September 11, 1873. ] 



JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



189 



■was awarded to Mr. Cor, gardener, Madresfield Court. The 

 fruit was all good, but haTing to be exhibited in a cramped space 

 — in this instance on an old tea-tray — it had a poor appearance. 



Grapes. — So plentifully were these exhibited, and in many 

 cases so extremely fine, that they formed the greatest at- 

 traction of the whole Show. The prizes offered for Grapes 

 were large, and they were divided into numerous classes to suit 

 exhibitors of all grades. The general character of the display 

 ■was good, the most striking feature being, however, perhaps the 

 great size of the bimches rather than the fineness of the quality. 

 We do not know that we have ever seen such large bunches so 

 well finished of many of the varieties, but we have certainly 

 seen an infinitely superior show of Black Hamburghs years 

 ago, and we almost venture to say Muscats. The display at 

 Manchester this year was superior as regards quality, taking 

 it en masse, to that at Glasgow last year ; many very poor ex- 

 hibits, however, were staged, and by some of ont reputed Grape- 

 growers too, which it would have been well for them to have 

 left at home. 



The finest and best dish of Grapes iu the Exhibition was the 

 Madresfield Court, exhibited by Mr. Meredith, of Garston, 

 which won for him the first prize for two bunches of Grapes 

 in commerce three years prior to the Exhibition. The second 

 prize was awarded to Mr. Cox, the raiser, for the same variety, 

 and the third pri^e also was given for Madresfield Court. It is 

 satisfactory to find that this new Grape is proviug itself so 

 well. For the best seedling Grape not in commerce, the first 

 prize was nobly won by Mr. Thomson, of the Tweedside Vine- 

 yard, Galashiels, with the Duke of Buccleucli, a truly gi^and 

 Grape in every way. Mr. Huntei-, gardener to the Earl of 

 Darham, staged a white variety, named Lambton Castle Seed- 

 ling, which was simply the White Tokay. For the heaviest 

 bnnch of black Grapes, a noble specimen of Black Hamburgh, 

 13 lbs. 2 ozs., the heaviest of this variety on record, we believe, 

 was shown by Mr. Hunter, of Lambton Castle. It was well 

 coloured for its size, but, as usiially is the case with large 

 bunches, it is more of a cluster than a bunch. The next 

 heaviest was a Barbarossa, weighing 5 lbs. 14 ozs., from Mr. 

 Dickson, gardener to J. Jardine, Esq., Langholm, which, 

 although not very well coloured, was clearly entitled to the 

 second prize ; it was, however, passed over for a better coloured 

 example of IJIack Hamburgh 1 lb. less in weight, from Mr. 

 Coleman ; and a still smaller bunch from Mr. Bruce, gardener 

 to Jame.^ Fildes, Esq., received the third prize. The heaviest 

 bnnch of white Grapes was sent by Mr. Dicksou, gardener to 

 J. Jardine, Esq., Langholm, N.B., the same exhibitor who at 

 Glasgow last year staged the largest bunch on record of the 

 White Syrian, weighing over 21 lbs. ; the example this year was 

 a trifle over 16 lbs. 



Coming now to the j>i<ce de resistance among the Grape classes. 

 For ten varieties, one bunch of each, there was a grand contest, 

 the examples from Mr. Hunter and from Mr. Johnston being 

 ■very fine. Mr. Hunter staged 1, Muscat of Alexandria; 2, Mrs. 

 Pince ; 3, Itaisin de Calabre; -1, Black Hamburgh; .5, Golden 

 Champion, .5 lbs. 3 ozs.; C, Gros Guillaume, 9 lbs. 4} ozs.; 

 7, Black Alicante ; 8, Lambton Castle Seedling (White Tokay) ; 

