IT IS WORTH REMEMBERING THAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 204, 29 August 1936, Page 13

IT IS WORTH REMEMBERING THAT

In view of the many flower shows tc be hel i lhe next f? v weeks perhaps a few words on the points to watch in staging and choosing blooms to exhibit would be helpful to our many readers:— 4- ❖ Narcissus. Classification: Trumpet daffodils, trumpet as long or longer than the perianth segments. Leedsii cup, not as Jong as the perianth segments. Colour of the cup, white, cream or pale lemon, Incomparabillis.—Cup not less than one-third or not the length of the perianth segments, but cup must be any other colour than white, cream or lemon, viz., yellow, red, yellow and red. Burri.—Cup (provided it is not white, cream or pale lemon) less than one-third the length of the perianth segments, but. not, flat-eyed. Colour of cup other than white, cream, or pale yellow, viz., all yellow, yellow and red, all red. Poelicus.—Flat-eyed, such as the well known “pheasant's-eyed daffodil.” Tazctta.—Flowers clustered two or more on a stem. These are again classified into minor sections such as polyanthus flowered, jonquil hybrids. Points of a show bloom.—The perianth should be flat and the segments of the perianth should be broad and overlapping; circular and not wingy. The cup or trumpet should be in proportion to the perianth and the flower should hold itself at right angles to the stem. The colour, if a yellow, should be clean and rich. Discard a flower that is weak in colour of the perianth. If white, choose a flower that is as pure white as possible. The main points in a bloom is form, then colour, then refinement. A large coarse bloom is not a good flower to exhibit. Minor points are length and substance of the stem. Staging.—Staging blooms is an art and a well staged bloom often catches the judge’s eye, when a badly staged bloom is overlooked. Staging blooms is important in classes of “three in a vase,” or collections. In staging three ito a vase, select blooms of equal size Land strength whenever possible. It is I better to stage three uniform mediumsized blooms than three that differ in size, especially if one of the blooms I completely overshadows the other | two. Always in collections and in | “vases of three,” stage the largest and j boldest flower or flowers at the rear, j selecting the smaller and coloured blooms for the front or centre. The i blooms in the vases should be arranged in triangular fashion, that is I the best of the three on top or in the I centre, and the other two, one on each side, slightly lower in the vase, so as to make the whole three balance. Always face the blooms to the front and [place in each vase a couple of leaves, j Do not let the foliage hide any of the [blooms; this should be placed at the rear of the blooms, and be of sufficient length to give the vase the correct appearance. Perhaps a word here would also be helpful to the many exhibitors. Always stage your exhibits on time, and do not unnecessarily worry the officials. Look around and see if you can help, not hinder. Also don’t be disappointed with the judge’s verdict. Accept his decision sportingly, and if he is asked for advice he will gladly give it. Judges make mistakes, so accept them lin good sporting fashion. Generally [ he gives his services free to help you. * * * [ Polyanthus. Classification: Goldpaced, having centre and edges of bloom golden; fancy, blooms of various hues; Jack-in-the-green, bloom surrounded by a collar-like calyx; Pantaloons, small, curiously-coloured blooms. The properties of a show bloom: Pip (bloom) perfectly flat and round, slightly scalloped on edges, and divided into five or six lobes or segments; tube or throat, thrum-eyed, that is. not showing the pistil; edging and centre of lobes or florets to be even in width, and of same shade as the eyes, and one shade only in the centre. Flower, stem, stiff, strong and erect. Pansies.—Show pansy: Blooms circular, flat and smooth, without wavy or crinkled edges; petals thick, velvety, and lying closely over each other. Principal or ground colour of three lower petals to be the same as the upper two petals. Dark circular blotch in centre of blooms, orange eye- clear, not running; narrow belt to three lower petals, same colour as upper two petals, which may or may not be blotched the same as the lower petals. If you plan! ’ seeds of the tall, giant sunflower now, and then sow seeds of climbing beans at the foot of each sunflower a little later, the beans will use the sunflower stalks to successfully climb on. Spring means planting time and is a busy time, both for the gardener and the seeds man. Next week I will give a talk on seed sowing and selecting and transplanting seedlings. Many useless plants are often on sale, and a few hints on selecting seedlings will save you money and disappointment.