Miscellaneous. 



418 



JUDGING AT AGRI-HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



From time to time the question of judging at Agri-Horticultural Exhibitions 

 crops up ; not only in India, but in other countries. There have been many 

 expressions of opinion as to how judging should be done at these functions. It may 

 be stated at once that the duty of judging is, at its best, a thankless task ; because 

 jt is impossible to please every one. Every exhibitor thinks his exhibit the best ; 

 this is natural. But the task of the judges is rendered more difficult from the 

 circumstance that the conditions at Indian exhibitions are not clearly defined in 

 the prospectuses and schedules issued by the Societies holding them. Again, 

 the peculiar conditions of Indian horticulture are such that one has to make a 

 good deal of allowance for backwardness, and with a view to encourage horticulture 

 prizes are often awarded to exhibits which have not really earned them. Still, 

 there ought to be certain well-defined rules laid down for the guidance of judges. 

 As we know, it is very difficult to obtain the services of qualified judges in this 

 country, and therefore it seems desirable that the task of judging should be 

 made easy. The selection of properly qualified judges should rest with the 

 Committee of Management. The average well-informed person may be all very 

 well ; but before he can be considered qualified to pronounce an opinion on any 

 particular class of plant exhibit, he must have some knowledge of them to 

 enable him to differentiate between plants that are really well-grown and others 

 that are of average quality. But whatever view he may hold, he should be com- 

 petent to see the difference between a highly cultivated exhibit and one of 

 average culture. 



The object of horticultural shows is to encourage the best cultivation of 

 the best species or varieties. Therefore, a judge should be able to distinguish 

 between a well-grown exhibit of common species or varieties, and another equally 

 well-grown one consisting of superior and new species or varieties. Let us take 

 Petunias. Usually, Ave find an entry somewhat like this : " For the best twelve 

 Petunias in pots." There may be six competitiors, one of whom has six of the 

 latest introductions and of superior merit, all well-grown. Another may have 

 twelve of the average varieties, equally well-grown. There is no question which 

 of the two should be awarded the first prize, as enterprize has to be considered 

 as well as high cultivation. It follows that if a judge did not know the difference 

 between new introductions of superior merit and older species or varieties, of 

 perhaps high merit, he would be not competent to pronounce a sound 

 judgment. 



A good deal of disappointment and dissatisfaction would be avoided by 

 the adoption of a simple guide for judges. In England and on the Continent it 

 is usual to arrive at a decision by means of " points." For example : three points 

 for cultivation, two for size and shape of flowers, and one for new varieties. These 

 should be added, and whichever exhibit has the highest number of points should 

 be adjudged first ; others in order of merit. One exhibit may have a single really 

 well-grown plant with very fine blossoms ; and the remaining plants may be quite 

 mediocre. Another exhibit may have four well-grown plants, and two rather 

 poor ; while a third may have all the six plants well-grown and of good quality. 

 The last should get the first prize, and so on. "We have again an entry like this : 

 "For the best and largest group of annuals and bulbous plants, arranged with 

 effect." Here we have a puzzle for the judges. All the points must be taken into 

 consideration in awarding the prizes. The group must be the "best," the "largest" 

 and effectively arranged. In such a case the individual plants must be compared, 

 and the number determined. Lastly, the judges would have to decide whether 

 it was effectively arranged. Points should be given for each requirement, and 



