246 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 16, 1886. 
wire an easy bend of say 1 inch from the straight ; this gentle 
curve holds the blooms free from each other. Of course the two 
longest wires are bent in an opposite direction ; then bind fine 
wire around the stem and the stout wire, and the blooms will be 
kept in the proper position, and can be set into the cups at will. 
The front or shorter flower should have a leaning towards the front 
when staged on the boards. All the leaves being retained on each 
stem much improves the appearance of this class of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums. Arranged and fixed in the manner described the flowers 
travel securely any distance. Only the cups containing the water 
are used in staging these types. Uniformity in the size of the 
blooms is a point to consider as being necessary to insure success, 
and an harmonious arrangement of the colours should be adopted. 
A white and a deep lilac or a purple go well together ; never place 
two pinks or two yellows close together. 
Naming should be done with accuracy ; misnaming causes much 
confusion in the season following, if not at the time. An exhibitor 
not naming his flowers correctly often causes nurserymen much 
trouble and annoyance. Many people go to shows and see flowers 
well shown ; they take the names and order the varieties, conse¬ 
quently, if wrongly named at the show, when the plants bloom in 
the following season they are quite different to those expected, 
because the nurseryman has sent the varieties true to name. Hence 
there is annoyance to the purchaser as well as to the nurseryman ; 
and it behoves all growers of Chrysanthemums to be particular in 
naming their specimens. There are various methods of naming the 
flowers adopted by growers, but the most satisfactory way that I 
am acquainted with is that adopted by the Kingston Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Society. It is stipulated in its schedules that all names must 
be written upon labels supplied by it, thus uniformity in the 
naming is insured in all classes of cut blooms in the show. Those 
-supplied by this Society are adhesive, about 3 inches long by 1| 
inch wide, each label bordered with a narrow blue line. This 
ornamentation is purely a matter of choice as regards the colour, 
but the method is good, as when the blooms are arranged in the 
stands at home the names, plainly written, are fixed on the board 
in front of them, when if any bloom has to be removed for con¬ 
venience in packing its proper position is easily found again by the 
fixed label ; hence the advantage of adhesive labels. Some growers 
have small cards with the names printed upon each ; this is an 
excellent plan to enable the public to ascertain the names, but 
they are liable to be lost when laid loosely on the stand ; also too 
much time is taken up on the morning of the show in placing them 
in their relative positions. I prefer the adhesive labels to all other 
methods of naming. 
Attempts have been made by persons desirous of initiating a 
change of arranging the blooms in stands by staging them in a more 
natural manner, but the best attempt I have seen has ended in a 
failure. Such inventors may be pushed to adopt a fresh scheme 
because they cannot accomplish the dressing of the flowers in a 
satisfactory manner, therefore I attach little importance to the 
innovations. Societies have offered prizes for blooms staged with¬ 
out dressing and without tubes, but have always failed in their 
objeet—-viz., to obtain a representative collection. Many varieties 
are too weak in the peduncles to admit of their being staged with¬ 
out support, hence the failure. Again, some kinds” produce 
peduncles 9 inches long, and consequently in such instances no 
foliage can be staged with the blooms, rendering them gaunt-look- 
ing objects. I have seen the stands covered with green moss and the 
front edged with Isolepis gracilis, but surely well-grown flowers of 
Chrysanthemums do not require any adornment. The old- 
fashioned plan of placing paper collars under the blooms has be¬ 
come almost obsolete, and a very good thing it is ; they never 
improved their appearance, but rather the reverse. 
STAGING AT THE SHOWS. 
The same care observed in “ preparing for shows ” should be 
followed in staging. Close attention must be given to all small 
matters. The plans as to how the necessary arrangements shall be 
carried out, and what part each person who goes to the show shall 
take in the final arrangements, should be well thought out. The 
most important point is to arrive in good time, so that no rush or 
hurrying over what is to be done need take place. When the show 
is reached unload the boxes from the conveyance as carefully as 
possible, and stand them under cover where neither the sun nor 
rain can harm them, and also be sure they are not placed in the 
way of any other exhibitor, thereby interfering with his con¬ 
venience. Let it be borne in mind that all exhibitors have an 
equal right, or should have, to any privileges for the quick dispatch 
of minor matters in connection with staging. Be careful to exer¬ 
cise the greatest civility to all your opponents, and do not be above 
lending a hand to lift a box, or assist in any other reasonable way. 
