1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 47 



The Proprietors of the 'Journal of Horticulture' offer the following prize for 

 competition at the Show of the Royal Horticultural Society at Oxford in July 

 next — viz., Dessert of Fruits, unlimited as to quantity and kind, fit for the table, 

 and combining excellence of quality with taste in arrangement, £10. Open to 

 amateurs and gentlemen's gardeners only. 



At the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, to be held on Tuesday the 

 21st December, the following prizes are offered — viz., By the Rev. George Kemp, 

 F.R.H.S., and Member of Fruit Committee, for the best winter dessert of Apples 

 and Pears, 3 dishes of each, £3 and £2. 



We are informed that the prize of £5, 5s., offered by Lieut. -Colonel Scott, 

 R.E., Secretary, Royal Horticultural Society, for an Essay on the "Principles of 

 Floral Criticism," will be awarded on Wednesday, May 4. 1870, and not January 

 19, as previously announced. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Muscat of Alexandria Grapes. — At the meeting of the Fruit Committee of 

 the Royal Horticultural Society, held in November, Messrs H. Lane & Son, 

 Berkhampstead, exhibited some splendid examples of Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, 

 which were ripe in June last, and were still plump in appearance, of fine size, 

 and fresh-looking. The flavour was exquisite, and the Committee awarded Messrs 

 Lane & Son a Special Certificate for their production. 



Viola Cornuta, var. Perfection. — An attempt has been made to identify 

 this fine new Viola, recently awarded a First-Class Certificate at one of the 

 meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, with what was known as "Beaton's 

 Good Gracious Pansy," or the old but worthless Double Purple variety. This 

 was lost sight of for some time, but in 1862 was sent out by Messrs Carter & Co. 

 under the name of Princess Alexandra, and was tried for bedding purposes, and 

 universally condemned. It had a weedy habit and uncouth unattractive double 

 flowers, altogether destitute of beauty. It will be found figured in the 'Florist and 

 Pomologist ' for 1862. 



Beaconsfield Kidney Potato. — This is a fine new variety, and was recently 

 exhibited by Mr Turner, Slough, and received from the Royal Horticultural 

 Society a First-Class Certificate. It has a smooth-skinned tuber of handsome 

 shape, is said to be a medium early kind, and very prolific ; and when cooked and 

 tasted, the quality was found to be first-rate. 



Pitmaston Duchesse d'Angouleme Pear. — Some very fine examples of this 

 Pear have been exhibited by Mr Fowle, gardener to Sir Henry Mildmay, Bart., 

 Dogmersfield Park, Hants, which were gathered from a tree planted against a 

 west wall in February last. The fruit has a somewhat lengthened tapering 

 appearance, the skin of a deep yellow colour, and somewhat smouth. It was 

 favourably mentioned. 



