512 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



officials are generally the best managed. Suaviter in modo, 

 fortiter in re might well be the motto of the best show secre- 

 taries, for they are certainly " gentle in manner, but vigorous 

 in deed"; or, in other words, an iron hand is encased in a 

 velvet glove, as it ought to be. Horticulture owes much to the 

 devotion, untiring labour, sound judgment, and urbanity of the 

 secretaries of societies which are established for the advancement 

 of the art and industry which all who love gardening desire to 

 see in a nourishing state. 



Stewards or Managers. — By whatever name these ex- 

 tremely useful secretarial assistants may be known, they con- 

 tribute materially, not only to the effect of an exhibition, but to 

 the avoidance of mistakes in staging, also in facilitating, the 

 work of judging, for which adequate time is allowed as a rule 

 only at the best conducted exhibitions. Stewards of shows direct 

 the staging of produce, and know where all the classes and 

 exhibits are placed. They ought also, but do not always, 

 immediately after the judging is completed, rearrange as may 

 be needed easily movable exhibits, so that the space at disposal 

 is somewhat equally occupied. Nothing so mars the appearance 

 of an exhibition (except uncovered tables and the exposure of 

 rough packages under them) as alternations of crowded products, 

 be they flowers, fruit, or vegetables, and vacant staging. If the 

 exhibits are disposed more thinly, most of the surface may 

 usually be occupied. Allowing a few inches of space, when this 

 can be done, between class and class is not only permissible but 

 desirable, as it enables visitors to perceive without difficulty 

 where one class ends and another begins. When stages are 

 crowded, and the admirers of the exhibits numerous, it is 

 practically impossible for the separate classes to be distinguished. 



Another matter might with great advantage be attended to 

 by the stewards of shows, but is frequently, if not generally, 

 overlooked— namely, satisfying themselves that the show is in 

 proper order for judging— (a) by the space (as for groups) allotted 

 not being exceeded, and (b) by correcting accidental misplace- 

 ments. 



As to the question of " space." As this is stipulated in 

 schedules by the show authorities it is unquestionably the duty 

 of these authorities to see that it is not exceeded. It is no part 

 of the duty of a judge to measure the space that is occupied by 



