I agree with "W." about the lack of taste in exhibitors at floral fairs or exhibitions. I had the pleasure six years since to be placed on a committee of three, to award premiums on pot plants and cut flowers. P. J. Berckmans (justly celebrated florist and horticulturist, and now in charge of Horticultural Hall in New Orleans Exposition) was one of the three. One lady had eighty-five named varieties of roses jammed and crowded on one medium sized waiter, not a leaf or bit of green - just the roses - so closely packed that it took a truly appreciative person to take in the rarity of her collection, for rare they were and fine specimens. Another with not half the variety had each variety displayed in a champagne glass - those funnel-shaped cut glass. Three of each - a bud, half-opened bud, and a full blown rose - with just foliage enough of its own to show its leaf characteristics, growth, etc., and to add to the rose's attractiveness. I made a table decoration for same fair which carried off first prize. I had an oblong tin trough, 3 inches high and broad, 18x22 inches long.

I placed this on a large waiter, after arranging it full of beautiful flowers as far as the outer edge of the trough extended; in the trough, water and then flowers of delicate structure, tiny ferns, lycopodiums, partridge vine-bloom, lily of the valley, etc. From the inner edge of trough was a mirror which reflected the flowers and looked like a miniature lake, and in center of mirror I placed an exquisite three branching glass Epergne with the cream of my flowers. It had universal praise awarded it. That being six years ago, I have seen the same idea carried out further, having added small glass swans on the mirror as if swimming in the water. This arrangement I keep and use now whenever I entertain or have parties, and the effect is quite pretty.