 9, Bowood Muscat (Muscat of Alexandria) ; 10, Pennington Hall 

 Hamburgh (Gros Guillaume), thus making in all only eight dis- 

 tinct varieties. Now, according to strict justice this collection 

 ought to have been disqualified. The Judges, however, may 

 have felt, as we felt, that it would have amounted almost to 

 a cruelty to have done so ; the exhibitor, no doubt, hiving 

 shown them as, and believing them to be, distinct. The first 



Srize of £1.5 was, therefore awarded to Mr. Hunter, who may be 

 ubbed at present as the champion Grape-grower. The ex- 

 champion, Mr. .lohnston, Glamis, made a good second. His 

 examples of Raisin do Calabre, Buckland Sweetwater, Lady 

 Downe's, Mill Hill Hamburgh, Black Alicante, White Nice, Bo- 

 wood Muscat," Aramon. &c., were very fine, the bunches averag- 

 ing between 5 and G lbs. and being well finished. Mr. Hill, 

 Keele Hall, came in third with much smaller but nice examples. 

 For five varieties of Grapes, one bunch of e.-ich, there was a 

 strong competition — over twenty entries. Mr. Hunter was again 

 placed first with very large and truly fine examples of Black 

 Hamburgh, 3} lbs., a fine bnnch; Black .-Vlicante, Raisin de 

 Calabre, Gros Guillaume, and Muscat of Alexandria. Mr. Bruce, 

 gardener to J. Fildes, Esq., was pbiced second with very excel- 

 lent examples also, but much smaller than Mr. Hunter's. For 

 three bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes there were twenty- 

 eight competitors, many of the bunches being of but ordinary 

 quality. The first prize was most worthily awarded to Mr. 

 Coleman, Ledbury, for three perfect examples cut from a Vine 

 sixty years old. The next lot in point of merit came from Mr. 

 Hunter ; the bunches ■were large, moderately well coloured, and 

 with fair-sized berries. These were, however, passed over for 

 much smalli:r examples, a little better finished, from Mr. Temple, 

 gardener to the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim, and some 

 similar from Mr. Bruce were third. 



Colour seemed to be the teat with the black Grapes ; but to 

 be consistent the same rule should have been applied to the 



white ones. In the very next class — three bunches of Muscat 

 of Alexandria, the best ripened and the tinest coloiTred lot came 

 from Mr. J. Wakefield, gardener to R. F. Gretton, Esq., Burton- 

 on-Trent, and these received no prize at all. Tlie first prize 

 wiis awarded to fine exiimples, large both in bunch and berry, 

 but a little green, from Mr. Hunter. The second prize was 

 awarded to Mr. Roberts, gardener to the Earl of Charleville, 

 Charleville Forest, Ireland, for noble examples very large in 

 berry, and of a peculiar delicate colour, but a little over-thinned. 

 Mr. Meads, gardener to Eaikes Currie, Esq., Farborough, was 

 placed third with very pretty examples, having a most lovely 

 tint. Many other excellent exhibits were made in the claps. 



For three bunches of any black Grape (not Black Hamburgh), 

 Mr. Coleman carried off the first prize with fine examples of Lady 

 Downe's, very large in berry. Mr. Bruce was placed second with 

 excellent Gros Guillaume, named Pennington Hall Hamburgh. 

 Mr. Meredith was third with Madresfield Court. Some fine 

 examples were also shown of Muscat Hamburgh and Alicante. 

 In the corresponding class for white Grapes Mr. Hunter was again 

 first with large and very tine examples of Golden Ch.ampion, 

 Mr. Hill being second with Foster's White Seedling, and Mr. 

 Goodacre, gardener, Elvaston, third, with Canon Htdl Muscat. 

 For the best collection of such kinds of Grapes as are not in- 

 cluded in the other prizes offered, Mr. Hunter was again first 

 with fourteen varieties of very good quality. Messrs. Lane and 

 Son, Berkhampstead , exhibited twenty-one varieties, not so good, 

 however, as iu Mr. Hunter's, and received the second prize. For 

 ornamental baskets of Giapes, not less than eight varieties, 

 single baskets were staged, containing a bunch of each. The 

 Grapes were good, but neither the baskets nor the manner of 

 exhibiting was ornamental. Mr. Roberts, Charleville, obtained 

 the first prize, Mr. I'Anson second, and Mr. Upjohn third. 

