FEBRUARY, 



11 



as to the general merits of new as against old Grapes, decided by a majority 

 that for general appearance and utility the new were superior to the old. 

 From this we may infer that the difference in flavour was so slight that the 

 other qualifications preponderated over it. 



Besides those exhibited by Mr. Thomson there was a small box of very 

 beautiful new Hamburghs exhibited by Mr. McKenzie, of Kemp Town, 

 Brighton. They w r ere not quite so large in the berries as Mr. Thomson's, but 

 were as black as jet, and covered with a fine thick bloom. The flavour was 

 rich, excellent, and by some considered, as a whole, superior to Mr. Thomson's, 

 but the highly-coloured ones of Mr. Thomson's bunches were equally as richly 

 flavoured as they were. 



THE NEW DAHLIAS, AND HOW TO EXHIBIT THEM. 



At the request of many parties, I give you my opinion of the Dahlias 

 which came out last season, and some of those varieties which I presume will 

 make their appearance this year. 



Last year the bulk of the flowers were pretty good. There was, however, 

 one or two of very startling quality. The best flower was Lord Derby, and 

 that flower, when bloomed in style, will not easily be beaten. I consider this 

 the best self Dahlia I have ever seen. What renders this flower the more 

 remarkable is, that it was raised by our old friend Glenny, who sold it to 

 Mr. Pope out of the seedling-bed. There is a white of very first-rate quality 

 in Miss Henshaw, and a dark variety in Donald Beaton : these, with Lady Elcho, 

 Delicata, and Bob Ridley, comprise the six best flowers of the year. The next 

 best six flowers are Goldfinder, Empress of India, Cygnet, Imperial, General 

 Jackson, and Model. There are six others which, although second-class, will 

 be useful for a season or two — namely, Black Prince, Countess Portsmouth, 

 John Warren, Mrs. Bush, Capt. Harvey, and Handforth Hero. 



Fancy flowers are very few in number, Mrs. Crisp and Reliance are the 

 only two that will stand the test. There has been a great deal said about 

 amalgamating the Fancy flowers with what are termed the show varieties. 

 Now, I think the best division would be, the best twenty-four self varieties, and 

 the best twenty-four striped, tipped, edged, or shaded : this would make two 

 distinct classes, and prove very attractive. I have no doubt if the great shows 

 would adopt this as a rule, both for nurserymen and amateurs, making for 

 amateurs twelve blooms in each class instead of twenty-four, it would answer 

 every purpose. I am quite ready myself to bow to any decision committees may 

 come to. ^ All I want is fair play and no favour. While I am on this matter 

 I think it very desirable that at all the great shows the manager should 

 provide show-boards to be placed according to his discretion. This would lead 

 to much uniformity, and take away much jealousy, not allowing any names 

 (until after the award) to be placed on the stands. 



Every exhibitor would be willing to pay annually for the use of these 

 stands ; and when entries are made the amount should be forwarded. There 

 are so many parties now-a-days who enter in all classes, and when it comes to 

 the point only show in half. Now, if every exhibitor for such flowers had to 

 pay a small moiety for the use of the stand, much of this would be avoided. 



These boards would apply to Verbenas, Hollyhocks, Asters, Chrysanthe- 

 mums—in fact, nearly every cut flower except Roses, and would certainly tend 

 to much greater attraction in the great exhibitions. The expense of these 

 boards would be very trifling, and would please nearly every exhibitor, as it 

 would avoid his being obliged to bring to the show two boards with him.' 



