210 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 6, 1883. 
G. amblyodon, although annua 1 , is very pretty, having large deep red 
florets deeply cut, and when sown^in patches is very effective in the 
border. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate, serrated. 
G. grandiflora, supposed to be hybrid between G. bicolor var. Drum- 
■raondi and G. aristata, but I am inclined to think G. pulchella has had 
something to do with the parentage. The flowers exceed 4 inches in 
diameter, and are of the same colour as G. pulchella. The leaves are 
■entire.—D. 
JUDGING GARDEN'S AND THEIR PRODUCE. 
Perhaps there is no more difficult question to find a satisfac¬ 
tory reply for than those propounded by “Reader” on p. Ill; 
and as criticism is solicited, or rather suggestions invited, I may 
be allowed briefly to make some remarks upon the subject that 
may help exhibitors of gardens to a solution of the fre¬ 
quently perplexing awards. The point to aim at is this—arriving 
at a satisfactory adjudication which will not only be clear to the 
adjudicators but carry with it the weight of public opinion. 
Judges are not infallible, and unless their awards are such as to 
meet the views of exhibitors, many of whom are as cognisant of 
■fie points that ought to guide them in arriving at a decision 
satisfactory alike to the unsuccessful as to the successful com¬ 
petitors as the judges themselves. It is well to bear this in 
mind, for many are of opinion that no one knows anything of 
the law of judging except those within its pale. It must be con¬ 
ceded, however, that there are many skilled cultivators which, 
though not exhibiting or adjudicating, are, from their extended 
■experience both in growing and seeing produce upon the exhi¬ 
bition table repeatedly, quite capable of forming a sound opinion 
■on the matter. Some persons say that judging is only correct 
when it meets the approval of the general public. This is hardly 
accurate, for the general public know little of the merits of 
plants, flowers, fruits, or vegetables, yet the observant and appre¬ 
ciative visitors at shows somehow seldom fail to see the justice 
•or otherwise of the awards. This is what I think “ Reader ” 
■desires to make clear—viz., that the awards may convey their 
meaning—that is, show why such an exhibitor is first and so 
■on, alike to prevent unpleasantness between competitors and to 
render the awards instructive and contribute to the general 
good. 
Now there are mistakes in judging. The greatest I know is 
that of the laudable endeavour shown by the committees of local 
shows to keep down expenses by asking some gardener in the 
locality to act as judge, who, however competent and impartial, 
is sure to be charged with partiality if he happen to be at all 
intimate with any of the competitors. I might go further by 
stating that none having the patronage of the manse or manor 
•should be selected as censors. The adjudicator ought to be one 
in no way interested in the result and personally unknown to 
any of the exhibitors. Perhaps no better judge could be found 
than one having an insight into the social and domestic life of 
the cottager, and this would point to a successful exhibitor of 
a cottage garden in a distant locality being the most likely 
person to appoint as judge. But as the object of cottage shows 
is to improve and advance the art of growing plants, fruit, and 
vegetables, someone that has made a study of the special 
failings of cottage cultivators, and himself a practical grower 
of things calculated to contribute to the cottager’s benefit and 
pleasure, would be an admirable adjunct in judging; if, indeed, 
a better judge could be found. I allude to the country clergy¬ 
men, most of whom have gardens, and for pecuniary reasons 
■cultivate them so as to contribute in the highest degree to the 
use and adornment of the household. 
The first consideration in judging a cottage garden should be 
superiority of cultivation, as to excel in this there must be order 
and thorough cleanliness. Means should be entirely excluded. 
By this I intend to convey that a cottager with his few shillings 
a week, and the art’san with his more liberal allowance, should 
be placed on an equal footing—judge the gardens by their occu¬ 
pants, and not by their size and conveniences for production. 
The artisan may have a greenhouse and frames for raising plants 
in spring and wintering them, but the more humble labourer has 
3io such means, and shall he be excluded, because of his means, 
from having a chance against his more advantageous competitor? 
By no means. He may show skill in the cultivation of hardy 
■and even common plants to which the other can lay no claim, 
and to be not more worthy of honour than one who shows but 
very indifferent skill in the cultivation of tender plants. Another 
point is this. A garden may be all aglow with Pelargoniums and 
Calceolarias, yet very little skill is needed in the cultivation of 
bedding plants as compared with that of the Rose, Carnation, 
Stocks, Asters, and other plants that cost little, and yet are so 
appropriate for home cheerfulness. 
