196 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
I March 7 , 1S89. 
time dinner-table decoration was very rarely seen in private establish¬ 
ments ; what few attempts were made were of a most primitive 
description, still less was it to be met with at exhibitions. Now, it is 
an exception for anyone to go to an exhibition and not find it, and what is 
more attractive ? Visitors linger around and discuss the merits and 
demerits, till one sometimes feels inclined to ask them to pass on and 
let others less fortunate have a peep. I had vases to fill at a time as 
far back as that to which I refer, which were of a most ugly pattern, 
and, try as one would, they rarely looked satisfactory to the dresser 
when finished. I am glad to say such vases are now few and far 
between. This revolution is in a great measure due to the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society and Crystal Palace Company offering, about the year 1868, 
s rbstantial prizes for the best design of floral decoration for a dinner 
table. 1 am not quite sure from which institution the idea emanated. 
The gardener I was then serving under in the south of England tcok 
a trip to London with the object of securing the first prize, but came 
back disappointed, not being first. When, however, I tell you his 
exhibit consisted simply of Marfichal Niel Roses, Iresine Herbsti, with 
a little Maidenhair Fern interspersed, it will give you some idea of the 
style then necessary to obtain a handsome second prize. Still, he learnt 
a lesson by going, as he saw other tastes and styles, which enabled him 
after a few trials to obtian the much-coveted first place. I hrd never 
seen a competition of this nature till about 1874. I was then living in 
Buckinghamshire, and obtained leave to run up to the Royal Botanic 
Society to assist my old master, who was exhibiting. This certainly 
opened my eyes, and when I think of the style even then, compared 
with the present day, the difference is marvellous. The stands were 
then of a very heavy clumsy description, and it required a great deal of 
skill to dress them properly. There were too many side, or intermediate, 
trumpets ; the stands were too short to show anything like distinctness 
between the dressing of the base, intermediate trumpets, or hanging 
baskets, as the case might be, and the top trumpets—in fact, it was 
cn masse. We have now stands of the simplest character, which make 
the operation much easier for the dresser. The stands should vary in 
height, the centre one, if three are used, being some 4 inches higher 
than the two ends. To dress a table to completion, a few small trumpets 
or baskets should be placed outside the stands, running lengthways of 
the table, and a spray or “ buttonhole ” should be placed in very small 
glasses for each guest. I am well aware of the many other ways of 
dressing a table which have sprung into existence of late years, such 
as placing a bordering of Ferns and flowers, or leaves, Grasses, &c., 
shaped in all manner of designs on the tablecoth ; but, to my mind, 
nothing approaches the stands for effect if lightly dressed. 
I now come to the actual dressing of the stands, and would wish 
particularly to impress on young beginners the one essential point if 
success is aimed at, and that is the selection of colours. You may easily 
have too many, but it would be difficult to have too few. Whether for 
the family dinner table or for competition, nothing is more distasteful 
than to see in one stand or vase from ten to a dozen, and sometimes 
more, different shades of colour. The vase, may be perfect as regards 
the dressing (that is in the quantity of material used and style of 
arrangement), but if blues and violets, pinks and yellows, reds and 
crimsons happen to come together, such a conglomeration of colouring 
is produced as any lady—and I may say ladies are generally well versed 
in this art—would condemn. In a competition such an effect would 
simply be ignored. In dressing three stands for competition (it is some 
years now since I did anything of the kind at a private establishment), 
I generally commence with the top trumpets, as these are the most 
tedious, and require to be done very lightly—a few grasses towering up 
for a centre, then a few very light pieces of flower, the colour to harmo¬ 
nise all through the stands alike ; or, for a change, introduce a little 
more colour in the centre stand, and dress the two ends alike. A few 
sprays of a drooping character, either of flower or foliage, should be 
placed round the edge of the trumpet; this gives a good finish to the 
top, which at all times shou'd be so light as to be seen through. Then 
follow in like manner with the side trumpets (if any), which also require 
to be very lightly dressed—three or four small light flowers, a little 
Fernand grass, and it is complete. As to the base, the centre stand 
should be dressed rather bolder than the two ends, as, being taller by 
some 4 inches, it naturally requires it. Place some moss or Selaginella 
over the sand, then select some bold flowers, commencing outside. 
Water Lilies and pink Dipladenias used alternately are very effective : 
but do not stand at these, as there are a host of other flowers that 
answer the purpose. I give this as an example only. A few flowers of 
a deep crimson colour might be introduced for variety’s sake in the 
centre stand, and let the flowers rise gradually towards the centre, but 
not too formally, and use plenty of white for the groundwork—the 
purer the better, as this will show to greater advantage the other colours 
afterwards added. Work a little Fern between the flowers, so that the 
stand may not look naked from any view. A few coloured leaves are 
very effective if placed on the borderingof Fern, and immediately outside 
of Water Lilies or other white flowers. Introduce some lighter flowers 
amongst the heavier ones, letting them stand out boldly. This will 
give great relief, and add wonderfully to the effect. A few light grasses, 
and some of a heavier nature, sparingly used wiil complete the base, 
and for change have a piece of Lygodium scandens or Asparagus 
tenuissimus trailing round the centre stem. I never like more than two 
or three colours in any three stands, unless they are very delicate shades, 
such, for instance, as you find in some of the Orchids, Pelargoniums, &c. 
