PRINCIPLES OF JUDGING AT SHOWS. 



139 



be done by points. This is absolutely necessary, whether the 

 exhibits be collections of fruit or vegetables, stands of Carna- 

 tions, Roses, or Chrysanthemums. And here it is that the 

 judge with a full knowledge of his subject is alone competent to 

 decide. As a matter of practice it answers best to allow six as 

 the maximum number of points ; but this number is increased 

 to twelve if we allow half-points. Suppose we take two stands 

 of twelve Chrysanthemums, nearly equal ; such a stand contains 

 four rows of flowers, three in a row from front to back. The 

 principal things to consider are depth, size, form, colour, breadth 

 of petal, and freshness. The last point is not the least, as a 

 stale flower losses heavily ; but they have all to be considered, 

 and only flowers of the very highest merit gain the maximum 

 number. It may very well happen, then, that a flower is not 

 good enough for 6, and too good for only 5 points ; therefore it 

 should have 5l 2 . The judge has all the standards of excellence 

 in his mind, and speedily disposes of the blooms. Beginning 

 at the left-hand corner, the flower in the back row receives, 

 say, 5 points, the middle one 4 J, the front one 4. He jots this 

 down, 13^, and goes on to the next, say 4J, and 4 = 13 

 points, and so on to the end. He may have to consider the 

 depth of a flower in proportion to its width ; and a loose flower 

 might lose a point or so against a more solid one, &c. 



In judging fruit or vegetables the same number of points may 

 be taken ; quality and freshness taking the highest points, and 

 all through in a close competition tasteful arrangement must 

 count for something. The contrast or harmony of colours in a 

 stand of flowers, or the cleanliness of trays and other surround- 

 ings, may all help to win half a point, and in a close competition 

 half a point may win a place. 



The subject I have had to treat of is quite familiar to me in 

 practice ; but I felt when I began to deal with it on paper it 

 w^ould be a very difficult one, and the measure of my failure 

 proves it so to be. A good cultivator and a successful exhibitor, 

 if he has anything of a judicial mind, soon becomes a good 

 judge with a little practice. He would not attempt to judge an 

 entire exhibition by himself at first ; but run him at first in 

 double harness with an experienced judge, and he can stand 

 alone very soon. If I have brought out only a few points worthy 

 of discussion, the feeble attempt that I have made may not be 

 altogether in vain. 



