88 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
{ August 1, 1878. 
many frequenters of flower shows, the cottagers exhibiting in 
such numbers and staging such excellent produce. It is im- 
possible to estimate the amount of good this and kindred societies 
do among the industrial classes,as none but those mixing with 
them know how much they anticipate the Show, and what pains 
is taken with the intended exhibits. 
The cottagers’ exhibits alone, however, are not sufficient at- 
traction to “the million,” consequently the aid of the professional 
gardener must be solicited. To these also fair encouragement in 
the shape of prizes must be offered, as exhibiting entails much 
hard work, known only to them who have experienced it, and 
there is nothing strange in the fact that gardeners require to be 
paid for their labour. Competition has effected a marked im- 
provement in the professional classes around Hawkhurst, thus 
proving that employers who subscribe to horticultural societies 
are indirectly repaid by the improvement effected by the societies 
in their own gardens. Committees may be hardworking and 
practical, but without funds are powerless to do good. The 
following is a list of some of the principal prizewinners in the 
professional classes. 
In the open classes Mr. Gilbert, Springfield Nurseries, Hastings, 
was first for stove and greenhouse plants in flower, and also for 
foliage plants. His collection included very fine plants of the 
popular but old Kalosanthes coccinea, Allamanda Hendersonii, 
&c. Mr. L. Barnes, gardener to E. B. Sutton, Esq., Copt Hall, 
Hawkhurst, was a very successful exhibitor, being first for 
Achimenes, Coleuses, Pelargoniums, twelve Roses, collection of 
fruit, collection of vegetables, white Grapes, &c. Mr. Manck- 
tellow, gardener to Dr. Harris, Northiam, was first for four stove 
and greenhouse plants, six Ferns, &c. Mr. Nicholls, gardener to 
J. C. Fisher, Esq., Hawkhurst, was first for Fuchsias, foliage 
plants, &c. Mr. Hodgkins, gardener to Capt. Oakes, Sandhurst, 
was first for Caladiums, Gloxinias, dc. Mr. G. Rummery, gar- 
dener to Mrs. Gow Stewart, was first for a green-fleshed Melon, 
&c. Mr. Gilmour, gardener to the Rt. Hon. G. J. Goschen, M.P., 
was first for Balsams, Cucumbers, &c. Mr. W. Salcombe, gardener 
to Dr. Newington, Ticehurst, was first for Roses (special prize 
given by Mr. W. Knight, Hailsham), collection of fruit, &c. Mr. 
F. Deane, gardener to T. Neve, Esq., Cranbrook, was first for 
bouquet. Mr. J. Iggulden, gardener to Rev. Canon Jeffreys, 
Hawkhurst, was first for a collection of Vegetables. Mr. Whitby, 
gardener to H. Hardcastle, Esq., M.P., Hawkhurst ; Mr. Butler, 
gardener to D. N. Olney, Esq., Robertsbridge ; Mr. W. Brett, gar- 
dener to G. French, Esq., Hawkhurst ; Mr. Willard, gardener to 
J. A. Jackson, Esq., Hawkhurst; and Mr. Bishop, gardener to 
W. Harmer, Esq., Hawkhurst, were also successful exhibitors. 
The cottagers exhibited in great numbers, there being fifty prize- 
winners, some of them taking several prizes. 
Mr. W. Potten, nurseryman, Sissinghurst, staged an excellent 
collection of plants not for competition, and Mr. Knight, nursery- 
man, Hailsham, some very good stands of Roses of the best sorts. 
There was also a tent given up to the arts and manufactures, 
which included a variety of useful and valuable ornamental articles 
which helped to make the Show very attractive and enjoyable. 
JUDGING. 
WHILE agreeing in the main with the observations in last 
week’s Journal, will you allow me as one who has had some 
experience to supplement them with a few remarks? In the 
first place I hardly think that the definition blindfold and 
open judging is a correct one ; for the system which you have 
described as that adopted by the Royal Horticultural Society 
and others is, or ought to be, as mucha blindfolded one as any 
other—that is, the card itself is no indication of who the exhi- 
bitor is ; the number indeed may be noted, and so if it occurs 
in other classes the exhibitor may be guessed at. What I call 
open judging is the system adopted, amongst others, by the 
National Auricula Society, where the name of the exhibitor is 
exposed to view ; and although this has been objected to, yet 
I am convinced that as true and correct judging is given in 
such instances as in others. As you justly observe, an expe- 
rienced judge knows from the very setting-up of the blooms, 
the writing, the character and quality of the plants or blooms, 
or something, to whom they belong, but he is unworthy of the 
position if any of these things influence him. 
