C28 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



affords unmistakable evidence of the greatest cultural difficulties 

 having been overcome, and the soundest judgment exercised in 

 its superior presentation, may be regarded as the best represen- 

 tative of the gardener's skill ; and this, with refined taste in 

 arrangement (if an element in the case), ought ever to be kept 

 in mind by adjudicators. 



The Artistic Grouping op Plants. 



The mention of taste in arranging plants suggests that a 

 little may not inappropriately be said on this subject ; and it 

 cannot well be said better than in some observations of my 

 friend, previously quoted, as follows : — " There are no more im- 

 portant classes at our great shows at the present day than the 

 classes for groups of plants arranged for effect, and competi- 

 tions of cut flowers to fill a certain space effectively come 

 under the same category. There are no classes in which it is 

 easier for a judge to err than in these, possessing as they do so 

 many divergent points of quality and interest. I think that a 

 note of warning is needed to remind judges of the danger to 

 which they are sometimes exposed by the passing charm of what 

 I may call the upholstery and millinery of the body of groups 

 of plants and arrangement of cut flowers for effect in the way of 

 mirrors, ribbons, trimmings, and other artificial adjuncts. This 

 style is all very well to a certain extent, but carried too far 

 it savours too much, to my mind, of the draper's shop and too 

 little of the garden." 



By the upholstery is presumably meant those arches and 

 bridges of rustic cork, like gigantic umbrella ribs, which, when 

 unduly obtrusive, have certainly a chillingly artificial appear- 

 ance ; so have those toy-like pieces of mirror introduced to 

 represent water. This method has gone far enough, and if it 

 goes much farther no exhibitor need be surprised if he is defeated 

 one of these days by a simpler, more natural, easy, and graceful 

 association of beautiful plants. At the same time very many 

 groups are still too formal, prim, packed, and smooth, to meet 

 with the approval of persons of taste ; and, notwithstanding 

 a number of gratifying instances to the contrary, far too 

 many Chrysanthemum groups are undoubtedly spoiled by a 

 bristling forest of obtrusive stakes and a brave display of pots. 

 As the merits and defects of groups are concisely set forth on 



