408 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
NOTcmbec 1 ,1894 
of merit, but I am not a believer in this doctrine of extricating them¬ 
selves out of a difiSculty. There is a first, and it should be found. 
How TO Judge Blooms. 
I will now give a few plain instructions how to proceed. In all 
well-appointed shows the exhibits in one class are placed together, or as 
near as possible, except under exceptional circumstances. The judges 
should first examine the rules and conditions relating to the exhibits, 
such as the specification and classification of certain varieties being 
under the National Chrysanthemum Society regulations, or anything of 
a special kind. This is important, and may save some trouble and 
unpleasantness afterwards. There are certain conditions that judges 
must adhere to as long as they are in the employment of any particular 
society. A walk round the room is then taken to obtain, as it were, 
the key bloom in each section. This cursory glance enables a judge to 
understand better the class of blooms he has to deal with in this 
particular exhibition. A mere glance at some of the competing stands 
is sufficient to know that they will not require closer scrutiny. Those 
that necessitate a further inspection are noted in some way peculiar to 
individual judges. In some cases the stands are pushed back or drawn 
forward an inch or two ; where competition is strong this is a saving of 
time. If a second glance is not sufficient to settle the position of each, 
then the individual merit of each bloom is considered. Instead of 
taking each bloom separately from left to right, beginning at the back 
row, I commence at the left hand end of the stand, taking the blooms 
in rows of three, upwards or downwards it matters not, as long as the 
practice is the same throughout the whole show. Where, however, a 
future reference is required of individual blooms I adopt the former 
practice, entering the names and their value in my notebook. Experi¬ 
ence teaches, though, that this plan is not so expeditious as that of taking 
the blooms in rows of three. The judges fix upon a maximum number 
of points, which is generally six, made according to the key bloom 
noted previously. 
Now comes the question of allotting the points. Of course a 
beginner should have made himself acquainted with the properties 
contained in Chrysanthemum blooms—such as size, depth, solidity, 
breadth of petal, finish, freshness, and colour. Size is not determined 
by diameter alone, for the depth is taken into consideration. For 
instance, a bloom of any of the “ Queen ” family 5 inches in diameter 
and but 2^ inches in depth would not be termed a full-sized bloom, and 
would be out of proportion, and could not receive the maximum 
number of points. If this bloom was 4 inches deep, the florets smooth, 
incurving properly and solid, it would be entitled to rank as of first 
size. If a bloom has size, but lacks some other point, perhaps dingy in 
colour, a few days too old, it cannot be called perfect, it is not worth 
six points, but five do not do it justice, then five and a half should be 
given, and so on throughout. Some persons may think that judging by 
half points is ridiculous, and even those who favour the system of point 
judging will not admit the advantage of half, let alone quarter points. 
It is however, in my opinion, the only way of dealing accurately with 
all the blooms. 
Commencing then at the row indicated, a bad Barbara is not worth 
more than two points. Princess of Wales in the middle row is good, 
but a trifle pale in colour, therefore not perfect, and so is allotted five 
and a half points. The back row bloom is a huge Empress of India, 
but lacks finish, and is somewhat stale, so four and half points will 
do this justice. The whole row thus totals twelve points. The points 
are added up at the finish, an! that having the highest number wins. 
Suppose two stands are equal in number of points, “ What then is 
done ? ” I fancy I hear someone say. Why, go over them again, com¬ 
mencing at the opposite end of the stand ; if they total an equal number 
again the arrangement of colour and style of setting up the blooms 
would decide the difference. Some judges with a limited experience 
commence to point high early in the season, and also at any show ; but 
as they proceed they so often find blooms of the same variety much 
superior to those to which they gave the maximum number of points to 
but a short time previously. Here, then, is an instance of the advan¬ 
tage of taking a quiet look round before commencing the awards to 
obtain the key bloom. Throughout all sections of cut hlooms the 
same principle should be adopted. The various points of excellence 
should be well studied, always bearing in mind that quality is of far 
more consequence than mere size. 
Next to this, if you have been a cultivator, remember that when an 
exhibitor wishes for information, especially if he is a disappointed one, 
do not fail to give it, as you may have reaped much benefit from the 
pointing out of faults in your own exhibits in years gone by. A super¬ 
cilious judge is not admired by his colleagues, neither is he respected by 
exhibitors nor approved by his employers. A man that makes himself 
popular as an exhibitor cannot fail to do likewise as a judge if he carries 
with him the same principles. 
I had intended to include a few hints upon judging plants and 
groups in the present article, but that must be held over until the next 
issue. —E, Molyneux. 
Spohts. 
I HAVE been asked by a friend who has a sport from Maiden’s Blush 
and one from Madame Edouard Key if these Japanese Chrysanthemums 
have already sported. In looking over my notes I cannot find that 
either of them has done so yet, there seems to be a recollection that the 
first named did some years ago. It will be a great convenience if any 
readers of the Journal can supply the information desired, as in the 
case of an affirmative the new sport will not be put on the market.—P. 
National Cheysanthemum Society. 
