520 JOURNAL OP THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



value of each, but this in no way affects the actual relative 

 amount in prize money to which each exhibitor is entitled 

 under the "point value " system of apportionment. The figures 

 adduced will satisfy its advocates that the first prize winner had 

 £3. Is. S^d. too much, the second prize winner lis. 2\d. too 

 much, and the third prize winner £i. 3s. 10\d. too little, 

 according to the marks of merit awarded by the judges. 



It should be said it is not the duty of judges to determine 

 the relative amounts — they simply hand in their points as usual, 

 and their conversion into money is quick and easy office work, 

 by a simple sum in addition, division, and multiplication, as 

 indicated in the first paragraph on page 518. 



This system is now fully placed before the public for the 

 first time, and the public must judge of its merits. 



It may be said in reference to this plan that, for the purpose 

 of stimulating competition, the prizes should either be limited 

 to a specified number, as in the ordinary way ; or that no com- 

 petitor shall be eligible as a recipient who does not win a 

 stipulated number of marks, representing commendable work, 

 as for gardens in Kent. The first-named method is the better 

 adapted for shows, and where it has long been in operation the 

 greatest efforts are made by exhibitors first to get within the 

 charmed circle of prize winners, and then to obtain the greatest 

 possible number of points, knowing that every one of these adds 

 its quota to the prize money that will be received. Distributing 

 the total amount offered in a class among the whole of the 

 exhibitors in it would amount to frittering, as some might, and 

 not improbably would, obtain a share whose produce would not 

 be entitled to any recognition on its merits. 



Another point to be noticed is this — that while a limited 

 number of classes containing products capable of this definite 

 appraisement might prove of special interest if the prizes were 

 allocated pro rata according to the points or marks recorded, 

 to adopt the system in many (much more in all) classes would 

 necessitate a corresponding increase in the number of judges. 



"Pointing" takes time, and too much of the time appor- 

 tioned to the judges, as published in the schedules of shows, 

 is filched from them by late and slow-moving exhibitors, in some 

 cases with little or no interference by the authorities of those 

 shows. 



