Horticultural shows

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32873, 23 March 1972, Page 12

Horticultural shows

Sir, —• While a solo judge — or two at the most —■ determines the placings in the majority of sections at the Horticultural Society’s shows, it seems that a panel of up to eight women (all named) is repeatedly called upon to decide the issue in the decorative entries. What a waste of womanpower, to say nothing of possible misgivings among the judges themselves. Has the society any comment? — Yours, etc., SUSAN HOGARTH. March 17, 1972. [Mr J. C. Fraser, secretary of the Canterbury Horticul- ■ tural Society, replies: “In the ' floral art classes in the society’s exhibitions the entries are divided up into four sections: open pointed, beginners’ pointed, garden clubs, and non-pointed. One judge and an assistant are appointed to each class. After ! the judging of the various . panels has been completed I the judges, with their ■ assistants, consult together to , select the best floral . arrangement of the show for the ‘Hue ribbon* as well as the best Contemporary arrangement. Usually one judge is allocated to each class, but this year as eight new judges have been elected, they are acting as * assistant judges to give r them more experience.”]