5i8 journal of the royal horticultural society. 



Determining Point Values. 



Assuming that four prizes are to be awarded in a class, the 

 " points " secured by those four of the exhibitors who have the 

 greatest number are added together ; and the sum set apart for 

 the class is reduced to shillings, pence, or farthings, as may be 

 needed. The division of the result by the total number of 

 points gives the value of each point. The multiplication of this 

 "point value" by the number of points of each of the four 

 exhibitors gives the exact sum that is due to them in each case. 



The amount of necessity varies according to the total sum 

 allocated, and the number of points accorded to the produce in 

 competition. For instance, in Kent a very complete scheme is 

 in operation of encouraging superior culture in cottage gardens 

 and allotments. The County Council grants a sum for prizes. 

 Originally the amounts were fixed in the ordinary way ; 

 but the inspector, Mr. W. P. Wright, F.R.H.S., finding that 

 this was not equitable, some men getting too much, and others 

 too little, according to the quality of their work, proposed that 

 every point gained by a worker should entitle him to a penny, 

 provided he gained a given number of points as representing 

 creditable work. 



This " penny a point" system has proved so satisfactory, as 

 tested in upwards of 200 instances, that the few centres which 

 preferred to have the prize money divided in the usual way of 

 fixing the sums beforehand, now desire to have them based on 

 the exact merits of their work. They perceive that several of 

 the first-prize men receive under the old system much higher 

 amounts than they are justly entitled to, while a far larger 

 number, who follow them closely, as second, third, and fourth 

 in merit, are penalised accordingly. The new plan is now 

 called the "fair plan" by hundreds of men, who are worthily 

 striving in friendly rivalry to excel each other in the com- 

 mendable work in which they are engaged, namely, making 

 their gardens and allotments in the highest degree productive 

 and attractive. 



Having given an examplo of the working of the " point 

 value " system in which the prizes were very numerous, but 

 small (as in the above Kentish instances) — though not in the 

 aggregate smaller than is customary in such cases — it seems 

 desirable now to test the plan where the prizes are high, and 



