THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



175 



placed in separate columns. The sum 

 of the values of the varieties found in 

 a given collection, taken fi'om the 

 column devoted ta the purpose for 

 which they were entered, will properly 

 express the aggregate value of such col- 

 lection for such purpose, and a compari- 

 son of the aggregates of competing col- 

 lections will determine the award, 

 suhject, however, to modifications for 

 superiority of size, freedom from 

 blemishes, careful handling and taste in 

 the arrangement and ornamentation. 

 This society instructs its judges of fruits 

 to exclude from competition all un- 

 labeled and incorrectly labeled speci- 

 mens, and to consider, 1st, the values 

 of the vai-ieties for the required pui*- 

 pose ; 2nd, the color, size and evenness 

 of the specimens ; 3rd, their freedom 

 from blemishes, the apparent care in 

 handling and the taste displayed in 

 their arrangement for exhibition. Dup- 

 licates are excluded from the competi- 

 tion, and large, showy, but indifferent 

 vai'ieties are held to discredit a collec- 

 tion. 



Instead of the usual, " Best collec- 

 tion," the society stipulates, in each 

 offer of a premium : For dessert and 

 family purposes, for the most useful 

 and best grown collection, giving a suc- 

 cession of varieties, superior quality, 

 delicacy of texture and beauty (in order 

 named), to take pi-ecedence of px'ofitable- 

 ness and size. For market varieties 

 the requirements are : For the most 

 valuable and best grown collection, 

 selected strictly for market purposes ; 

 productiveness, suitable, even size, 

 handling qualities ; color and succession 

 being the leading considerations. 



As will be seen, these offers bring 

 together the conditions required, just 

 where both the exhibitor and the judges 

 can scarcely fail to become familiar 

 with them ; while the idea is definitely 

 conveyed that the value to be attached 

 to a given variety depends not upon its 



general merits, but strictly upon its 

 merits for the purpose for which it is 

 placed in competition. 



This process brings out the opinion 

 of the exhibitor as to the relative 

 merits of the varieties which he may 

 enter, for the required purpose ; while 

 the awards, if fully reported, with the 

 reasons therefor, also afford a clew 

 to the estimate of their comparative 

 values for such purpose, by the judges." 



The society's catalogue referred to by 

 Mr. Lyon, classes all fruits under three 

 heads, viz. dessert, cooking and market, 

 and grades the value of a perfect apple 

 under each on a scale of one to ten. 

 Competing collections are placed to- 

 together, and a committee on correct 

 nomenclature precedes the judges, and 

 corrects erroneous names, and excludes 

 such fruits from competition. 



Under the head of market, the ques- 

 tion of profit is a leading one, but it is 

 not considered under either of the 

 others. 



The report of the Fruit Grower's 

 Association for 1884 contains a very 

 full catalogue of Canadian fruits, valued 

 on a scale of 1-5, under six heads, with 

 many additional remarks. This should 

 be of great value to all local societies, 

 and a copy should be in the hands of 

 the Directors of every Agricultural and 

 Horticultural societv in the Province. 



HORTICULTURAL NOTES. 



Ringing Vines. — E. A. Carriere, in 

 the Revue Ilorticole, favors i-inging the 

 vine, even in large vineyards. He 

 says it advances the ripening of the 

 fruit at least eight days, and in no way 

 injures the quality of the wine. 



Most American authorities, however, 

 condemn the })ractice, especially in 

 growing fruit for dessert, claiming that 

 the increased size is gained at the ex- 

 pense of flavor. It may be done at any 

 time during the growing season, but to 

 have much effect sliould be done several 



