1869.] PROPERTIES OF FRUIT. 399 



sively used ttrougliout the country; indeed, some societies have a mar- 

 gin in their schedules giving the points for each article ; and the 

 satisfaction this gives is most astounding. 



The tasting of Grapes is a rock which many growers have split 

 upon. Though we go in for good flavour as being of primary import- 

 ance when judging, at the same time we would like to be certain that 

 the censors know what good flavour is ; and on no account would we 

 submit to having men whose palates were continually saturated with 

 tobacco juice, as we have frequently known to be the case, and the 

 " chew " had to be pulled out to admit the fruit. With such palates 

 the Duchess of Buccleuch and Muscat would be brought down to the 

 level of Trebbianos and Black Prince, and vice versa. Sweetness 

 alone with Grapes (although the flesh was of a raisin texture) is all 

 that is required by some censors, and they decide accordingly. If 

 proprietors could believe in this standard, there would be few Grapes 

 home grown (comparatively), as raisins could be bought from 8d. to Is. 

 per pound, instead of being at the expense of forcing them under 

 glass. Besides sweetness there should be vinous juice, melting pulp, 

 small stones, and thin skin, and an absence of disagreeable acid. 

 Shrivelled dry berries should be shown no quarter any more than bad 

 colour and loose stringy bunches. Mostly every fruit and vegetable 

 has to meet the same difficulty at exhibitions as Grapes, and thus 

 we often see vegetables judged by a standard which would not entitle 

 them to a place on the dinner-table. The points which decide a good 

 Cucumber are given in the Journal of Horticulture (page 77), which 

 I think will be generally admitted to t)e all that is desired ; and if 

 all judges and exhibitors were guided by that standard, there would be 

 few Cucumbers exhibited with yellow ends as long as cigars, seedy, 

 and pliable as india-rubber. Crisp, fresh, handsome fruit would not be 

 passed over as they often are, at provincial shows especially. At the 

 forthcoming " International " to be held at Edinburgh, great justice in 

 awarding the honours may be relied on. The names of the judges war- 

 rant this. They are well known as men of high standing, and many of 

 them have led the van as growers and exhibitors for years. We would 

 strongly advise those who are to appear in the competition list for the 

 first time to give quality the leading position while selecting their 

 articles, as mere bulk will only be telling when quality is present. 

 First-rate kinds will easily " throw " inferior kinds, however well the 

 latter may have been managed ; as, for instance, with Grapes, Black 

 Prince will have no chance with good Muscat Hamburg, or Wliite 

 jSTice and its varieties will be insignificant beside good White Muscats, 

 except when weight only is desired. M. Temple. 



Balbibnie. 



2 D 