The General Committee of this Society held a meeting on Monday 
evening last at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, when Mr. Ballantine 
occupied the chair. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been 
read and confirmed, Mr. Jones of Lewisham handed over to the Chairman 
a handsome silver cup, which he offers for competition at the Society’s 
show next week. It was announced that the new supplemental catalogue 
will be published this week, and that it will supersede the one at 
present in use for all official purposes. The Secretary also announced 
that the prize money awarded at the recent October exhibition at the 
Aquarium amounted to £37 lOs., and had been duly paid to the winners. 
The following list of medals awarded on the same occasion by the 
Arbitration Committee was submitted for confirmation and passed 
Silver-gilt medals to Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, H. Cannell & Sons, 
J. Burrell, H. Berwick, B. S. Williams & Sons; silver medals to Messrs. 
L. H. Calcott, Cutbush & Sons, Cheal & Sons, H. Deverill, W. J. 
Godfrey, H. J. Jones, S. Mortimer, Spooner & Son, and T. S. Ware; 
bronze medals to Messrs. Wyatt and Anstiss for the various meritorious 
stands exhibited by them. 
Since the last meeting, when income amounting to upwards of £169 
had been received, a further sum of £122 4s. 6d. has come in, making a 
total of over £291. The annual dinner, at which Sir Edwin Saunders 
has consented to preside, will take place at Anderton’s Hotel on the 
29th November. Stewards to assist at the forthcoming exhibition were 
elected, the gentlemen following forming the show Committee—Messrs. 
Taylor, Turk, Reeve, Challis, D. B. Crane, H. Briscoe Ironside, Boyce, 
Boyce jun., Halse, Geo. Stevens, Moorman, and Witty, It is hoped that 
exhibitors will get their staging finished in good time, as it is particularly 
desired that the judging be comfhenced by 11 A.M. A Sub-Committee 
consisting of ten ordinary members and the officers of the Society was 
elected to proceed with the preparation of the new schedule for 1895. 
Eighteen new members and Fellows were elected, making a total of 
ninety-nine ordinary members, and nine Fellows who have joined since 
the beginning of the year. 
Newcastle-on-Tyne Chrysanthemum Show. 
The executive of the Newcastle-on-Tyne Horticultural Society have 
decided to add another show to their programme in the form of a 
Chrysanthemum exhibition. The first of what it is hoped will prove 
a long series will be held on November 21st and 22nd. Schedules can 
be obtained from Mr. Jas. J, Gillespie, jun.. Cross House Chambers, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
Chrysanthemums Damping. 
Talking with Mr. Mease the other day about damping blooms, he 
gave as his opinion that mere dampness of the atmosphere, especially 
externally, was not so much the cause of damping as was the undue 
watering of the plants, thus causing the absorption of too much moisture, 
and that caused a sort of minute blistering of the petals that was the 
actual decaying process called damping. This blistering is much more 
evidenced on the dark coloured sorts than on those of lighter hue, and it 
may be said, thereby hangs a mystery that is perhaps not easily solved. 
This good grower likes to keep his blooms well up under the glass, also 
to be sparing with water to any varieties that have a tendency to damp. 
Certainly the weather of late has given large blooms trouble.—A. D. 
Large Chrysanthemum Blooms. 
We are very apt in connection with our appreciation of these flowers 
to run very much in grooves. Thus we have gone invariably for form 
and finish in incurved blooms, and almost equally for use and stuff in 
the Japanese. It has really become a moot point whether these latter 
are not large enough for any purpose. That the tendency to pro¬ 
duce huge flowers has been fostered by judgments and certificates 
favouring size there can be no doubt, and the most beautiful Japanese 
ever seen would now stand little chance of notice or of commendation 
unless the blooms come up to the now favoured dimensions. May we 
not now ask for denser flowers, more of depth and of refinement of 
petal ? Certainly as much of variation in form as can be found, but all 
the same, neither merely big or gaudy, but having such qualities as we 
look for in the incurved varieties—depth, solidity, and finish. Those 
who have seen the chief novelties of the present season find generally 
very large blooms, and in many respects there is a good deal of sameness 
in form and colour. If the size feature is still to be encouraged even 
the new enlarged boards will need still farther enlarging, a condition of 
things that could not be regarded with other than strong alarm. 
Probably there are few growers or exhibitors who would wish for, much 
less advocate, employing larger boards than are the enlarged ones of 
to-day. Obviously then we must set up higher and more exact standards 
in judging Japanese flowers, and he will be a courageous judge who 
will be the first to bell the cat.—A. D, 
Chrysanthemum Prospects Round Bolton, 
The Chrysanthemum season is now fast approaching, and bids fair in 
this district to be of the same interesting and absorbing character as it 
has been in previous years. The cold, wet summer at the time filled 
many of our growers with feelings of disgust and the outlook was not 
promising, but thanks to the sunny weather of September our fears 
have disappeared and very fine displays are anticipated, which will 
more than repay for the labour and anxiety connected with the culture 
of the Chrysanthemum round a town which is not noted for its pure 
atmosphere. It is not my intention to enumerate what I found at each 