 Messrs. Lane A: Son had an extra prize for a large very elaborate 

 stand of eight baskets of distinct varieties, but which was any- 

 thing but ornamental. 



Pines. — Of these the exhibition iu point of numbers was 

 meagre, the encouragement given by the small prizes offered 

 being small in comparison with the almost lavish expenditure 

 for Grapes. If poor in number, however, in quality the Pines 

 were extremely good. Mr. C. Sandford, gardener to the Earl of 

 Bective, Kirkby Lonsdale, had the honour of producing the 

 largest Queen Pine in England or anywhere else, so far as we 

 know. We were curious to ascertain carefully the weight of this 

 noble fruit, and found it was just 8 lbs. 4 ozs. It was, of course, 

 awarded the first prize in the class for one Queen Pine Apple. 

 The next surprise here was in the class for two Pine Apples, any 

 otherkiud. In this Mr. Miles, gardenerto Lord Caringtou, carried 

 off the first prize with truly magnificent fruits of the Eu'ville 

 Queen, weighing respectively y lbs. 14 ozs. and 9 lbs. 9 ozs. 

 These were certainly two of the finest fruits of that variety we 

 have seen. Mr. Miller, Worksop Manor, was first for the two 

 Queen Pines ; Mr. Jones, Frogmore, was first for the Smooth 

 Cayenne ; and for any other kind Mr. Miles was first with a fair 

 fruit of Providence. 



Peaches, Nectabines, and Apeicots.— Here Mr. Johnston, 

 of Glamis, came well to the front. In the class for four dishes 

 of Peacheu, six in a dish, Mr. Johnston was first with very fine 

 fruits of Noblesse, Grosse Mignonne, Sulhamstead, and Red 

 Magdalen. Mr. J. Louden, gardener to T. Barnes, Esq., was 

 second with two dishes of Noblesse and two of Royal George. 

 In the class for twelve Peaches, three kinds, Mr. Malcolm, gar- 

 dener to Lord Cholmondeley, Nantwich, was first with good 

 examples of Royal George, Belle Beauce, aud Noblesse. Mrs. 

 W. G. Siddall, Cheltenham, was second with Barriugton, Grosse 

 Mignonne, and Noblesse ; and Mr. J. Barnes, Gloucester, third. 

 For six Peaches, any kind, the competition "^'as very strong. 

 Mr. J. Park, Railway Cottage, was first with very fine Noblesse. 

 Mr. Hind, gardener to Sir S. E. Moss, Bart., Roby, was second 

 with Grosse Mignonne ; and Mr. Beesley, gardener to R. Aders, 

 Esq., Whalley Range, third with Grosse Miguoune. 



In Nectarines, three kinds in fours, Mr. Grant, gardener to 

 J. B. Glegg, Esq., was placed first with fine Elruge, i'itmaston 

 Orange, and Balgowan ; Mr. Cox second. For twelve Nectarines, 

 three kinds in fours, Mr. Johnston staged some very fine ex- 

 amples, and obtained the first prize ; the varieties were Duo d_u 

 Telliers, Murrey, aud I'itmaston Orange, all very fine. It is 

 not a little remarkable that the best Peaches and Nectarines 

 should come from so far north. For the best six Nectarines of 

 any kind, Mr. Hind was first with very fine examples of Violette 

 H.-ilive; Mr. Malcolm second with Pine Apple; and Mr. J. 

 Taylor, Huyton, third with I'itmaston Orange. 



Apricots wero poorly represented, the Moorpark being the 

 only variety exhibited. Mr. Hill was first, Mr. E. Rooker 

 second, and Mr. J. Larking third. For the best six fruits Mr. 

 Malcolm was first, Mr. Jennings second, aud Mr. Larking, 

 Chii)ping Norton, third. 



Melons. — Of these a goodly number was staged as usual, but 

 judging by appearances, the greater portion wero very inferior 

 In the green-fleshed class Mr. D. T. Fish was the winner with 

 a fruit named Queen Emma, but which was very distinct from 



