HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS AND SCHEDULES. 523 



"When the numbers are printed along the bottom of the card, 

 and thus not hidden under exhibition boxes or stands, the judges 

 jot down the awards as they are made — first, second, or third, as 

 the case may be. 



Eeverting to the actual awards, these can be made with 

 accuracy in nine classes out of ten, and often in nineteen out of 

 twenty, by careful comparison, observing closely the merits and 

 defects in the competing exhibits, balancing one with the other 

 in each collection, until a mental estimate of the value of the 

 whole is obtained in each case. When the judges have not 

 a shadow of doubt that their decisions are correct, one of 

 them marks them on the back of the cards first, second, and 

 third, and so on ; and the other does the same in the spaces 

 provided in the judging book, or on a card provided for the 

 purpose. It is an excellent plan also for one of the judges there 

 and then to either attach the gummed prize slips to the cards, 

 or to see that this is properly done by an attendant ; the possi- 

 bility of errors occurring is then reduced to a minimum. 



If the prize slips are not attached at the time of judging, 

 the secretary or his clerk follows with the entry book for placing 

 the card figures, first, second, third, and so on opposite the 

 names of the successful exhibitors. An excellent judge and 

 ex-show secretary, Mr. E. Molyneux, gives an important 

 reminder, and perhaps a rather hard hit when he says truly : 

 " Some judges, I am sorry to say, make such indistinct figures on 

 the backs of the cards that none but themselves can read them ! " 

 Let those whom the " cap fits " put it on. 



If either of the judges has a lurking doubt as to the correct- 

 ness of the impressions arrived at by " comparison," there 

 should be no delay in appraising the value of collections of 

 fruits or vegetables, or stands of flowers, by giving to each item 

 in them the marks or "points" to which it is entitled. If 

 admittedly competent judges agree on the value of each item 

 then the total number of "points" obtained by each com- 

 petitor will in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred be correct, 

 whatever any persons, who may be taken by surprise, say to the 

 contrary. It is important to decide quickly on the question of 

 "pointing," as it is very easy to lose more time in pacing to 

 and fro among the exhibits, and sometimes getting confused, 

 than would suffice to do the work in the best possible manner. 

 In commencing the work of determining the exact value, so 