I have seen some of the sweetest stands dressel with only two colours, 
such as pink and white, and yellow and white, and very cool and refresh¬ 
ing they look for summer decoration ; but for winter I should introduce 
more colour, and so impart a warmth and cheerfulness, a point which 
soon speaks for itself when artificial light is brought to bear upon it. 
Whilst on the subject of artificial light, I may caution young beginners 
against using yellow or the different shades of blue, for however beautiful 
they may appear by daylight, they are very insipid under artificial light, 
losing their true character altogether. Much more might be said on this 
subject, especially on what to use and what not to use. I might have 
given a short list of grasses, foliage, &c., which have proved very effec¬ 
tive, but think most young gardeners can soon grapple with that if once 
they set themselves determinedly to work. 
The discussion which followed this lecture (very much appreciated), 
and the nature of the questions put to Mr. Prewitt, showed that those 
present were thoroughly alive to thi3 important branch of their work, 
and the queries were ably and kindly answered. 
JUDGING COTTAGE GARDENS AND ALLOTMENTS. 
0 v page 148 1 said I would give an example of “ varying the standard 
of value,” in judging different kinds of vegetables in a number of 
gardens and attotments. This will show that justice can be done on 
the lines indicated by “ Judex ” on the same page, though he said the 
method of recording the estimate of merit in two denominators, 
though adapted for judging Chrysanthemums, was “not suited for 
judging mixed collections of fruit, where several species of different 
values are combined.” He then suggested a method, and a very good 
one, of “ giving each dish its intrinsic worth.” It will be seen that the 
relative value of different kinds of vegetables was admitted in this ex¬ 
ample of garden judging, in which fruit was included, and it was thought 
by most, if not all persons interested in the matter—and they were very 
numerous—that substantial justice was done. In this case one de¬ 
nominator was considered sufficient, but in exceedingly close contests of 
either Chrysanthemums or collections of fruit, the very slight differences 
that may be discoverable could unquestionably be better expressed in 
two columns. “ Judex ” makes four points equal to one mark, I make 
four threepences equal to one shilling, and 1 accord a different standard 
of value to different kinds of produce the same as he does : how then 
can his method be suitable and mine “ not suitable ? ” The difference 
appears to be in terms alone, not in substance. 
I will reproduce what appeared last July in the small amateur penny 
paper, Garden-Work, and the number (228) containing the entire 
article can be had by post for ljd., from the office of this Journal. 
“ Societies established for creating an interest in, and promoting the 
better cultivation of cottage gardens and allotments are worthy of 
countenance and support ; and the well-disposed persons who are able 
to contribute to the very desirable object in view are engaged in a good 
work. Local shows at which cottagers stage the produce of their 
gardens and plots create a wholesome rivalry among the cultivators, and 
great improvement is soon apparent in cropping and culture. 
“ One of the best and best-managed of these local organisations with 
which we are acquainted is the Bishop’s Waltham Horticultural Society, 
of which Mr. E. Molyneux, the famous Chrysanthemum grower and ex¬ 
hibitor, is the Honorary Secretary. 
“ It may be said, incidentally, that Chrysanthemum growing is only 
one part of the duties of this able gardener, who cultivates various 
other plants, also fruit and vegetables, equally well, and has won many 
prizes for them. His employer, Mr. W. H. Myers, Swanmore Park, 
desirous of seeing a contented peasantry on his estate and in the sur¬ 
rounding neighbourhood, encourages his gardener to give all the 
assistance he can to the society and its members. 
JUDGING COTTAGE GARDENS. 
“ Given forty-nine gardens entered in competition for twenty-four 
prizes, the gardens so widely scattered over six or seven parishes that it 
was necessary to traverse about forty miles to reach them, it is but 
natural to suppose that there are persons who would like to know how 
the work was done in one day. It was twelve hours of close mental 
work. A glance across a garden and a guess at the value of its contents 
does not suffice to do it j ustice when the gardens in competition are 
several miles apart. Every crop in every garden has to be appraised 
and its value set down in figures, and as there were more than thirty 
varieties of vegetables and bush fruits in some of the gardens, it will be 
apparent that no time could be lost. 
“ It may be stated that, for the purpose of putting all the competitors 
on a level, the day of inspection was kept secret till the morning 
previous, on which day each competitor received a post-card, so that one 
evening only was allowed for trimming up. This had been taken ad¬ 
vantage of, as might be seen by the freshly clipped hedges and general 
cleanliness of the paths and beds. The contrast between the gardens in 
and out of the competition was most marked, the former well cropped, 
neat, creditable, and enjoyable ; many of the latter ill-cropped, weedy, 
unkempt, and unattractive. It was impossible not to observe the 
difference, nor could there be any doubt whatever that the promoters 
and contributors of the garden prizes were engaged in an undertaking at 
once laudable and beneficial. 
“The principle on which the judging was done differed somewhat 
from that which is generally followed. It is customary to give either 
three or six points as the standard of merit of all vegetables, and then as 
they fall from that standard to enter the figures accordingly. A standard 
of three marks is quite inadequate for working from, as the gradations in 
merit cannot be expressed with sufficient exactitude. A standard of six is 
far better; but as all vegetables when grown in the best manner are not 
