of common fruit, which re- 

 quired nothing but the gathering, and which would have 

 grown just as well on the trees they came from, if there had 

 been nobody in the garden to look at them. These things, 

 we say, require great consideration and calm discussion, be- 

 fore circulars are issued by any society inviting horticul- 

 turists to compete ; and, moreover, the persons who have to 

 settle the matter, ought certainly to know something of prac- 

 tical gardening. 



Our last rule is, that the premiums ought to be numerous 

 or otherwise, according to the presumed number and standing 

 of the competitors. We can conceive of no circumstance 



