The Daffodil.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 13, 28 September 1910, Page 41

The Daffodil.

EXHIBITING AND STAGING. (By Mr. \\ . F. Bl ( ELAND. Cambrielge.) In writing a few lines about the* loveliest of all spring flowers —the* dafi’o elil- I am not going into the* question of selection, or cultivation, as so much depends on the* soil. situation. climate*, and surroundings, that I leave* these matters in abler hands than mine. Besides, everyone* has got his e»wn ideas on the* .subject, his own wrinkle’s, an I his own conceit. I would like* to say a few words em daffodil exhibit ions, (hi entering the* hall, erne* is at once struck with the* deadly monotony of the* stag-

ing. All tin* exhibits .ook as if they had been ■’chucked" in with a pitch fork, and adjusted with a spirit level. You look in vain for any artistic effect or trace* of individualism; all the exhibits are* intermingled. and yon requir•* a guide* tee point out where* one* begins e>r the* othe*r enels. You see* a pretty little* vase* in erne* exhibit completely overhung by a wretche*el bloom in the mxt hit, that was evidentlv born in senrow and nurtured in convulsion. Good judging is almost impossible*. To add to tin* general Imrreir, every va.se* has a long, carelessly hung label attached i > it with the* name* of the* variety written thereon. I'he* whede* thing looks like* a e*ross between a pliedegraph e>f a lira** band and tin* wiiiehrw of a cheap boot sale*. I wemhl urge* on the* power* that ■be* the* necessity e»f having a eleeent m*n tral space* bed ween each exhibit, ami the wisdom of forbidding hanging labels. Semie* points ought to be given, teiei. for effee*t i ve* staging. I think the* numb *r of blooiihs to be* *h<>W II ill every <*a*e* slmiild be fixed in the* schedule. There* shemld be* no from thre*e* to five business. The* number e»f blooms in each class shemld be* absolutely fixed. Idle* man of large* epiant it ies has epiite* enough ad vantage* in select iem without swamieinj

smaller growers by *heer quantity. \Ve* wemhl all know what we had to meet, ami wemhl all meet on level ground. Then* is a tradition in the schedule that all exhibits have to be staged by a certain hour. But ju*t about this par

ticular time* a lot of exhibiteers alway* rush into the* hall with their ware's, dump them de>wn anywhere* on some* one* else’s exhibit as like* as not ami after slipping the* blooms inlet the vase's and hanging tin* labels, leave* as hurried ly as they came. These people* are* like* the* poor the*\- will be* always with ns. There* is .me thing I wemhl like to impress on the committee, and that is to define the* position that twin (lowers have* to take* up; do they cemnt as two bloemis or erne? This qiiestiem will arise* in a sudden manner some* day. I wemhl like to impress on growers that the older varieties, if wel I grow u and show n. can hold their own with the m*we*r eme*s. if the latter arc not in tiptop order; also that length of stem ami eepiality in that length arc not tin*

oid\ point* of a show bloom, .in | that it is | he lace of the blo.mi that i- jildi!<*l. and not the* back. I he* oulv wax to att lin *m-c<**s in flow er-grow ing i* to love y<mr Hower*, to pet ami fondle* them, to m*.* that th<*ir e*\e*i;\ want i* al om*e* supplied, and that thev are* ever prote*cte*d from their tier

foe. If you do this, they will get to low you, and do their very lw*-t to hold up their heads in pride, and win prizes for you. rhe above remark- about staging refer to the la-t two shows at which I was one of the judges. In conclusion, I would like to say that the days of tech nival objections and disqualifications are pas-ing away, and that it would be a gracious act on the* part of tin* Society to empower tin* judges to amend any amendable defect in any exhibit.