504 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



result of sound policy inaugurated and carried out by able com- 

 mercial men. This has won for them the stability, independence, 

 and prosperity of which they may be justly proud. 



A majority of successful business men of accredited posi- 

 tion, and with pronounced horticultural sympathies, is an 

 element of strength on a flower show committee which cannot 

 be ovtr-estimated. 



I have treated somewhat fully of this subject of making 

 provision for a rainy day, because it is of fundamental im- 

 portance, and does not commonly receive the attention it 

 deserves in treatises and discussions on horticultural shows. 



Passing now to the shows themselves, and matters in con- 

 nection with them, various points suggest themselves as worthy 

 of consideration ; but prior to their discussion it will be appro- 

 priate to refer to the schedules of prizes. 



Rules and Regulations. 



A prize schedule, with its rules, regulations, conditions, and 

 definitions, should be regarded as the law governing the par- 

 ticular show to which it applies. It is that or nothing, and 

 being the law the terms employed in the setting forth of the 

 several requirements cannot be too carefully chosen. They 

 must be concise, precise, and so clear as to be very easy to 

 comprehend and very difficult to misunderstand. There must 

 be no breach in any of the enactments either by exhibitors or 

 judges ; and certainly there ought not to be by any of the show 

 authorities, though on one particular point they are far too often 

 the chief delinquents in breaking their own regulations. 



If classes are loosely drawn and an exhibitor is prejudiced 

 in consequence, the fault rests, not with the exhibitor or with 

 the judges, but the lawgivers. It is unfortunately true that 

 the terms employed for public guidance are occasionally the 

 reverse of clear. In such cases when products are staged 

 judges may not unreasonably, by a process of induction from 

 the rules and from other classes, endeavour to satisfy them- 

 selves as to the intentions of the committee, and do the best 

 they can. 



I have often known it necessary to appeal to the authorities 

 of the show on doubtful points, and more than once, with the 

 unsatisfactory result : " Oh, we are not quite sure we leave it 



