
There are nearly always sections for first 
bloomers, and I should warn you that the judges 
will be wary of a “first bloomer” which measures 
ten or twelve inches across. 
Collections: you might want to enter three of 
your DuPonts, three girl types, or three genera- 
tions of one plant—the granny, parent, and baby. 
Or sometimes the collection class will call for col- 
lections of any five plants. It is a mistake here 
to enter just any five or any three plants you 
happen to have regardless of size, variety or in- 
terest. Try to link them together somehow. 
When shows are staged, it is usually custo- 
mary to inform all entrants well in advance of the 
various classes and sections which will be avail- 
able. These classes are usually determined by a 
local club committee and are more or less in- 
tluenced by the size of the club, and the interest 
of the members. If many members grow plants 
hydroponically, there might be a class for this 
group, for instance. Or if the members are far 
enough advanced for separate classes for self- 
grown seedlings, leaf-propagations and crown divi- 
sions, those may be included. 
Now, you all, before I wind up this little 
epistie, am going to say a word about something 
called show “know-how.” 1. If you round up all 
your violet treasures and arrive with them at the 
show to discover that your Pink Beauty is a blot 
on the landscape in the Pink Beauty class, juggle 
your entries around and enter it in some other 
class. 2. Don’t leave your young plants at home. 
Remember that a large number of entries in the 
“home grown” classes will encourage other violet 
hobbyists to try to grow their own, too. To my 
way of thinking, this one phase of violetry is the 
most rewarding of all. 3. Don’t be timid about 
showing your planis. How many times have I 
heard women (and men, too) moan that “their 
plants at home looked better than the ones that 
took blue ribbons” in some class or other, but they 
didn’t bring them because they didn’t think they 
were show material. 
With a little thought and imagination, there 
will probably be a class where you may enter 
nearly every plant you own. Start now to collect 
accessories to use in your shown next spring. Poke 
around in gift shops while you’re on your vacation 
this summer for handsome containers for potted 
plants. 

