126 
THE FLORIST. 
instances (notwithstanding its properties as to form and bottom), 
place it low on account of its colour. This is simply prejudice, 
especially as some judges, in their decisions, have for years placed 
Trafalgar, a flower with a scarlet feather, long cup, and tinged 
bottom, at the head of the class. Colour is not to be looked at, ex¬ 
cepting all other points are equal in each case, and then I should 
certainly give the preference to a dark flower. The same remarks 
equally apply to byblomens. 
Roses should be judged in a similar manner, giving the preference 
to a bright scarlet. Some flowers cannot be classed with either 
roses or byblomens, consequently they ought to be excluded from 
competition. Tricoloured bizarres ought not to be allowed to be 
shewn as stage flowers. 
Flamed Flowers .—A flamed Tulip ought to have a beam up the 
centre of the petal the colour of the feathering, or as near it as pos¬ 
sible. A pale beam detracts much from the merits of the flower : the 
beam ought to throw out branches on each side, the more numerous 
the better, provided the ground-colour is distinctly seen between each. 
The beam ought never to come out at the top of the petal, but should 
stop short before reaching it, and taper off in small branches into 
the feathering, shewing between the feather and the top of the beam 
the ground-colour. The inside ought to be particularly examined in 
order to see that it corresponds with the outside in all its markings, 
as it frequently happens that the colour from the beam runs into the 
white, and nothing is apparent but the self colour. The more work, 
or rather pencilling, in the outside and inside the better, provided 
the colours are distinct. Great care ought also to be taken to ascer¬ 
tain that, in the inside, the distinct pencillings and colour run to the 
bottom of the petal, as it too often happens that this portion very- 
much partakes of the self. The remarks just made apply also to the 
colour of the feather. Colour, as has been stated, must be regarded 
as a secondary consideration, other points being equal. 
Pans. —In judging pans of six blooms, which ought to consist of 
three feathered and three flamed flowers, one in each class, each 
flower ought to be carefully examined, comparing feathered bizarre 
with feathered bizarre, and the same with the remainder; and should 
the pans be equal, that is, each competitor excel in three varieties, 
then the pan which has the majority of feathered flowers is to be de¬ 
clared the winner. The practice of putting a self in each pan is 
quite out of place: breeders or seifs ought to be shewn separately. 
The breeder pans ought to consist of an equal number of each class, 
all distinct varieties: if more than one of each, the pans should be 
disqualified. 
Breeders. —As breeders are now generally shewn for the encou¬ 
ragement of new varieties and liberal prizes given, I will here give a 
few directions as to what ought to guide the judges. 
In \he first place form, size, and bottom, are indispensable. The 
petals and base ought to possess the same properties as those laid 
down for broken flowers. 
The ground colour of breeders should only be taken into consider- 
