October 28, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
393 
this or Greenup's was the recognised “ Beauty,” and the point is settled. 
I now recommend them both as good and perfectly distinct, indeed, as two 
of the best Apples in cultivation. The Cobham is very much like the 
Blenheim Pippin, but not so flat, and generally brighter in colour. 
I ALWAYS admire a neat retort, and anything better in its way I have 
not seen for a long time than a short sentence by “ D., Deal,” on page 
359. Relative to tho division of one prize between two exhibitors, your 
correspondent says, “ One writer suggested that such things were some¬ 
times done to make it pleasant for both parties. I think this betrays a 
great ignorance of human nature, for the inevitable result is dissatisfac¬ 
tion, each probably thinking that he ought to have the whole prize.” That 
is rather clever because of the doubtful element in the case, as to whether 
the gentle insinuation of “ ignorance ” is intended for myself as the 
“ writer ” alluded to, or to the judges who do such curious things. If the 
elegant epithet quoted is applied to myself, I bow acceptance ; but would 
remark that the question is not the study of mankind, but the alleged 
disposition of some judges to extricate themselves from a difficulty in 
close competition by awarding equal prizes to make things pleasant. I 
have seen this done more than once, or twice, or thrice, and heard the 
object avowed in some such words as these—“ It’s close, very close, 
indeed a toss up between the two ; what are we to do ? If we give it to 
this one, that growls, and if we give it to that one, this grumbles. We 
sha’n’t do far wrong by making them equal. Agreed 1 ” And the thing 
is done. That is a simple fact. Such a free and easy way of “judging” 
is only excusable (if at all) when through loose management the arrange¬ 
ments are not completed till far past the stipulated time, and the adjudi¬ 
cators have to “ rush through ” the classes as best they can. 
In my opinion, and it is arrived at after a close examination of many 
collections, not of Roses alone, but not excluding them, which have been 
placed “ equal,” that there is not a greater per-centage of garden products 
staged absolutely equal in merit than there is of “ dead-heats ” in 
University and other races, or of equal voting in parliamentary divisions. 
But in practice the disproportion is enormous, and I firmly and honestly 
believe that more than half the equal awaids that are made are wrong. 
Admitting judges to be competent, the disposition of the awards is a 
question of taking pains, not begrudging any time that may be necessary 
in finding out a possible fault, so as to turn the balance either one way 
or the other. It is extremely close competition that tries the metal of 
the men who make the awards, and they should face the difficulty and 
conquer it, not run away under the cover of a split verdict. When silver 
cups are offered they are awarded in their entirety, and judges ought to 
feel no more at liberty to divide a money prize than a silver cup. If they 
do feel justified in acting on a principle if simple justice in one case and 
if compromise or expediency in another, it would be well to know on what 
grounds. 
Tour correspondent has, I perceived, accused another writer of 
“ hitting wildly about him ” in suggesting that stands of seventy-two to 
seventy-two, thirty-six against thirty-six Roses, and so on, should be 
pitted together in competition for a premier prize beyond the ordinary 
prizes of the schedule. I have not seen this suggestion in the Journal of 
Horticulture , but may have overlooked it. Perhaps the page can be 
quoted ; or, possibly, the suggestion has appeared elsewhere, and if so, it 
is, I think, a little confusing to criticise in one journal a subject under 
discussion in another. It may, however, only be “ human nature ” to do 
so, and I am not expected to understand that ; nor have I observed the 
“ groundless gabble ” against exhibition Roses on the one hand, or the 
“sneers and vapourings ” against show Roses on the other, that are 
brought under notice in a few scathing lines on page 358. 1 fail to see 
the force of these forcible “ hits,” with no “ object ” for their reception 
in my mental vision ; but I am on delicate ground here, as my inability 
to comprehend what may be clear to others may be adduced as evidence 
that, after all, I must only be a shallow— Thinker. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
October 26th and 27th. 
The concluding Exhibition of the season at South Kensington was held 
on Tuesday and Wednesday, and in all respects proved as successful as 
those that have preceded it in the long and varied series provided this year. 
