December 20, 1394. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
569 
months.” In pointing out the necessity of this regulation, Mr. Bateman 
said it had come to their notice that gardeners had exhibited Roses 
under their master’s name in one class, and also under their own in 
another. This motion was seconded by Mr. Burch, aud a considerable 
discussion followed. The Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain said Mr. Bateman had 
rather overstated the case. He was not sure that any gardener had 
exhibited his employer’s flowers as his own, but an instance had occurred 
in the north when it was thought there was a strong temptation to do 
so. Sir Alexander Arbuthnot observed that such a resulation would 
probably come in conflict with the by-laws of many affiliated societies. 
Mr. C. E. Shea said that in the National Chrysanthemum Society the 
gardeners were allowed to exhibit their employer’s blooms and plants, 
and unless this rule of exhibiting was adopted they (the N.C.S.), would 
lose five-sixths of their exhibits. Mr. Gr. Gordon also strongly supported 
the gardeners, and remarked that if the suggested alteration was 
made the National Rose Society would shut out many exhibitors. Mr. 
D'Ombrain dissented, as did others, some gentlemen remarking that 
gardeners may exhibit as cottagers if they cut blooms from their own 
garden. On being put to the meeting the motion was carried. 
In connection with Mr. Lindsell’s motion to consider and alter 
Regulation 13 some difliculty arose, owing to the mover’s unavoidable 
absence from the previous Committee meeting, when formal notice 
should have been given. Mr. Lindscll ultimately moved the following 
resolution, ^that after the word “ arbitration ” in Regulation 13 be 
TABLE DECORATIONS. 
PEEHA.P3 a few words on the floral decoration of tables will not be 
out of place at the approach of the festive season. Mr. Dunkin has at 
times given us some practical advice on the above subject, and I hope 
he will do so again. The exchange of ideas on what I consider to be 
one of the most important parts of a gardener’s work has a mutual 
advantage. Some years ago it was the practice to mix the colours. It 
might be the same now in some places, but my experience of late years 
is quite the reverse, all one colour being the most popular. I find that 
yellow and scarlet are the most admired colours that I have used. 
White requires a good groundwork of green to show it, hut when done 
well is very effective. Pink I have not used much, but should say it 
would harmonise well with a service to match. 
For embellishing a table there is, in my opinion, nothing to surpass 
the Poinsettias. My advice to beginners is to grow Poinsettias, as they 
will find them most useful. Henry Jacoby Zonal Pelargonium I grow 
extensively in 5-inch pots, and if managed well the plants flower freely 
the whole of the winter. Cut single pips of the flower off with a pair of 
scissors, and others in a short time will spring up and fill their places. 
Then there are Pompon Chrysanthemums, one I may mention in parti¬ 
cular being St. Michael, a most charming yellow. Then comes the 
double and single Primulas, Bouvardias, Carnations, and others too 
numerous to mention in these brief notes. 
FIG. 93,— TABLE DECOEATIONS. 
inserted the words,” hut it shall he upon the exhihitor to lohom ohjection 
has been raised to refute such ohjection." This amendment on being 
put to the meeting was lost. Mr. 0. G. Orpen and the Rev. A. Foster- 
Melliar, too, had propositions to make in respect to this Regulation, 
which complicated matters so much that not a few persons present had 
some difficulty in grasping the situation. Mr. Shea, however, with 
admirable precision, put everyone right, and eventually the proposition 
made by Mr. Orpen in respect to buds for budding, and Mr. Foster- 
Melliar’s motion as to an amateur changing his residence, were carried. 
So that Regulation 13, as amended, now reads :—“No person shall he 
allowed to compete as an amateur who sells Rose plants (ex^^P^ when 
giving up gwssession of the place where they grow, and in the case of 
new seedlings or sports'), Rose blooms, or huds for budding, nor any 
person in the employ of a nurseryman. Any objection raised as to the 
rightful qualification of an exhibitor shall be referred to the Committee 
for arbitration, and their decision shall be final and binding on both 
parties.” The sentences printed in italics are the additional clauses to 
the existing regulation, 
Mr. Lindsell also made the following proposition “ That it be an 
instruction to the Committee to insert in the entry form, to be signed by 
exhibitors, a declaration that the regulations have been strictly adhered 
to.” Mr. Lindsell said he had received letters from a number of 
gentlemen in support of the insertion of such a declaration. Mr. Shea 
observed that he could not extend his sympathy to the writers of those 
letters ; and Mr. D’Ombrain, with others, likewise opposed the motion, 
which was lost. 
The Chaieman then announced the result of the ballot, which was 
to the effect that, in addition to the names printed on the balloting 
list, the Rev. A, Foster-Melliar and Mr. E. B. Lindsell had been 
elected Vice-Presidents with 34 and 27 votes respectively, Mr. H. V. 
Machin being rejected, and Messrs. T. F, Rivers and A. Slau’ghter on 
the Committee. 
It was decided that arrangements be made to hold the Southern 
Provincial Exhibition at Reading in 1896, and the northern one at 
Ulverstone, 
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting, after which 
the members of the National Rose Society held their annual dinner. 
Mossing the table does not find favour here. I think tracing 
designs are much cleaner and pleasing to the eye than banks of moss, 
which oftentimes make the table look too heavy. It is a good system 
to find out how many persons there are for dinner, then form an idea 
as to the size of the table, and after learning what service your employer 
wishes to use, decide your colours to match accordingly. Designs you must 
fix according to circumstances. Mark out the centre of the tible, get 
your principal points measured from that, and then the working out of 
the rest will come quite easy. Points of Box shoots I generally use for 
tracing. The width of the tracing varies with me according to size of 
flowers used, just wide enough for a margin of green to show each side 
of flowers. In the case of white flowers more green should be employed, 
and the inside of design where the tablecloth shows white ought to 
have a few fronds of Maidenhair Fern spread on, which will display 
the flowers to better advantage. 
The design depicted in the illustration (fig. 93) is for a table to seat 
ten or twelve persons. The references are as follows:—No. 1, Cocos 
Weddelliana, and hanging lamp with shade; No. 2, silver candlesticks 
with red shades; No. 3, two small Crotons, The Countess; No. 4, six 
dishes of fruit. Lines round candlesticks and plants, and ail straight 
lines, tracing of Box with single flowers of Henry Jacoby Pelargonium 
laid on. No. 5, small glasses filled with small truss of Henry Jacoby 
Pelargonium, intermixed with Maidenhair Fern. 
The different narrow-leaved Crotons, Aralias, Cocos Weddelliana 
are my favourite table plants, and Pandanus Veitchi is most useful in a 
small state. Asparagus plumosus nanus and Cissus discolor are some¬ 
times very serviceable for winding round candlesticks and centrepieces. 
—Wm. Robeets, The Gardens, Peniarth, 
GROWING, SHOWING, AND JUDGING. 
Ix default of some more competent person I do not like that “E. K., 
Dxihlinf interesting notes (page 614) on these matters of so much 
importance should pass unnoticed. 
There is no doubt that the “big batallions” if equally handled 
must in peaceful conflicts, as in war, have the greatest prospect of 
