410 



JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



[ November 9, 1S7i5. 



good examples of Tomatoes End Vegetable Marrow?, believing 

 both would be appreciated by all judges; Peas I should place 

 next, which should not be conspicuous for being old ; Potatoes 

 a good even sample not over-large, preferring white to red 

 tubers ; Cauliflowers white, close, and of moderate size. I have 

 noticed more variations in judging Cauliflowers than any other 

 vegetable, some judges giving preference to a small close 

 Cauliflower, while others would appear to think that a Cauli- 

 flower cannot be too large so long as it is close and white. 

 French Beans rot in any way old, but of a fair size, indicating 

 a quick and healthy growth ; Globe Artichokes, Broad Beans, 

 Cabbages of moderate size, young, close, and firm ; Carrots of 

 the Early Horn or intermediate section, smooth, straight, and 

 of good colour ; end Turnipa medium in size, young, and 

 quickly grown. Thus I have enumerated ten out of the twelve 

 varieties required, all of which can be produced at the above- 

 named season. The eleventh and twelfth may be chosen from 

 Onions, Mushrooms, Asparagus (a good dish of which has 

 great weight, but in some localities it would be going out of 

 season, and consequently Email). Lettuces and Cucumbers are 

 auxiliaries. And in judging Cucumbers as a vegetable I con- 

 tend that a large Cucumber, provided it is not yellow, ought to 

 stand before a small and partly-developed fruit, for a Cucum- 

 ber used as a vegetablo is very different to a Cucumber used for 

 a salad. The one is cooked in various ways : sometimes the 

 seeds are scooped out and the fruit is cut in lengths, stuffed 

 with forced meat, stewed and served in thick brown gravy, and 

 the Cucumber is therefore required to be of fair size; whereas 

 to be cut in slices and served with oil or vinegar it is impera- 

 tive that the fruit shculd be young and not seedy, and ought 

 to be judged accordirgly. I hove seen very good Celery also 

 shown in June which in a collection ehould also carry some 

 weight. 



As leading to success it is very important that the schedule 

 be made clear as to what is required of an exhibitor, and 

 every stipulation should be plainly defined, for the judges 

 have to be entirely guided by wbat is printed in the schedule. 

 The schedule stating what is required, every exhibitor should 

 aim at neatness and uniformity in arranging their respective 

 collections, for taste in the arrangement of vegetables is quite 

 as necessary as with any other exhibits. All roots, in my 

 opinion, should be washed, and if dishes or plates are to be 

 had the roots can be set up to advantage ; and a collection of 

 vegetables tastefully arranged is as attractive as anything else 

 in the show. I have also seen vegetables attractively arranged 

 in trays or in round baskets, and every article set off to the 

 best advantage. 



Now, as to the mode of judging the products staged. First 

 see that the requisite numver are set up, and then weigh over 

 the merits of every dish in the collection by counting the num- 

 ber of points which it merits, taking three for the maximum 

 and one as the minimum number of points. When this is 

 carefully done I cannot think there can be much room for 

 complaint. 



Although at most exhibitions there will be found someone 

 who feels himself aggrieved, all exhibitors should bear in mind 

 that though their products may in their own eyes be perfection 

 they may not bo thought so highly of by a stranger. 



In judging both amateurs' and cottagers' produce a disposition 

 should be shown to give additional prizes to any vegetables of 

 real merit, as such recognition often stimulates the exhibitors 

 to further efforts, and brings about the desired effect for which 

 cottagers' shows were originated.— A Young Hobtus. 



there was any prevailing fashion in judging vegetable?, but I 

 well know that some judges hold very strange opinions, and 

 make absurd awards in collections of vegetables; for instance, 

 some three years since at one of the shows held annually 

 in Scotland, one prize collection contained Red Cabbage, 

 another Drumhead Cabbage and Savoys, and the third Savoys ; 

 while other collections containing superior examples cf Cauli- 

 flower, Celery, &c, were overlooked. What says Mr. Fair- 

 weather to these decisions ? Does be " or any other man " 

 consider such thirgs in season on the 1st of September? 



Now for the cure. Let me suggest, as I have often done 

 before, that in all collections of vegetables the varieties should 

 be named in the schedule. This would prevent any difference 

 of opinion with the judges, and their task would be an easy one, 

 for quality must or should win. Exhibitors would then be 

 able to form an opinion of tho abilities of those appointed to 

 decide upon the respective merits of their products. 



