August 1, 1878. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
83 
great extent, yet the second early and midseason varieties are 
in extreme jeopardy. The tubers are about half grown, and 
in that state are extremely susceptible of injury when pro- 
tracted rains occur after a long term of hot dry weather. 
Nothing that Iam aware of can be done to save them ; they 
must take their chance, but the moment the tubers are large 
enough for use up they should come. Late sorts are much 
more safe. They have not, at least in the midland and 
northern counties (I cannot answer for the south), yet formed 
their tubers on account of the intense heat and drought, and 
as soon as a rainy period sets in the crops will grow on with- 
out supertuberating, and without, at least for some weeks to 
come, being overtaken by disease.—AN OLD GROWER, 
THE SETTING-UP OF GRAPES FOR EXHIBITION. 
RULES made which afterwards are allowed by those who 
framed them to be broken with impunity place their sponsors 
in much the same somewhat unpleasant position the grower of 
fruit is placed in when not allowed to exhibit his fruit to the 
best advantage his taste, or it may be his ingenuity, devises. 
A visit to the Royal Horticultural Show lately held at 
Preston and what I saw of the way Grapes were exhibited 
there, a later visit to the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Show and re- 
quisitions that I saw made there, and the perusal of the rules 
of the Durham Show which is still to be held, are my reasons 
for the present article. 
Uniformity without stiffness I have no objection to, and I 
am so far in favour of evenly displayed fruit that I would ap- 
preciate the motives of any committee that gave the descrip- 
tion of any particular stand, or the height of any stand at 
front or back, to secure uniformity ; but such foolish require- 
ments as demanding Grapes to be laid on nearly flat stands, 
and in some instances even demanding that they be exhibited 
on plates, are requisitions that I demur to—in fact, I feel 
pretty much inclined to join a rebellion against them. At 
Preston a special footnote in the schedule stipulated that 
Grapes must be exhibited on stands 8 inches high at the back. 
A friend, Mr. McConochie, after setting up his exhibits, hap- 
pening to lend me his schedule I at once detected the instruc- 
tions given and reminded him that his stands were 4 inches 
too high. After thanking me for drawing his attention, he 
not haying previously noticed the rule, his next thoughts were 
how to alter his stands with the Grapes upon them to comply. 
Being somewhat of an adept at the joinering craft, this to your 
correspondent was a difficulty easily overcome, but most cer- 
tainly at the expense of haying his Grapes less advantageously 
exhibited—his Black Hamburghs, being very ripe, afterwards 
fell flat. Some others had complied with the rule and some 
had not complied, and perhaps there were some “out of it” 
who did not care to comply. At the last moment Mr. Cole- 
man, the lion of the day, set up with stands quite 12 inches 
high and was awarded first prize. There was some talk of an 
objection, and which was not an unreasonable one, but as I 
had to leave I know nothing further of the matter, and have 
nothing more to say, save that the requisition did not admit 
of Grapes being set up to the best advantage, and that I am 
glad Mr. Coleman evidenced a commendable spirit by disdain- 
ing to have his extremely well-grown fruit that had cost him 
so much care insulted by, I might reasonably describe, being 
laid flat on the table. 
At the Newcastle Show the rules, I believe, make no stipula- 
tion, but notwithstanding some members of the Committee 
ordered the fruit to be taken off the stands and to be laid flat 
upon plates. A nice predicament this a gardener to find him- 
self in, and especially one who, perhaps, only finds himself 
justified in taking a sufficient number of bunches from his 
stock that are necessary to set up at one show, and yet who 
has arranged to exhibit at some three or four. Such require- 
ments submit the exhibitor to an unnecessary injustice, un- 
necessarily militate against his successfully competing where 
he has every right to compete, and with the same produce. 
