Sweet Peas on the Exhibition Stage.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 8, 23 August 1911, Page 39

Sweet Peas on the Exhibition Stage.

I have for a long time thought that the usual way of exhibiting cut Sweet Peas is far from perfect. There are too many of them in one bunch. In my humble opinion some of the ••backwoodsmen” must go. The almost hereditary right of the flower stalks to be practically the only occupants of the bunch should be* severely limited, and stems with tendrils and leaves ’ mid be admitted side by sick* as representatives of the plant as a whole, and as being most

helpful for the work that the vase has to perform. Tin* crux of the whole question turns upon what this is. Those who agree with me will probably be* willing to consider the advisability of trying a change—not too hurriedly and all at once. but. like* the cautious bather whom we so frequently sec* depicted entering the briny deep with the utmost caution —a toe- a foot no more* at first. So just one or two classes to try what it is like next year. This is all I ask. On the other hand, those* who do not agree with me in my estimate* of the purposes for which cut blooms are gathered together at exhibitions wi'l naturally be reluctant to make the ex periment. and will need to be converted from the fallacy of the present system as tending t«> best materialise their ideals of what a show should do. I expect we arc* to all intents and purposes at one* in what this is. Surely it is to exhibit to an admiring and critical public the beauty of colour ami form, the* vigour and substance of go< d cultivation, the diversity of tints, the poise* and the placing of individual Idooms. the refinement and elegance of a well-made and v.Jell-proportion|*d flower, and last, but far from being the least impcutant. the giving their varied colours to their ow n proper foil or set - off. 'the natural gi*gen of the plant itself, Grasses or Gysophila art* not to be reckoned in the same category. in “my foolish opinion.” In the present system. I submit, the bundles are too overcrowded to allow very much of the individuality of the* variety to be seen. It is as if a blob of colour was the acme* of perfection, and as if all else* wen* secondary. I am very fond of blobs in their place*. When I played cricket. 1 always loved to see a few on <mr opponents’ score-sheet, but I never cared to see* any on our own. I would like* a “few” classes for blobs in every schedule as being the best practical imitation of a colour mass in a garden under the restricted ami artificial surroundings of a tent or hall, but I object when all of them are of this character. I like* to study ami absorb something of the* particular individual charm of each separate variety, and because of this I would welcome* a new departure* in staging Sweet Peas. W hit 1 may call my ideal may be seen in Mr Rol<*ft Bolton’s list for the present year. He* there* give** three illustrations, one* of Torn Bolton, one of ( Lira Curtis, ami one* of Mrs Hardcastle Syke*. In

each three* or four spray- arc* lightly arranged with a tew bit-’ of Sweet Pea foliage*. Could anything be* better? Could any thing -how more c learly the characteristics and beauty of a variety? Ila- not the time* conic vv hen this extraordinarily popular annual may bi* said to have* been admitted into the charmed circle of “florists’ flowers.” wherein individualism is supreme (overdone, their detractors might remark.)? At all e*vents. without arguing cither tor or against this propo-it ion. w< uld not the exhibition il-elf gain if sue 4 a c hange* were mad-.*? < >ne walk-’ round the “National.” and it is only after ( hi siderable difficulty that one -re- the excellence of Thoma- Stevc»i-on*s <>r Thomas Jone-’ magnificent bloom-. Much of their .individual beauty Is lost in the ma--, and I for om* regret to have* it so. Still. I would -a v . have* some old-fashioned big bunches by all means in all -how-; we cannot all get to the trials. It i- there* ♦hat the only proper test of variety a- being good or bad garden plant can l> • made*, and it is this discrimination between -orts that I bold should be the chief bu-iiie-- of our lioral committee, and -o. naturally, had I been present at the la-t general meeting, my sympathies would have* gone out to thee-e who urged that the more visits the otininiltre* could pay to the trials, the sounder would be their judgment. Tho-e* who show may be trusted to look after them-elve*. and probably t hey have* -ecu a- much of the new varieties as the committee have. It is the* public who want guidance the public who do not -how. but who. after all. arc the great support* of this delightful hobby, inasmuch a- th-v have come t«» think that no garden i- a garden without either a good r<»w or some* clumps ot thi-, eweryoiie*’- flower. Joseph Jacob, “'fhe Garde’ll.”