One more suggestion — and that is, Let all judges use the 

 knife freely. Where any doubt exists let them not decide in 

 haste, because some collections are so well polished and other- 

 wise prepared to gain tho highest honours and most money. 

 If, as it is customary to cut Melons to teBt their quality, and to 

 taste Grapes and other fruits for flavour and ripeness, I main- 

 tain that it is as necessary and important to cut vegetables to 

 arrive at a satisfactory decision. — Cleveland. 



I am not disposed to agree with Mr. Fairweather that Peas, 

 Cauliflower, and Potatoes are to be put upon the same level 

 with Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and Vegetable Marrows ; the latter 

 trio must in my opinion have the first place as the choicest 

 varieties. Peas, Potatoes, and Cauliflowers— admitting their 

 excellence — are common enough with every cottager, and in 

 many cases are far better grown in cottage gardens than in 

 gentlemen's gardens ; but it is not the value or importance 

 of either trio on a gentleman's table that we have to deal with, 

 but the relative value the one bears to the other when placed 

 in a collection for competition and judged by a practical man. 



We all know the value of the Potato as a standard vegetable, 

 and admit its great importance as an article of food and com- 

 merce, but he would bo a bold man who could excuse himself 

 to his employer for not growing Vegetable Marrows, Tomatoes, 

 and Cacumbers because Peas, Potatoes, and Cauliflowers were 

 of more value and importance on his table. 



I was not aware until so informed by Mr. Fairweather that 



OUE BORDEB FLOWERS- VERATRUMS. 



If we may credit date3 the Veratrums found their way to 

 our shores in 159f>, we might have thought that they would 

 be seen everywhere, but experience proves t!:6 contrary to be 

 the fact. We may sometimes see a solitary plant, when it is 

 regarded almost as a curiosity. Perhaps old Gerarde and 

 others of his times were better acquainted with them than wo 

 are in these days of artistic gardening. The Veratrums are 

 but a small family widely distributed. 



They are a family of plants of sterling merit, and one can- 

 not but regret that they are so generally neglected. They 

 are not over-particular as to soil and situation, but the better 

 1hey are treated the more beautiful they become. They may 

 be made very effective in many ways and in many places both 

 in and out of doors. They are excellent for vases on terrace 

 walks, and are well adapted for exhibition ; their splendid 

 foliage and charming habit are conspicuous and attractive. 

 They are well adapted for open spaces in the shrubbery. If 

 well plaEted in deep and well-drained soil, composed of loam 

 and vegetable matter, they will take care of themselves for a 

 very long time. I know aplace where some of them are planted- 

 out on a grassy slope and have taken care of themselves for 

 more than twenty years, and they are greatly admired in late 

 summer and autumn. They are increased by division in the 

 spring when they are commencing their growth, or by seed 

 sown as soon as ripe. The seed is a loDg time before it 

 germinates, and should be kept in a cold pit or frame and pro- 

 tected from severe frost. 



Veratrum nigrum is the species most commonly met with. 

 Veratrum album is the plant that affords us the Hellebore 

 powder that helps us to rid ourselves of the Gooseberry cater- 

 pillars. V. viride is a very desirable plant and ought to ba in 

 all gardens, for if not bright in colour there is something 

 pleasing in its green flowers. When V. nigrum and V. album 

 are contrasted together a very pleasing effect is produced. 

 These plants if brought into more general cultivation would 

 rival some of those subtropical subjects of which we hear so 

 much, for the bold ribbed leaves of the Veratrums could not 

 fail to place them in a high position among the beautiful- 

 foliaged plants which are engaging attention at the present 

 day. — Veritas. 



NOTES on VILLA and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 

 Flower Garden. — After an unusually long and mild autumn 

 frosts have at length arrived and destroyed all tender plants. 

 Heliotropes, Salvias, Dahlias, Alternantheras, Cannas, and many 

 others are killed to the ground, and flower gardens Lava now quite 

 a shabby appearance. ThoBe who grow spring-flowering plants 

 Bhould now clear the beds, dig and dress them, and have the spring 

 flowers planted without delay. A few of the summer bedding 

 plants, however, are not injured, and these may remain for some 

 time longer. Such plants as Sedum aureum variegatum, Golden 

 Feather, Me6embryanthemums, Leucopbyton Brownii, and 

 some others still look fresh and cheerful, and are among the 

 best of our late bedding plantB. Golden Chickweed has lo3t its 



