HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS AND SCHEDULES. 513 



certain products in which he has to adjudicate. This involves a 

 waste of time, which is not infrequently all too short for the 

 discharge of his legitimate duty. Judges have a right to assume 

 that all exhibits announced on a "space" basis are (if not 

 otherwise specified by show authorities) eligible for competition. 



As to " misplaced cards." When a competitor stages in 

 several classes he is apt in the hurry of the moment, and 

 obviously quite innocently, to place a card containing his number 

 on the back to an exhibit where such card ought not to be ; 

 either the exhibit is in the wrong class, or the card is. The last 

 named occurs the more frequently, and if one mistake of this 

 kind happen there must of necessity be another. When such 

 accidents are numerous serious delay arises in the rectification 

 when judging. True, the regulations may say " exhibitors are 

 responsible for the correct placing of the prize cards." They 

 cannot possibly be too careful in doing this, and old showmen 

 rarely make a mistake. As the steward knows the number of 

 exhibits in each class in the section of a show over which he has 

 control, he ought to pass along before the judges and see that 

 the cards are right. At some shows much time is wasted by the 

 judges waiting till the errors are rectified. It is true they could 

 pass them, but this might possibly deprive some competitors of 

 two prizes ; but the " penalty " would scarcely "fit the crime " 

 in the case of a pure accident, and the desire of a judge worthy 

 of the name is to do substantial justice. He will do it too, if he 

 can, even if he be too late for luncheon. 



Exhibitors. — "Without exhibitors there can be no show" 

 is a truism that has been uttered a thousand times in proposing 

 a certain post-prandial toast. While admitting the accuracy of 

 the observation, there is something else to be said. Though 

 exhibitors can make the hearts of show authorities glad, they can 

 also make them inexpressibly sad, and this in two very different 

 ways : (1) In making entries, and then failing to fill half or 

 indeed any of the space reserved ; (2) in either making no entries 

 at all or making them too late, and then bringing loads of pro- 

 duce to a show and clamouring for space when every inch has 

 been allotted. In this latter case, when the intended exhibits 

 cannot be accepted, the show authorities are often blamed if not 

 abused — a manifest injustice. On the other hand, the non- 

 fulfilment of obligations causes great anxiety and worry to 



