XI 



EXHIBITING 



207 



required to recognise the different varieties, and note 

 subtle distinctions of merit. A year or two's absence 

 from Roses and Rose shows would probably seriously 

 impair a man's efficiency as a judge. 



Judging is performed by the rules of the National 

 Rose Society according to the form, size, and brightness 

 of each bloom which should be at the time " in its most 

 perfect phase of possible beauty." A general survey of 

 the class should first be taken, for it may be that the 

 case is clear and beyond a doubt. Where the stands 

 are of large numbers — thirty-six and upwards — there 

 should be another survey a little way off to judge better 

 by comparison, and to give at all events an idea of which 

 stands are "out of it," and which seem to be more 

 nearly equal. 



Those stands about which there is any doubt should 

 now be " pointed," i.e., judged by points. Minus one, 

 nought, one, two, three, or in rare cases four points 

 should be awarded to each bloom according to merit, 

 one of the judges suggesting the number of points to 

 each, the others assenting or dissenting, and one noting 

 the number of points totalled. 



The first thing to be done is to choose and agree 

 upon a certain rose worth three points to serve as a 

 standard. This is important : being useful not only for 

 reference in cases of disagreement, but also in the large 

 classes of forty-eight or seventy-two to prevent the 

 standard becoming insensibly depreciated. Pointing 

 generally begins with the back row and from left to 

 right : boxes are often set up in the same order, and the 

 exhibitor would naturally put his worst blooms in last, 

 which would therefore be at the right hand of the lower 

 row. At any rate considerably smaller and weaker 

 blooms will generally be found in the front row, and the 



/ 