It was somewhat too early to expect an extensive display of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, but most of the blooms and groups contributed were characterised 
by good quality and bright clear colours. The vegetables, however, con¬ 
stituted the great feature, Potatoes especially being very largely shown 
both in the classes and not for competition. The class for a collection of 
vegetables was also remarkably w ell filled, no less than seventeen com¬ 
petitors staging, the general quality being so even that it was only by a 
very close and careful scrutiny the three prizewinners could be selected. 
The special prizes offered by several seed firms also brought a number of 
exhibits in the Pstato classes, and with the collections of Canadian Apples 
which have been previously noted, all available space in the conservatory 
was filled. 
Fruit Committee.— Present: T. F. Rivers, Esq., in the chair, and 
Messrs. G. Bunyard, Philip Crowley, W. Denning, J. Ellam, G. Goldsmith, 
T. B. Haywood, G. T. Miles, J. Roberts, A. W. Sutton, H. J. Yeitch, 
J. Willard, C. Ross, and J. Woodbridge. 
Messrs. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, showed fruits of the Wyedale 
Plum, a dark purple, oval shape, medium size variety, but prolific, and of 
good quality. The Committee considered that this Plum should be more 
generally known, as it is a valuable late cooking Plum (vote of thanks). 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent a tree in a pot of Apple Prince 
Bismarck from under glass, but this was not enough to enable an opinion 
to be expressed in accordance with the rules of the Committee, and it was 
requested that the fruit be shown again from trees out of doors. Mr. W. 
Divers, Ketton Hall, Stamford, was accorded a vote of thanks for handsome 
fruits of Salwey Poach from a cool house. Messrs. J. Backhouse it Son, 
York, exhibited a Pear named Backhouse’s Beurrd, but it was not in suit¬ 
able condition, and it is desired to see it again. R. Scrase Dickens, Esq., 
Coulhurst, showed large highly coloured fruits of Apple Hollandbury (vote of 
thanks). Mr. Laxton, Bedford, exhibited fruits of Pear Laxton’s Berga¬ 
mot, which were passed. W. Roupell, Esq., Harvey Lodge, was awarded a 
cultural commendation for two well-fruited trees in pots of the Melon 
Apple. They were on the Paradise stock taken from the open ground. It 
was stated that the fruit kept until the end of March this year, and it sets 
its fruit well, as it blooms late. Mr. Roupell also showed some fine well, 
coloured Muscat of Alexandria Grapes (vote of thanks). Mr. R. Dean- 
Ealing, showed bunches of Madresfield Court Grapes from Vines out of 
doors, the berries of fair size and colour (vote of thanks). Mr. R. Fenn, 
Sulhamstead, exhibited sample bottles of home-made wines prepared from 
Grapes, Gooseberry, and Rhubarb, a blending of the last two fifteen years 
old being of good flavour, but the Committee declined to express any 
opinion respecting them. From the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens 
at Chiswick was sent a collection of American Grapes, comprising Ferdi¬ 
nand de Lesseps, Pockliugton, Chasselas Rose, Virginia, Lady Washington, 
Jefferson, Strawberry, and Brighton, the two first named being the best in 
flavour. 
Floral Committee. —Present: G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair, 
and Messrs. H. Bennett, W. Wilks. W. Bealby, G. Duffield, J. Hudson, H. 
Herbst, T. Baines, W. Holmes, A. Perry, W. H. Low, H. Low, H. Ballan- 
tine, J. Douglas, H. M. Pollett, J. O’Biien, A. Turner, E. Hill, C. Noble, H. 
Cannell, and A. J. Lendy. 
From R. J. Measures, Esq., Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell (gardener, Mr. 
Simpkins), came a plant of Cattleya bicolor marginata, with greenish sepals 
and petals, the lip crimson edged with white, the column large and white 
(vote of thanks). F. G. Tautz, Esq., Studley House, Goldhawk Road, 
Hammersmith (gardener, Mr. J. C. Cowley), was awarded a cultural com¬ 
mendation for Dendrobium ruperbiens, with a stout pBeudo-bulb over 2 feet 
long, and bearing two racemes of ten deep purplish flowers. Mr.. B. S. 
