HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS AND SCHEDULES. 531 



In no long time groups became general, because of the 

 generous encouragement given to them at many shows. They 

 brought into the competitive arena numbers of persons who 

 would otherwise have been kept out, drew public attention to the 

 decorative value of innumerable small but beautiful plants 

 adapted to their conveniences, and afforded charming examples 

 of delightful and effective plant association. Competitive 

 groups have done nothing but good — even the bad ones, these 

 acting as examples for avoidance. 



Let it be understood that in these observations nothing is 

 implied as to the superiority of groups over skilfully grown and 

 nobly represented specimen plants. Nothing gives such weight and 

 dignity to a show as the magnificent " Cypherians," but there do 

 not appear to be many cyphers left equal to producing them 

 after the manner of those indigenous to Cheltenham. 



Difficulties in Fruit Classes. 



Difficulties are incidents of life, and judges of garden produce 

 encounter a fair share. They are the most common in fruit 

 classes, and especially, perhaps, with Grapes. For example, 

 Mr. Owen Thomas writes : — " An exhibitor will show fine 

 examples of Black Hamburgh Grapes, well set up, large in bunch 

 and berry, but lacking somewhat in colour and finish ; another 

 exhibitor shows bunches which are not so large, but of good 

 shape, and the berries also a trifle smaller, but which carry a 

 perfect bloom, and are in other respects faultless. The majority 

 of good judges (but not all) would attach less weight to superiority 

 in size than to superb quality and high finish ; and in my opinion 

 they would be right. This indicates a principle which might 

 with advantage be kept in mind in judging high-class fruit." 



I quite agree with Mr. Thomas, and we are both in accord 

 with the E.H.S. Code (page 13). Many times in such conflicting 

 cases I have put this question to a judge : " Supposing you were 

 expected to furnish the best possible dessert to-night for a party 

 of distinguished guests, and either of these two exhibits of Grapes 

 was at your disposal, which should you choose 7" In nearly all 

 cases, if not in every case, he has been drawn from the very 

 large bunches with somewhat faulty berries to the smaller yet 

 excellent bunches of practically faultless Grapes. 



