134 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The selection of varieties for crossing must necessarily be a 

 matter very much of personal judgment, but there are certain prin- 

 ciples which must not be lost sight of. The exigencies of com- 

 petitive exhibitions compel that size should not be disregarded, 

 but size must be attended by refinement and beauty, or it is, or 

 at least should be, useless. 



Aim at procuring what is called mid-season varieties — i.e. 

 those flowering about the first week in November— either by 

 crossing two of that character or by wedding a late with an early 

 variety. 



Dwarfness of habit and robustness of constitution must also 

 be kept in view. Aim at novel combinations and effects in 

 colouring and form, and avoid the use of all varieties, however 

 large, which are coarse in character or washy in appearance. 

 Above all, have some definite and distinct aim in view, for to 

 cross varieties merely at haphazard, and without definite system, 

 is to throw away half the advantage to be derived from scientific 

 methods. In short, aim always to refine and to improve. 



Undoubtedly, in order to raise Chrysanthemums from seed 

 of our own saving, a great deal of patience is required, as well 

 as the exercise of a certain amount of intelligence ; but the work 

 brings with it a large amount of pleasure, and should lead the 

 experimenter on to attempt the production of " sports " by arti- 

 ficial means, and, before all of us, there stands the goal which 

 perhaps someone present might be inspired to attain— the honour 

 of raising the "blue Chrysanthemum." 



PRINCIPLES OF JUDGING AT SHOWS. 

 By Mr. James Douglas, F.R.H.S. 

 [Read November 27, 1894.] 



After turning this question over and over in my mind, I found 

 it to be one of the most difficult subjects I ever attempted. It 

 has been my lot several times to judge an entire exhibition single- 

 handed, and I have managed to get through it in good time for 

 the admission of the public. This, the practical side of the 

 question, is one thing; explaining to others how to go and do 



