Horticulture. 



42 



[July, 1912. 



beforehand how to stage, so that the 

 best effect may be obtained. 



According to my observations, groups 

 of plants are nearly always overcrowded. 

 Distinctive features should be aimed 

 at— every plant of importance should 

 be allowed to show itself. Colour is an- 

 other very important point — too many 

 colours should be avoided and especially 

 those which are likely to clash with one 

 another. Single-stemmed Codiseums, for 

 instance, although most effective when 

 well coloured, should not otherwise be 

 used. If they are allowed in a group, 

 they look best with different shades of 

 orangefand scarlet, such as those found 

 in theTxoras. A. softer blend of colour 

 is obtained from the grouping of Cattle- 

 yas, such as C. Mossiae and C. Labiata, 

 with a touch of white. When showing 

 for effect, the use of stakes for supports 

 should be avoided. I have seen fearful 

 anomalies in this way — white sticks, 

 for example— which are unpardonable, 

 especially in the ease of an experienced 

 exhibitor. 



The staging of specimen plants is not 

 made much of aa art nowadays, but 

 careful attention to detail will be well 

 repaid. A good general effect is often 

 the only difference between two collec- 

 tions, and it is well worth while to make 

 a study of the art of arrangement. The 

 exhibitor should always make a point of 

 having a particularly good specimen at 

 the extreme left-hand front corner of 

 his group. This applies not only to 

 collections of specimens, but to exhibits 

 of all kinds, and the reason lies in the 

 fact that the object in this position al- 

 ways first attracts the eye. 1 remember 

 seeing at one show an exhibit of Grapes 

 — excellently-cultivated specimens ; but, 

 unfortunately, the weakest bunch was 

 at the extreme left of the exhibit, 

 which happened to be at the end of the 

 tabling. The judges all saw the weak 

 bunch, and the result was disappoint- 

 ment to the exhibitor. 



Specimen plants which are bush- 

 trained need tapping, but this can be 

 done so as not to create an unsightly 

 appearance. Broken flower pots, when 



employed for this purpose, are most 

 unsightly, and should not be tolerated, 

 for an instant. Colour-effect will again 

 weigh with the careful exhibitor— he 

 will, for instance, separate a Bougain- 

 villeafroman Ixora. A Statice should be 

 placed between, if available, or a Ste- 

 phanotis. 



Allamandas always look w ell in a collec- 

 tion, especially when placed with Statices. 

 Ferns are comparatively easy to stage as 

 specimens, though in a large collection 

 of diversified Ferns, taste and discrimin- 

 ation are needed. Small specimens 

 should be kept well to the front. Golden 

 and Silver Gymnogrammas should be 

 mingled— they look far better together 

 than apart. 



We now come to the subject of cut 

 flowers— and here again the remark 

 must be made that overcrowding is far 

 too common at the present day. One 

 often sees an exhibit of cut flowers 

 which is a perfect jumble of ill-assorted 

 colours — this is especially the case in a 

 mixed collection of herbaceous and 

 other plants. Late-flowering Tulips, 

 also, are often so crowded that their 

 beauty and effectiveness are completely 

 lost ; and with Roses and Sweet Peas the 

 same mistake is frequently made. It 

 would seem that exhibitors cannot 

 resist the temptation of showing enorm- 

 ous quantities of blooms when making 

 up groups ; but, apart, from any other 

 consideration, it should be borne m mind 

 that overcrowding in vases is a frequent 

 cause of early fading. 



Wherever possible, the foliage of the 

 flowers themselves should be used. 

 Rambler Roses, for instance, look very 

 well in long sprays with the addition of 

 a few slender growths. The practice of 

 "dressing" the flowers should never be 

 resorted to — it is unnecessary and absurd. 

 It is of course extensively done by street 

 vendors of " buttonholes " (from whom, 

 perhaps some of our exhibitors have 

 learned it I), but I always wonder how 

 the lover of flowers can bear to mutilate 

 the petals of Roses. Carnations are, 

 happily, not so much dressed as formerly, 

 and it is indeed fortunate that many 



