PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION. 
31 
PLANTS TOR EXHIBITION. 
A Correspondent, who is desirous of growing a collection of 
plants for exhibition, has written to us for information on the sub¬ 
ject ; and as we gladly observe a laudable spirit of emulation gain¬ 
ing ground among gardeners, with the support and countenance 
of employers, there cannot be a doubt of the importance of the 
question; we will therefore endeavour to point out what seems to 
be essential matters in the commencement of such an object. 
The first advice we would offer a beginner is to attempt no more 
than existing conveniences will enable to be done well. The 
greatest preventive to success in the management of plants, is 
crowding them ; the growing desire, which takes possession of all 
who begin the pursuit, to obtain everything new or beautiful, is 
eventually the great error on which so many founder. Let it then 
be first ascertained what space is at command, and afterwards de¬ 
termine on the most desirable class of plants adapted to the conve¬ 
nience, which once settled, should be strictly adhered to, unless, in¬ 
deed, increased facilities offer, when, of course, an increase of the 
present stock, or the adoption of another, will only be the natural 
result. The schedules of the various societies offer inducements 
few can withstand; but then it should be remembered they are 
also arranged to suit growers of nearly every capacity : and there 
is far more satisfaction and credit attached to the first prize of a 
small collection ably contested, than to a second or third for a 
greater number of plants, obtained simply because there were not 
more competitors. 
In the cultivation of all productions for this purpose, it is pre¬ 
sumed that the utmost amount of skill and attention is given 
them that the cultivator possesses, and therefore any one who 
prides himself on his abilities as a successful grower should not 
be satisfied with anything short of the nearest approach to per¬ 
fection it is possible to attain ; repudiating altogether the prin¬ 
ciple of showing because no one else is likely to be there ; as also 
the still more disreputable practice, but too prevalent, of trickery 
and evasion of the rules by which the exhibition is managed. It 
should be borne in mind, that the subjects produced on these 
occasions are to be regarded wholly as specimens of the exhi¬ 
bitor’s skill as a cultivator, brought into juxta-position with those 
of his neighbour’s. Thinking this, let any one weigh his own 
