HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS AND SCHEDULES. £33 



Melons to be eligible for prizes should not be less than 15 inches 

 in circumference. 



What may be termed the "Flavour Grape" competition 

 proposals are good, but unless good culture is also an essential, 

 and in evidence, the exhibits would be so weak and poor in 

 appearance that the varieties would be more likely to repel than 

 to attract, and to decrease rather than increase in cultivation. 



Until such 4 4 flavour" classes are provided as suggested, we 

 have to accept facts as we find them ; and if we find, as we do. 

 the heavy " cart-horse " Grapes and the more refined " racer " 

 types exhibited together, they have to be dealt with. This is a 

 difficulty which cannot be evaded, and must be surmounted. In 

 searching for the best and most equitable way of doing this, we 

 must not overlook the existence of an indisputable concrete fact, 

 namely, that neither late Grapes, late Apples, nor late Pears can 

 be judged by flavour at a summer or early autumn show ; but 

 they can be for " cultural excellence." A determining factor, 

 then, is, Which displays the higher cultural merit for the 

 respective varieties, or which has the fewer faults, apart from 

 flavour, which is not yet in some varieties developed, and this 

 from no possible fault of the cultivator ? 



Here comes in the importance of having judges who 

 thoroughly understand Grapes and the characteristics of varie- 

 ties, including their ease or difficulty of cultivation. Such a 

 judge would not be prone to err by rating a cluster of Alicante, 

 weighing 4 or 5 lbs., many if any points higher than a full and 

 well finished bunch of Madresfield Court or Muscat Hamburgh, 

 a pound or so lighter. On the other hand, he would not allow 

 flavour alone, as represented in a poorly grown bunch of any 

 variety of Grape, to ride triumphant over another infinitely 

 more meritorious as an example of superior cultivation. An 

 episode in practice will make the point clear. 



Three bunches of Grapes were in competition at a November 

 show — Muscat of Alexandria, Mrs. Pearson, and Foster's Seed- 

 ling. " Oh," observed one of the judges, " the Muscat must be 

 first, of course ! " " What ! " rejoined the other, " why, it is 

 only a fifth-rate sample of what a Muscat should be, while Mrs. 

 Pearson is a first-rate sample. Did you ever see a better example 

 of it ; full of fine clear berries, and probably 3 lbs. in weight ; 

 and did you ever see a much worse Muscat 2 " " Oh, well," was 



