There is a new chapter in the "Guidelines for Judging Roses", the ARS publication that lays out the rules for Horticultural Judges.

For those of you who will be entering roses in shows this year, you should recognize that CRS, and other Societies, will separate the Miniature and Mini-Flora roses providing for separate Queen and Court and adding several new parallel classes in the Show Schedule.

The details of the show schedule will be published in the near future, but here are the new judging guidelines for Mini-Floras:
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              CHAPTER IX

               JUDGING THE MINI -FLORA SPECIMENS

DEFINITION

     The Mini-Flora classification is a new American term given to the ARS for use by hybridizer J. Benjamin Williams.  The mini-flora class was developed for cultivars in which bloom and bush size grow too large to be classed as miniatures. The class shows many characteristics of the hybrid teas in both form and a tendency to bloom as a one-bloom-per-stem specimen.   At the National level the mini-flora is ineligible to compete for the miniature Queen or Court.  The abbreviation for the class is MinFl.

DISBUDDING

     Mini-Flora rose specimens may be shown as one- bloom-per stem or sprays.  The one-bloom-per stem entries must be shown disbudded.  All the penalty and disqualification rules that apply to hybrid tea specimens also apply to the mini-flora class.

STEM -ON- STEM

     A stem-on-stem on a mini-flora specimen is a disqualification.

                                     POINT SCORING

     FORM …………………………………………25

     COLOR……………………………………….20

     SUBSTANCE……….………………………..15

     STEM AND FOLIAGE……………………….20

     BALANCE AND PROPORTION……………10

     SIZE……………………………………………10

     TOTAL………………………………………..100

     The same point values allotted to the six prime elements of judging for hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas and miniatures are also applied to mini-floras.  The judge must constantly remember that the values allotted to the six prime elements are maximum values for  absolute perfection.  Leeway must be allowed for that ever-present possibility of encountering a better specimen of that variety.

JUDGING ONE -BLOOM- PER - STEM MINI –FLORA SPECIMENS
Detailed Application of the six Prime Elements of Judging

FORM

     As with the hybrid tea and grandiflora, the mini-flora bloom can
represent both the classic hybrid tea form as well as decorative form.

     The classic hybrid tea form displays a  high pointed
center, with petals unfurling from the point in a symmetrical spiral to the outer row of petals that ideally, but not always, depending upon the
variety,  lay along a horizontal plane as illustrated in Illustrations
8 and 8A on pages 30 and 31.  The ideal degree of openness of the
blooms is the same as that for hybrid teas, that is, two-thirds to
three-fourths open or with four to five rows of petals unfurling
between the high center and the outer petals.  Split , confused, balled,
or snub-nosed centers and recurved petals (petals that fold in and do
not open to follow the natural spiral) are penalized according to the
degree that these defects detract from the beauty of the bloom. 
Fewer-petaled mini-floras that still maintain a high pointed center as
they open should be one-third to one-half open, that is, with three or
four rows of petals symmetrically unfurling.
    When viewed in profile, the high-pointed center and symmetry of the
bloom should be apparent.  When viewed from above, the petal edges
should lay within an imaginary circle circumscribing the perimeter of the bloom.  In general, the Form element follows exactly that of the hybrid tea on a reduced-size scale.

        
COLOR

    The same eighteen color classes apply to the mini-flora class.  The color should be bright, clear, blemish-free, and typical of the variety.  The green and white streaks often found in white and red roses, respectively, are color faults and should be penalized according to the degree of distraction.  However, color-striping characteristic of some varieties is not a fault, but the striping should be uniformly distributed throughout the petalage to preserve color symmetry.  The “blueing” of certain varieties, namely, the reds, is often the result of refrigeration and is a detraction from the normal color of the rose and, hence, should be penalized.

SUBSTANCE

    Petal and foliage crispness is an indication of healthy substance. 
Review the general characteristics of substance that apply to all rose
specimens in Chapter VI.

STEM AND FOLIAGE

    Stem and foliage constitute the physical and visual support of the
specimen.  The stem should be straight, bearing a bloom that is erect
and not drooping.  The prickles should be intact above the rim of the
container.  The foliage should be evenly distributed along the stem and
provide a circular and symmetrical background of green for the bloom
when it is viewed from above.  Sepals are considered a part of the
foliage and should compliment, not distract from, the specimen.   
Skillful trimming of the foliage is permitted and is not penalized
unless it constitutes a distraction. Both stem and foliage should be
free from insect or disease damage and should be clean, subject to the
limitations of the foreign-substance and stem-on-stem disqualification
rules defined in Chapter IV (q.v.).

