50 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGI8T. 
although the flowers can be changed, and, to a certain extent, the method of 
filling, still the outline is the same. Hence the charm of variety. 
It is, besides, on many tables necessary to have more than a centre, 
according to the size of the table. We have always, in the a la Rasse way, 
had five and sometimes seven plants and designs with flowers—that is, three 
centres and four small plants at 
the corners to balance. Now I 
think, as the March type is evi¬ 
dently exhausted, it would have 
been a wise regulation if the Hor¬ 
ticultural Society had made ar¬ 
rangements to have a few small 
separate tables for the first prize, 
to be ornamented with five or 
seven, as the exhibitor might 
think proper. There is also one 
consideration that has been over¬ 
looked in this—the tables should 
be the same height as an ordi¬ 
nary dining-table, and the Judges 
should be seated in judging, for, 
although one design may look well 
when looked down upon from a 
standing point of view, its appear¬ 
ance is very poor when seen by 
the parties seated at a dining- 
table. The March vase is not 
free from this fault, although its 
lightness prevents any obstruction 
to the sight; yet the principal 
parts of the flowers in the top 
tier are not seen, particularly in 
the clumsy imitations now made 
and sold for these, and which are 
mostly 2 feet in height, with a 
top tier as wide as the bottom, 
and the eye, in looking up, catches 
only the bottom of the top dish. 
It is not a little surprising to 
find how far we are behind in this, 
if we compare our modern forms with the old Venetian contrivances. None of 
the designs that have been exhibited come up to the old-fashioned but elegant 
tripod candelabra, as represented in Jig. 1. There is one glass on the top, 
another circular one below, and a tray for placing this on, with flowers on the 
level of the table when required. On a round table this is perfection, because 
it dispenses with, or rather combines, both light and flowers in a small 
space. The top can be taken out and one single flower put in, or climbers 
may be entwined round the legs. I merely bring this forward to explain 
how many different ways and how desirable variety is for this particular 
purpose. 
To add to the interest of this subject we find Mr. Kelk offering a prize of 
£10 for a handsome well-grown plant. Here, again, if the tables were separate, 
the exhibitor could be allowed to use his own discretion—that is, say for the 
first prize, one table would still be sufficient for the arrangement of the single 
Fig. 1. 
