Suitability of accessory material. They should be mature and clean. To test for maturity, most gourds are dried at the blossom end and solid and firm to the touch. The dried stem of a gourd tends to drop off if the gourd is under any pressure or if it bears its own weight. It is best never to handle a gourd by its stem.
Cleanliness is necessary and important to bring out the beauty of the gourd, with or without waxing.
Gourds that are oddly shaped or have an ususual color or growth should be enteres in the unusual class not as a specimen gourd. A specimen gourd has no indication of excess grooming or training, and in entries that list a specific variety of gourd, trueness of type and color must be observed. Keep in mind that the accessories or containers should not detract or take away from the beauty of the gourds . Accessories are used to assist and enhance your gourd entry, not detract from it . The schedule will specie the type of container, bowl or basket that may be used.