     Occasionally a mini-flora specimen will possess a stem having only three leaflets.  This does not merit concern if the bloom specimen is properly framed and balanced and the exhibit maintains an aesthetic appeal.  However if more entries of the same variety are present and all other elements are equal, the specimen possessing a five-leaflet leaf should receive preference.

BALANCE AND PROPORTION

    It is most important that the length of the stem be proportional and
in balance with the size of the bloom, a characteristic that resides in
the eye of the judge.  There are no mathematical guidelines for stem
length versus bloom size.  However, a stem too long or too short to
present a pleasing specimen is out of balance and proportion and is
subject to penalization. A stem too thick or too thin (spindly) can be
a distraction to the total appearance of the specimen and is subject to
penalization.  Review the general characteristics of balance and
proportion in Chapter VI.

SIZE

     The size of the bloom is judged in the same manner as the hybrid tea specimen.  (See review on size in Chapter 6).  All other prime elements being equal the larger bloom of the same variety should be rewarded. Remember- just as with the hybrid tea class there is great variation in bloom size between different varieties.  As chapter VI states, an unusually large specimen of a typically smaller growing   variety should take precedence over a smaller bloom of a larger growing variety.   Bloom Size and Balance and Proportion must be considered a part of the total evaluation – the one invariably affects the other.  
 
 JUDGING SINGLE MINI -FLORAS

    Single mini-flora blooms are judged by exactly the same standards as those applied to the single hybrid tea. Review Chapter VII , Judging
Single Hybrid Teas and Grandifloras, page 33.

JUDGING DECORATIVE MINI -FLORAS

    Those mini-flora varieties that do not present the classical hybrid
tea exhibition form, but display a more informal or old garden rose-like
form, are often called “decorative” roses.  They do not possess the
classical high-pointed center but instead may be flat, cupped, or with
a sunken center. These roses, while not having the qualities that
define exhibition form, are nevertheless candidates for all ribbons,
including blue.  On occasion a variety that is typically
decorative may indeed aspire to exhibition form, in which case, it should be rewarded as such and not dismissed simply because the variety usually is decorative.  The possibility always exists that a “decorative” mini-flora showing exhibition form may occur, and if so this specimen will be eligible for a blue ribbon, depending upon its degree of excellence, and should be considered for a mini-flora award.  Review the Judging Decorative Hybrid Teas paragraph on page 34.
 
JUDGING OPEN BLOOM MINI -FLORAS

    The open bloom mini-floras are judged by exactly the same standards of cleanliness and freshness as those applied to the open bloom hybrid tea specimen. (Review Chapter VII . Judging Open Bloom Hybrid Teas and Grandifloras, page 34–35) 

JUDGING MINI -FLORA SPRAYS

     Mini-Flora sprays should be placed in a special class for these roses and be judged by the same standards as floribunda sprays (See Chapter VIII Judging the Floribunda and Polyantha Specimens).  The individual florets may possess exhibition or decorative form, depending on what is typical of that variety.  Judges must know the most perfect phase of beauty for the variety they are judging- for some it is 1/2-3/4 open while others are considered most beautiful at the fully open stage. The spray specimen may be shown with the blooms at the same exhibition stage of opening or in a stages-of-bloom type pattern, depending upon the variety.  Judges must remember what is the typical standard for the variety they are judging in regards to form and pattern of opening and penalize if the specimen deviates from this standard.  The award for best mini-flora spray should go to the specimen exhibiting outstanding attributes of that variety.  The foliage should be clean and free of disease or insect damage.  Size is applied to the individual florets and the overall spray. The entire spray is taken into consideration with regards to balance and proportion.

      In no case should one bloom flanked by one or more immature (green) buds be considered a spray, and such a specimen should be eliminated from consideration for any award as it does not meet the criteria of a spray.  A spray is defined as two or more blooms on a stem.

AWARDS

      The ARS offers the following certificates to the best of the blue-ribbon winners in each of the following categories:

Mini-Flora Queen of Show

Mini-Flora King of Show

Mini-Flora Princess of Show

Best Mini-Flora Spray

Best Mini-Flora Rose Bowl

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