Williams, Upper Holloway, had five Hybrid Amaryllises of the reticulata 
type, comprising Pioneer, a cross betw r een Crimson King and Mrs. Garfield, 
the flowers scarlet, with no veining as in the other forms; Mrs. W. Lee, a 
bright rose, veining,'and suffusion on a white ground ; Mrs. Garfield pale rose 
reticulation on a pure white ground, very delicate and beautiful; solandras- 
flora reticulata, flower long, veined and suffused with rosy red, and Pirloti, a 
very distinct form, with deep rose-crimson boldly marked veins and a 
central white bar in each petal. These varieties form a beautiful group 
with good foliage, and bloom freely from now onwards to Christmas. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, showed some pots of the bright yellow 
Sternbergia lutea, the purplish Colchium speciosum, and profusely flowered 
specimens of Saxifraga Fortunei (vote of thanks). Mr. H. B. May, Upper 
Edmonton, exhibited an elegant crested Fern named Pteris tremula 
grandiceps, which the Committee desire to see again. Messrs. H. Low and 
Co., Upper Clapton, had a plant of Warscewiczella cochlearis with long 
tapering leaves and narrow white lanceolate sepals and petals, the lip 
large scoop-like, veined with light purple at the base and a darker shade at 
the apex. Messrs. W. Cutbush <fe Son, Highgate, had some baskets of 
Pernettya mucronata varieties bearing numerous fruits—red, purple, lilac, 
mauve, and white. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, showed plants of Erica 
Maweana with large purplish flowers (vote of thanks), and a new pillar 
Rose, Paul’s Single, the blooms large, white, or blush. Herr Max Kolb, 
Botanic Gardens, Munich, sent a plant of Anthurium Martianum, a strong 
growing with thick lanceolate dark green leaves. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, were awarded a bronze medal for a 
collection of Chrysanthemum blooms, including specimens of several good 
new Japanese varieties and others like Beaut 5 des Jardins, James Salter, 
Lady Selborne, M. Henri Jacotot, Flambeau, and M. Moussillac which are 
better known. A cultural commendation was awarded for Begonia Double 
White, a tuberous variety with most symmetrically formed flowers of 
medium size. The petals are as regularly placed as in a white Camellia or 
a Gardenia flower, the plant is of excellent compact habit and very flori- 
ferous. A bronze medal was adjudged to Messrs. Hooper tfe Co., Co vent 
Garden, for a group jof ^Carnations in pots, and a box of cut blooms ; Dr. 
Raymond, maroon; A. Alegatiere, scarlet; Irma, rose; and Mdlle. Carle, 
white, were the best of the varieties. Mr. R. Owen, Maidenhead, exhibited 
blooms of Cactus Dahlia marginata, a sport from Cochineal, scarlet, edged 
with a lighter shade, and Chrysanthemum carinatum varieties ; Cloth of Gold, 
Cloth of Silver, Yellow Perfection, and Superbum, with some handsome 
Tuberous Begonia blooms. Mr. E. Beckett, Aldenham Park Gardens, 
Elstree, showed some Bouvardias, a pale pink sport from Hogarth being 
named Blushing Bride; he also had blooms of Chrysanthemum Curew Under¬ 
wood, a bronze sport from Baronne de Prailly. Mr. Molyneux, Bishops 
Waltham, sent blooms of Chrysanthemum Marie Louise, said to be a sport 
from Bouquet Fait, and of La Triomphante, a ne w Japanese of great promise. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Chrysanthemum William Stevens (Stevens).—A Japanese variety, with 
flat for slightly fluted florets, bronze red with a yellowish reverse, the bloom 
large and of good substance. , . . 
Bignonia Chamberlayni (C. R. S. Dickens, Esq.).—A capital climbing plant 
for a conservatory, the leaves elliptical, bright shining green, the flowers 
tubular or trumpet-shaped, in pendulous racemes. . ... 
Cattleya Eldorado virginalis (H. M. Pollett, E?q.).—A variety with pure 
white well-formed flowers, the lip pale yellow on the throat. 
Chrysanthemum Flambeau Toulousaine ;(R. Owen).—A neat I ompon 
variety like Model of Perfection, pale clear rose edged with white. . 
Chrysanthemum Elise Uurdan (J. Laing ife Co.).—A Pompon previously 
certificated at the Royal Aquarium and described in the report last week. 
Primula Beuli (G. F. Wilson).—An interesting distinct Himalayan 
Primula with small white bell-shaped flowers.. The plant shown was very 
small and had only three flowers. A botanical certificate was awarded 
for it. 
