534 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the hesitating response, " if you look at it in that way. But 

 'flavour,' you know! " He was invited to taste Mrs. Pearson, 

 and say if it is third-rate. He tasted, and with a look of surprise 

 said : " Why, it's good ; I think it will have to be first, after all." 

 First it was by far, Foster's Seedling second, and the draggling 

 strip of Muscat, without the suspicion of a shoulder, third. 

 Given equal excellence in cultivation in two bunches, then the 

 casting vote might well go to the variety possessing as such the 

 best flavour, even if this were not quite developed at the time. 



When there is a conflict of nearly evenly balanced merits let a 

 judge who knows what a bunch of any particular variety should 

 be to entitle it to be regarded as " first class " ask himself this 

 question : "If I were the grower of these two sets of Grapes of 

 which of them should I be the more proud, and if I could only 

 exhibit one set for a prize which should I choose ? " He will 

 then extricate himself from the difficulty in deciding, and need 

 not concern himself about what the loser may say. If he is 

 wise he will say little, but just make up his mind to win in the 

 next contest. 



Winning and Losing. 



If bearing their honours meekly, as most successful exhibitors 

 at our shows do, is a virtue, enduring losses and disappoint- 

 ments bravely is a greater virtue still. This is happily the rule, 

 and consequently any violent departure from it stands out the 

 more boldly, and it is seldom that an exhibitor now humiliates 

 himself by vulgar abuse of a judge who has honestly done his 

 duty. It is reported of the estimable Dean of Rochester who, 

 after judging a Nottingham Rose Show, came in contact with a 

 violent loser — " My friend," the Dean is reported to have said, 

 in his own inimitable way, as he laid his hand gently on the 

 man's shoulder, " my friend, I always said if ever I went mad it 

 would be over the Rose." The rebuke so happily conveyed went 

 home and the storm ceased. 



Some few years ago one of the best of gardeners and of men 

 was taken by surprise by being placed second instead of first with a 

 collection of vegetables at Winchester. Rushing in his impetuous 

 way to find the judges ho encountered one of them. " Am I 

 to understand," he demanded in excited tones, " that you judged 

 the vegetables ? " "Yes." "What, you!" he exclaimed still 

 louder. "Yes; what is the matter with them?" "Matter, 