As to “ Reader’s ” query, “ Should a flower garden be placed 
before a kitchen garden, both showing great excellence of cul¬ 
tivation?” is one that meets its answer in the axiom—viz., 
Use first, then ornament. Still, studying excellence of culti¬ 
vation, it would rest entirely as to which of the two had the 
highest marks in point of cultivation. The owner of the flower 
garden cared nothing for vegetables, and the owner of the vege¬ 
table garden set little store by flowers. They may ride their 
hobbies. If equal in point of merit it ought to go to the vege¬ 
table garden, for the simple reason that vegetables are more 
useful to a cottager than flowers. 
In respect of vegetable-judging and the relative value of 
vegetables, much depends on circumstances and the time of 
holding the examination. As to circumstances, the cottager 
may have an allotment, as everyone ought, and he may grow 
such crops as Potatoes, Beans, and Onions there, so that any 
comparison of the garden of one who has an allotment and 
another who has not must be fallacious. It is extremely diffi¬ 
cult to do justice in such cases; or, if justice be done, to 
convince the competitors that it is warranted. Potatoes stand 
first, Peas would come next, then Cauliflowers, then Runner 
Beans, and following in order, Onions, Carrots, Turnips, Broad 
Beans, and White Cabbage ought to rank high from their use¬ 
fulness, then Celery and Beet. Those are all in season when 
judging cottage gardens takes place—viz., in late August and 
early September. Red Cabbage at such time would stand higher 
than White in the estimation of most judges, and Parsnips with 
Leeks, as they are winter crops, and not then in season, would 
bring up the rear. Your correspondent omits mention of either 
Ridge Cucumbers or Vegetable Marrows. These ought certainly 
to follow after Runner Beans, and would by many censors be 
placed next to Peas ; but I should not be disposed to do so from 
the great usefulness of the Cauliflowers and Runners to cot¬ 
tagers. Dwarf Kidney Beans from their more delicate flavour 
stand no chance against Runners. To conclude, I may say that 
a few well-manaeed fruit trees in a cottage garden ought to 
carry great weight with a judge, especially if the trees were 
bush or pyramid of useful kinds of Plums, Pears, and especially 
Apples.—G. Abbey. 
INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL, FLORICULTURAL, 
AND FORESTRY EXHIBITION FOR 1884. 
I hope we are now within measurable distance of this much-desired 
and long-talked-about Exhibition, judging from the report which appeared 
a few days ago as to the result of the International Fisheries Exhibition 
and the proposal made before the Executive Committee by the Chairman, 
Mr. Birkbeck, that the Commissioners were inclined to try what effect 
au exhibition of horticulture, floriculture, and forestry would have upon 
the public of this and other countries who have contributed so much to 
make the present Exhibition such a gigantic success. In my opinion 
there cannot be the slightest doubt as to the result if immediate publicity 
is given first of all that such an Exhibition will take place next year, 
and that an immediate intimation is given through the press which shall 
speedily reach all parts of the Continent and the colonies ; and, se¬ 
condly, that the Executive Committee should as early as possible call a 
meeting of the principal horticulturists in this country, and also invite 
as many as could attend of our foreign brethren, or in the event of foreign 
horticulturists not being able to attend, the Commissioners representing 
the various parts of the world at the Fisheries Exhibition, and who are 
still in London, might be invited to attend, and through them the idea 
might be transmitted to their countrymen. 
I believe such an Exhibition might be made even more attractive and 
instructive to the great mass of the people than the Exhibition now being 
held in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensing¬ 
ton, because it would or could be made to embrace a much greater variety 
of subjects and an ever-varying change of exhibits from the month of 
April to November. The whole of the space now occupied by the pisca¬ 
torial exhibits could be filled by exhibitors with plants, seeds, and all 
kinds of horticultural implements and appliances, together with the 
food products of the colonies, &c. 
On the 25th of October, 1878, whilst engaged at the great Paris 
Exhibition, I had the honour of offering to His Royal Highness the 
Prince of Wales, and Her Majesty’s Commissioners for the Exhibition 
of 1851, some suggestions respecting a proposed Colonial Museum for 
London (a copy of which I herewith enclose) some of which I respect¬ 
fully submit might be usefully adopted in connection with the proposed 
Horticultural Exhibition next year ; such, for instance, as an exhibition 
of grain, seeds, roots, &c., from the colonies and the United Kingdom 
of Great Britain and Ireland. 
I am of opinion that the Exhibition should open about the 15th of 
April, in order that the Belgian horticulturists should exhibit their 
marvellous collections of Azaleas, &c., whilst splendid collections of 
Cyclamens, Primulas, Auriculas, &c., would be staged by English 
growers, and French horticulturists might be induced to exhibit many 
