536 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



or they might have staged six stems of each of an unlimited 

 number of different varieties, without disqualification. What the 

 Show Committee really intended to ask for was " six vases of different 

 varieties of Sweet Peas, six stems in a vase." 



3. " The best collection of Hardy Flowers. No duplicate bunches 

 or mixed bunches allowed." 



The question arose — Were Phlox decussata, vars. ' Tapis blanc,' 

 ' Etna,' and ' Sheriff Ivory,' to be considered as " duplicate bunches"? 



No, certainly not. The schedule did not specify one variety of 

 each kind, and different varieties of one kind cannot be considered 

 duplicates of each other. 



4. " Nine hardy and half hardy annuals — dissimilar." 



A dispute arose because one exhibit contained two annual 

 chrysanthemums of different colours. 



The term " dissimilar " is one which should have no place in 

 horticulture, and it is not recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society. 

 To put the case thus : Two men are walking along the road — one 

 wears a green hat and the other a brown. Are they similar or dis- 

 similar ? As men they are similar, and different hats cannot make 

 them otherwise ; but as specimens of colour or varieties of clothing 

 they are dissimilar. 



The word is a very bad one to use, and will give endless trouble 

 in a schedule. " Distinct kinds "or " distinct varieties " restrict 

 to narrow limits the latitude for misunderstanding. 



5. A class for Sweet Peas " shown with own foliage." 



It was contended that the foliage meant was that actually belong- 

 ing to the individual plant from which the flowers themselves were 

 gathered. 



This is not the interpretation for Flower Show purposes. So long 

 as the foliage is that of the Sweet Pea (Lathy rus odoratus), and not of 

 any other Lathy rus or Pisum, the intention of the schedule is met. 



Scented and Scentless Blooms. 



It is well known that there has been a tendency in recent years 

 for flowers of perfect form to be introduced into our gardens lacking 

 the quality of scent. Such is our experience more particularly with 

 regard to Roses and Sweet Peas. 



To discourage such introductions is a work which Horticultural 

 Societies might well undertake. The R.H.S. Floral Committee do 

 not view with favour the scentless forms, and modify their awards to 

 them accordingly. To encourage scented flowers, the following class 

 has been adopted by one of the leading Societies in the West : — 



" The best exhibit of flowers which are descended from ancestors 

 which were noteworthy for the agreeable scent of their flowers as well 

 as for their good form. The flowers shown to be, as flowers, improve- 

 ments on their ancestral forms, whilst also and at the same time 

 retaining closely the ancestral scent." 



