THE ADVANTAGES AND EVILS OF SIZE IN FLOWERS &c. 415 



produced in proportion to the inner core, the better either fruit or 

 vegetable must be. Equality in size is essential not merely for show 

 purposes, but also for the market and kitchen as well." 



Mr. Crook, Forde Abbey Gardens, Chard : — " Size is of less importance 

 than flavour. There are exceptions, but, generally speaking, large vege- 

 tables and fruits have not the same quality as smaller ones. As an 

 illustration, think of the large coarse Grapes, and such varieties as 4 Lady 

 Downes,' ' Black Hamburg,' and the Muscats. Then again the Pears, to 

 wit ' Beurre Clairgeau,' ' General Todleben,' ' Grosse Calebasse,' ' Hacon's 

 Incomparable,' ' King Edward,' and a host of others, against ' Winter Nelis,' 

 ' Comtede Lamy,' ' Louise Bonne,' ' Seckle,' though I admit' Doyenne du 

 Cornice ' and ' Marie Louise ' are good. Most of the large apples lack flavour, 

 even for cooking, compared with such as ' Lemon Pippin,' ' Hereford Pear- 

 main,' and the old ' Alfriston ' ; ' Blenheim Pippin ' is good, but this is 

 again the exception. Where are the apples that can be pitted against 

 1 Cox's Orange,' ' d'Arcy Spice,' and ' Cockle Pippin ' ? 



" Large vegetables are generally strong, coarse, and useless. The big 

 Cabbage, Cauliflowers, Parsnips, and Carrots, which we see, are only fit for 

 animals. 



" No Pea excels ' Ne Plus Ultra.' In Melons again nothing is better than 

 a medium fruit about 3 lb. to -4 lb. Fancy anybody sitting down to a big 

 8 lb. fruit, coarse and poor, but the prize was awarded at the Taunton 

 Show for a collection which contained such specimens. Let us have 

 things well grown (not forced) and of the best varieties and flavour first." 



Mr. S. W. Fitzherbert : — " To my mind a good large thing is better 

 than a good small one ; but if in the large thing there is any falling off 

 in quality, this at once lowers its value, for the primary consideration must 

 be quality and not size. Unfortunately both in flowers and fruit undue 

 size is often accompanied by inferior quality, which should at once debar 

 the specimen from taking the highest honours. 



" In comparing exceptionally large fruits with those of more normal 

 dimensions it will more often than not be found that the former lack the 

 flavour possessed by the latter, and judges should in this respect be guided 

 by intrinsic merit, and not by the eye. Unfortunately fruiterers only 

 think of the look, and one can hardly blame them, for the public demands 

 rather what will please the eye than the palate, and will, as a rule, buy the 

 insipid but extremely large and handsome ' Gros Maroc ' Grape in preference 

 to the luscious, but far less striking, ' Black Hamburg ' ; and it is the same 

 with other fruit. 



" With flowers extreme size means coarseness. Some maintain that 

 size is in itself a demerit. With this view I am absolutely in variance. 

 If with increased size the same perfection of form and colour is present, 

 I consider the large flower the better, but if there is the slightest hint of 

 coarseness, not shown in the smaller flower, the former should be deemed 

 inferior. 



" What is required in the production of new varieties of flowers and 

 fruit is that size should be a secondary consideration to quality. If the 

 quality can be maintained and greater size added, we are gainers. If with 

 greater size quality deteriorates, we are losers. 



" Of course in flowers the habit of the plant has also to be considered, 