I remember a ludicrous case of the insufficiency of any of 
these safeguards. Iwas once called upon to judge at a pro- 
vincial Rose show where a very large prize was offered for the 
best seventy-two Roses. A most elaborate system for blind- 
folding the judges had been arranged, and it was thought most 
successfully. After my colleague and myself had gone round 
and adjudged the prizes I said to the Secretary who accom- 
panied us, “That box is So-and-so’s ;” in fact we named every 
competing box, in some of the cases one Rose was sufficient 
to determine it, And there, and in every instance where I 
have had the opportunity, I have succeeded in inducing them 
to adopt the far simpler plan in use in London. 
Again, I would observe that these attempts to prevent the 
judges knowing the exhibitors is not intended by the pro- 
moters of a flower show to show that they in any way mistrust 
the judges, but because of the petty jealousy of some of the 
local exhibitors, generally small gardeners, who, not being 
particularly gifted with clear eyesight themselves, are sure, if 
they are beaten, to lay it on the judge. Where a judge has 
twenty plates of Longpod Beans to decide upon, at least 
thirteen out of those who are beaten think they had no busi- 
ness to be left out in the cold, and probably there is very 
little difference between their Beans and those that take the 
prizes, and one can understand how some persons would 
storm if the exhibitor’s name was exposed. Persons of this 
class are one of the greatest hindrances to local shows, and 
unfortunately they are proof against all explanation. For 
example, at a show at which I was judging the other day a 
mistake had been made by the Secretary in putting two exhibits 
in the same class, whereas they ought to have been in dif- 
ferent classes. After the adjudication was made attention was 
directed to this, and it was necessary to alter. The erring card 
had to be torn up, and the wrathful exhibitor went storming 
through the place, “I seed him tor’ it up myself,” evidently 
coupling that act with his loss of a prize; if it had not been 
“tor’ up” he would have been all right. On the whole I believe 
the system of the Royal Horticultural Society, National Rose 
Society, &c., is that which works best, and I believe it will be 
ultimately adopted throughout the country. As the advertise- 
ments say, “it only needs to be known to be appreciated.’”— 
D., Deal. 
FUCHSIAS FOR AMATEURS. 
IN a former communication I referred to the great import~ 
ance of good soil as a first essential in plant culture, and to 
the wisdom and even the economy of purchasing it if a supply 
cannot be had by other means. But soil, 1 wish to repeat, is 
not everything. Some cultivators, even if they have the best 
compost that can be mixed, do not succeed so well as others 
with soil of a very ordinary nature. The difference les in the 
treatment of the soil and the plants. Ordinarily light and 
fertile garden soil will grow Fuchsias fairly well provided the 
plants have correct treatment in other respects. If anyone 
doubts this let him plant out a Fuchsia anywhere in his garden 
in which he can grow good Radishes in July, water it as needed, 
and he will be surprised how well the plant will flourish. 
For growing plants in pots mix a twentieth part of soot and 
a tenth of silver sand with fertile garden soil, and in this com- 
post the plants will grow. If the garden soil is heavy a sixth 
of cocoa-nut fibre refuse will be an advantage. This com- 
post is suggested for those who cannot obtain turfy loam, leaf 
soil, &e. 
A few errors that amateurs not infrequentiy commit in 
Fuchsia culture is—first, starting their plants too soon in spring 
when they have not light and well-ventilated houses for grow- 
ing them on in a sturdy short-jointed manner: secondly, by 
allowing the wood to become hard and brittle when the plants 
are small; and thirdly, permitting them to become infested 
by insects, rendering fumigation or the application of an in- 
secticide necessary. 
If a Fuchsia becomes root-bound in a small pot its wood 
Tipens prematurely, it flowers early, becomes exhausted, ekes 
out a miserable existence, but never makes a good plant. The 
growth must be kept in a soft state until the plant has attained 
the desired size for flowering, or really satisfactory results can- 
not be produced. If a plant is kept in a sunny window, or 
under the shade of Vines during the summer, or is unduly 
crowded by other plants under glass, it cannot prosper. It 
must be kept growing steadily, it must be kept short-jointed, 
it must be kept clean. 
These conditions are easily attained at this period of the 
year if the mode of attaining them is not considered too 
simple for adoption. Place them on ashes on a shaded border, 
such as behind a north wall; water them well, keeping the 
ground on which the pots stand constantly moist, sprinkling 
the foliage well during sultry weather, and they will grow 
more healthily than in any house. Plants large or small are 
better outdoors than in during the next six weeks or two 
months, unless they have houses or frames specially adapted 
for them, which is seldom the case with amateurs. 
Fuchsias obtained from a nursery now are usually much 
