JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. c Member is, issa 
dition, well displaying the character of the species. The branches 
are strong, of considerable length, slightly bending towards the 
ground, the branehlets being closely set, drooping, and 2 to 3 feet 
long. The leaves are lance-shaped, flat, about half an inch broad 
at widest part, and of a rich shining green colour, somewhat sug¬ 
gestive of A. imoricata. One of these trees produced cones, the 
first borne in this country, in 1873. For such winter gardens this 
Araucaria is very useful, as it has a noble and striking habit. 
A. brasiliensis. —In the same house as the above at Kew are 
also fine examples of several other species, amongst them being 
one of A. brasiliensis 25 feet high. It has long slender drooping 
branches, four or five in a whorl, the branehlets being from 1 to 
3 feet long and pendulous. The leaves are tapering, closely set, 
2 to 2| inches long, and bright green, or with a slight glaucous 
hue. A variety included in the same collection named Saviana is 
distinct, the leaves being larger and more closely set; another 
variety being also known of more slender habit and named 
gracilis. This species is found on the Brazilian mountains in 
dense woods at elevations of 1200 to 3000 feet. Small plants of 
this species are not very plentiful, but I should think it would be 
useful in pots for the stages or shelves of a greenhouse, 
A. Cookii. —It is recorded in Captain Cook’s account of his 
second voyage, that an island observed near New Caledonia was 
so thickly covered with enormously tall trees of this Araucaria, 
the width of which is small in proportion to its height, said to be 
sometimes 150 feet, that they were mistaken by some for basaltic 
columns, and this peculiarity has doubtlessly given rise to the 
synonym by which the plant is known—viz., A. columnaris. 
When it was ascertained by the above-named navigator that the 
supposed columns of basalt were really living trees their situation 
was termed the Isle of Pines, and some elaborate considerations 
are indulged in by the recorder as to the fitness of the stems for 
masts. The species is also found in New Caledonia, and plants 
were introduced to this country by Mr. Charles Moore of the 
Sydney Botanic Garden in 1851, being consigned to the London 
Horticultural Society, and a plant was first exhibited in the 
following year. I am not aware that there are any large speci¬ 
mens of this in cultivation. The finest I have seen is at Kew, 
about 12 feet high, which has slightly drooping branches clothed 
with short branehlets bearing closely set needle-like leaves about 
half an inch long. A very well-grown specimen has lately been 
sent to Kew from Floors Castle, and this well shows the characters 
and beauty of the species. 
In the woodcut (fig. 75) a handsome cone of the above-men¬ 
tioned Araucaria is shown, and may be taken as an example of 
the larger cone-bearing Araucarias. The two sprays accompany¬ 
ing it are Saxegothma conspicua on the left, and Fitzroya pata- 
gonica on the right, both pretty little Conifers from the southern 
hemisphere, which succeed in the warmer sheltered parts of 
England. 
Notes on the other species of Araucaria must be reserved._ 
L. Castle. 
JUDGING AT THE EDINBURGH SHOW. 
I have watched with much interest the correspondence that 
has been going on in your columns regarding the fruit-judging at 
the International Show held in Edinburgh in September. Com¬ 
plaints, I am sorry to say, have not been confined to the judging 
of fruit alone ; but it is always thus at important exhibitions. 
Grumbling and fault-finding will continue to exist as long as 
human nature itself does. According to a west of Scotland news¬ 
paper the vegetables likewise came in for a good share of attention, 
and it was asserted that the first-prize Leeks were “ soft and flabby, 
while the second lot were firm and equally well blanched.” The 
writer of that signs himself 11 A Gardener.” I would ask in all 
fairness if any unprejudiced person thinks that the Judges, be 
they who they may, would have awarded a first prize to Leeks 
that were “ soft and flabby,” and more especially when there was 
such a close second. No, I am afraid the matter has a different 
interpretation. I know, and it was observed by many as well as 
by myself, that the Leeks in question bore evident traces of 
having been roughly handled after being judged, thus spoiling 
their appearance. 
My object in writing to you is to impress upon your wide circle 
of readers the non-desirability of paying much attention to com¬ 
plaints about judges, because nine-tenths of them will be found 
to be without foundation. The task of judges is often very diffi¬ 
cult and too often thankless. In my experience I have always 
found them actuated by a desire to deal out even-handed justice 
to the very best of their ability.— A Stirlingshire Observer. 
[No doubt this is so, and the Judges at the Show in question 
were all men of ability. In reference to the awards that have been 
questioned in the fruit classes the Judges had a more than usually 
difficult task to perform. It is for the committee of a show to 
clearly express what is required of exhibitors, and the duty of 
judges to act in accordance with the published conditions. In a 
fruit show where the question of whether fruit should be “ripe 
and fit for table ” is left open, dissatisfaction with the awards is 
sure to follow ; and whether complaints are merited or not, the 
judges are not responsible, but the committee. The question of 
judging fruit at Edinburgh is not a personal one at all.] 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
The season appears to be favourable to the Chrysanthemums, and 
the shows held to the present time have been extremely good, cut 
blooms being particularly well shown and the plants generally in 
satisfactory condition, though many would have been better a little 
later. As usual, the majority of the exhibitions are crowded into 
about a fortnight, no less than ten having been held in the first three 
days of the present week. In consequence we are unable to give 
anything more than condensed reports, indicating the chief features 
of the displays and the leading exhibitors in the principal classes. 