Just a passing word regarding the Durham schedule. This 
Show does not receive the patronage it deserves ; the Durham 
people do not subscribe so liberally as they ought to do. But 
it is the rules 1 am criticising. Fruit I find must be exhibited 
on plates, and at Durham you must find yourown plates. The 
next thing, I suppose, shall be—exhibitors will have to be 
followed to the exhibition with a retinue of potters, or per- 
haps a camp of gypsies, as, before making their purchases 
exhibitors will have to learn of the committee whether their 
taste goes in for brown or for white ware. If you want uni- 
formity, if you want taste, if you want exhibitors to set up 
their fruit and other produce in a way which will delight the 
public to come and see it, add this clause to your schedule and 
you will succeed :—Of all exhibits, where other merits are con- 
sidered equal, the judges are desired to give the casting vote 
in favour of the most tastefully arranged ; then at our exhibi- 
tions we shall haye examples of better ‘taste, and conse dently 
more attractive displays.—J. WITHERSPOON. 
HEREFORD ROSE SHOW. 
Iy answer to “A LOVER OF ROSE SHOWS,” and now that 
the pressure on your space is not so great, perhaps the follow- 
ing remarks may not be unacceptable. 
The Judges who adjudicated on the amateur classes were 
the brothers Gater, and two more excellent Judges it would be 
impossible to find in England. One is (for the information of 
those not acquainted with them) the Rose foreman to Mr. 
George Paul, the other holds the same position in the establish- 
ment of Mr. Charles Turner. We had therefore two men 
whose whole time is devoted to the cultivation of Roses, and 
who from long experience and the constant supervision of 
Roses know perhaps as,muchgabout them as any other two 
men to be found. 
As to my remarks, quoted by “A Lover OF ROSE SHOWS” 
in the paragraph immediately preceding the one in which he 
so kindly speaks of me, I must freely own that before the 
judging commenced I felt confident that Mr. Jowitt would 
win the prize. I formed this opinion from the points enume- 
rated by your correspondent—viz., evenness, more Teas, and 
greater diversity of colour; and I can well imagine that other 
judges would have reversed the decision if appealed to; but 
the Judges on this occasion went to work evidently upon the 
rule of counting points. And here Mr. Baker won ; for some 
of his blooms were magnificent—blooms not only above the 
average, but such as are rarely seen. When, then, the weak 
blooms in his stand were counted they only reduced the sum. 
of lis number of points by a mere fraction. Mr. Jowitt’s. 
blooms were all good, but perhaps he had more mediocre 
blooms than those which could be called superb. But certainly 
he had no tail, while Mr. Baker had a very decided one. The 
matter was simply resolved to an addition sum, and here Mr. 
Baker obtained the highest numbers and won. 
During the day the judgment naturally attracted considerable: 
attention, and several of the best judges went very carefully 
through both stands, but on the whole their conclusions coin- 
cided with that of the Judges. “I think it is right,’ was 
Mr. Cranston’s remark ; while a distinguished amateur, who 
is, I believe, the President of the Society, said, “ Well, L hardly 
know, it was so very close. I am only glad I was not a. 
judge.” I mention all this for the sake of showing “ A LOVER 
oF ROSE SHOWS” how close the contest was. If Madame: 
Charles Wood had stayed at Heavitree and Capitaine Christy” 
wooed her there instead of shedding tears over her at the Shire- 
Hall, then there would have been no question about the matter, 
for Mr. Baker would have been undoubtedly first ; but the eye 
of the connoisseur would keep ranging up to that unfortunate 
couple in the back row of the second box, and then turning to 
his great rival’s box, which was placed next to it, looked in 
vain for so bad a flower. Such are my impressions, and as. 
both competitors are dear and valued friends of my own I can. 
state them, I hope, without fear of offending either. 
Your correspondent will observe if he turns to the rules: 
printed in last week’s Journal that points are recommended in 
case of a close contest—three points to the best blooms, tw9- 
for mediums, and one for those not bad enough to be cut out,. 
and an extra point for a very superior bloom. On this principle: 
I believe the Judges acted at Hereford, and there can be no 
fairer and better way of judging. 
Now, in conclusion, may I say a word about the forthcoming 
Rose election? I have refrained hitherto from saying any- 
thing about the last for fear of giving offence, and also think- 
ing that it would be the last of those which had reference 
to exhibition blooms; but now that there is to be another 
election I must have my say. 
To make this election any guide of value or use to the lead- 
ing exhibitors more care must be taken in the selection of the 
electors. 
I wish to mention no names, but I am sure electors sent in 
lists last year who had no qualification. As an instance of 
this I may mention the following as a proof that no care was 
taken to find out the qualifications of an elector. I happened 