These amenities go a long way towards establishing a friendly 
feeling amongst exhibitors, and thereby making the visit to the 
exhibitions so pleasant as to create a desire to attend again. Look 
around for some quiet corner in the building, or a room connected 
therewith, where visitors cannot trouble you, as criticism of the 
flowers at that time interrupts far too much the work in hand. 
Many exhibitors waste much valuable time in walking around 
examining other people’s exhibits and so on. Take one class at a 
time, re-arrange the flowers according to the colours as previously 
decided. This is easily done if the labelling of the blooms has been 
carried out as advised. Each flower should be examined separately, 
brushing off any dust which may have accumulated during transit 
with the brush, using it always in an upward direction in the case 
of incurved blossoms, always finishing off in the centre, which 
tends to preserve the incurved form. Some florets will be almost 
sure to be shaken out of place ; these must be re-arranged with the 
forceps, preserving the form previously acquired, and in the case of 
the Japanese family, if the flowers are at all stale, or even fully 
developed, the florets will, in some instances, be shaken down, 
exposing too much of the centre or eye, which must be filled up. 
This is best done by taking the bloom out of the cup, holding it 
upside down, and giving it a vigorous shake. Place blooms at the 
height previously named ; examine all again to see that no mis¬ 
take has occurred in naming, and especially see that a duplicate 
bloom has not been accidentally placed in the stand where not 
required. Spread over the flowers thin sheets of tissue paper, 
which prevents dust accumulating, and also shades them from the 
sun, shelters from sharp wind and from the gaze of opponents, who 
are often anxious to know what they have to contend against in 
each class, and if they are weak in certain points they can marshal 
their forces, so to speak, to their advantage ; therefore take all 
available means to keep them in the dark until it is too late for 
them to make any alterations in their stands. When all the 
flowers are completed and covered it is time to ascertain the various 
positions the stands are to occupy, so that when staging them no 
confusion need take place, as is often the case where the classes are 
not accurately defined on the tables. All good secretaries make 
this an essential point of observance. Some exhibitors are very 
fond of exposing their flowers as soon as they reach the show, 
staging them at once, thereby exposing themselves too much to the 
chances of defeat. Many exhibitors attempt to fill too many 
classes ; it is far better to make fewer very strong. Always pay 
especial attention to the leading classes, making them as strong as 
possible, even if it can be seen that you are almost sure to win by 
points ; but remember that there is safety in numbers. When the 
time arrives for staging commence with the small classes first, and 
always be punctual, remembering that if exhibitors are not ready 
at the time, the judges are not allowed sufficient time to maketheic 
awards as carefully as they would wish in some cases, as the publir 
object to be kept waiting longer than the stated time for opening 
the show. When staging the flowers be sure that the card denot¬ 
ing the number for each exhibit is in its proper place ; when this 
is ignored confusion often occurs, which might be avoided by using 
a little forethought.—E. Molyneux. 
(To be continued.) 
HEATING BY HOT WATER. 
[Read before the Members of the Preston and Falwood Floral and Horticultural 
Society, August 7th.] 
( Continued from page 221.) 
Temporary Supply Pipes.— When the water pipe which 
feeds the supply tank is fitted with a ball-tap considerable 
labour is saved in filling the pipes and keeping them supplied 
with water. By this method any quantity of water can be 
drawn from the pipes without fear of the boiler suffering by 
being short of water at any time. The pipe from the supply 
should be fitted to the lowest point of the boiler or into the 
return pipe, which is preferable. Where two boilers are working 
side by side, conjointly or separately as occasion may demand, 
the supply pipe should be placed in the return beyond the main 
valves where the two returns unite into one. By so doing the 
one pipe will supply one or both boilers according to whether 
the valves are opened or closed. In large arrangements five or 
six hours and often more are taken up in filling the whole of the 
pipes and boilers by means of one ordinary supply pipe. One is 
sufficient in the majority of schemes, but not in such large ones 
as have been referred to In such instances temporary supply 
pipes should be provided, so that they can be used when it is 
necessary to fill the pipes as quickly as possible. One or more 
of these may be provided, say one in tbe centre and the other at 
the extreme end of tbe pipes. Two-inch pipes should be em¬ 
ployed, but they must be carried as high as the supply tank 
These pipes should be under cover, then when they are not in 