BRIXTON.— November 9tii and 10th. 
The exhibiting season was this year commenced by this energetic 
Society, and their twenty-third Show was alike creditable to the gar¬ 
deners of the district and to the Secretary, Mr. Hall, who so admirably 
superintends the arrangement of the exhibits. The Show was held 
in the lecture hall adjoining the Congregational Church, Streatham 
Hill, which was well filled, indeed it proved scarcely large enough, 
but by a judicious disposition of the plants and stands space was 
economised as much as possible, and yet a pleasing effect was pro¬ 
duced. Chrysanthemums formed the principal feature of the Show, 
and must be therefore first briefly noted, commencing with the 
Cut Blooms .—These were remarkably good in several classes, in¬ 
curved Japanese and Anemones being well represented. For twenty- 
four incurved Mr. J. Holmes, gardener to G. M. Storey, Esq., Night¬ 
ingale Lane, secured chief honours with a stand of even, fresh, sub¬ 
stantial, and beautiful blooms of the following varieties :—Conqueror 
of India, Baron Beust, Princess Teck, John Salter, Jardin des Plantes, 
Princess Beatrice, White Globe, Nil Desperandum, Beverley, Prince 
Alfred, Mr. Bunn, Lady Hardinge, Mr. Brunlees, Alfred Salter, Mrs. 
Haliburton, Princess of Wales, Mrs. Heale, White Venus, Queen of 
England, Cherub, and Lady Slade. Of the five other competitors 
Mr. A. Holmes, gardener to A. B. Hill, Esq., Clapham Park, and Mr. 
Salter, gardener to J. Southgate, Esq., Leigham Court Road, were 
second and third respectively, both showing good blooms. Seven 
collections of twelve incurved were staged, Messrs. A. Holmes, J. 
Holmes, and T. Sadler, gardener to Ch. Lambert, Esq., Leigham Court 
Road, were the prizetakers in that order. Mr. J. Holmes was again 
the most successful exhibitor of twenty-four Japanese blooms, 
securing the leading prize with large richly coloured examples of 
Cry Kang, Soleil de Levant, Gloire de Toulouse, Red Gauntlet, Hiver 
Fleur, Red Dragon, Dr. Macary (fine), Bronze Dragon, Abdel Kadir, 
Curiosity, Jane Salter, Elaine, Plantagenet, L’lncomparable, Baronne 
de Frailly, Peter the Great, Magnum Bonum, Fair Maid of Guernsey, 
Fulgore, G. Delaux, Sarnia, Criterion, Rosa Bonheur, and Nuit 
d’Hiver. Mr. J. Young, gardener to T. Hicks, Esq., Streatham Hill, 
and Mr. W. Clark, gardener to J. Rains, Esq., Nightingale Lane, were 
second and third with praiseworthy blooms. The best twelve Japanese 
were from Mr. A. Holmes, who took first honours, followed by Messrs. 
W. Green, gardener to H. Russell, Esq., Clapham Common; and E. 
Cherry, gardener to Mrs. Gabriel, Streatham. Two very pretty col¬ 
lections of Anemone-flowered varieties were staged by Mr. J. Howes, 
gardener to Mrs. F. Besant, Tulse Hill, and Mr. J. Swain, gardener to 
Mrs. Wilson, Lower Tulse Hill. The first named had the following 
Pompon varieties : Toinette, Sidonia, Marguerite de Willdemar, 
Aglaia, Firefly, Madame Chalarge, Perle, Miss Nightingale, Antonius, 
Calliope, Mr. Astie, and Marguerite de Coix; while the large-flowered 
varieties shown by Mr. Swain were Acquisition, Lady Marguerite, 
Gluck, George Sands, Louis Bonamy, Prince of Anemones, Fleur de 
Marie, and Princess Louise. Other exhibitors in these classes were 
Messrs. Young and Livermore. In the class for twelve incurved 
blooms, confined to those who have not previously taken a prize, 
Mr. J. T. Salter, gardener to Mark Sheppard, Esq., Roupell Park, and 
Mr. C. Prestoe, gardener to B. F. Smith, Esq., Tulse Hill, were 
accorded the first and second prizes for blooms of fair quality. 
Specimen Plants .—Some neat examples of these w'ere shown, indi¬ 
cating a steady improvement. The best class was that for six plants, 
large-flowered varieties, in which Mr. Cherry was adjudged chief 
honours for well-grown specimens, not too rigidly tied, and bearing 
fine blooms. The varieties were Prince of Wales, Barbara, Mrs. Hali¬ 
burton, Venus, Mrs. Dixon, and Elaine. Mr. J. Howes followed with 
good plants, but rather stiff, and the blooms not fully developed. 
Mr. Cherry also had the best six dwarf Pompons, being well-flowered 
plants of La Vogue, Cedo Nulli, Sunset, Mr. Astie, Fanny, and Jean 
Hatchett; Mr. J. Howes following in that class also. Trios were 
shown by Messrs. Cherry and Salter, who were placed in that order, 
