106 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 11, 1892. 
remembered that we aim at growing something of the highest 
quality for table use, and the gigantic specimens we so often see 
on the exhibition table are practically worthless for that purpose. 
At lifting time we are apt to set aside our very best and most 
shapely tubers because we think they are not quite large enough. 
I trust the day is not far distant when quality will take the place 
of quantity. Depend upon it, our exhibition tables will be made 
more attractive by the change, exhibitors will derive infinitely 
more satisfaction, and the competition, which now too often is 
confined to a few specialists, will be keener. 
The Beet. 
Nothing is more effective on the exhibition table than a well- 
grown dish of Beet, and which, with a little care and trouble, 
can be grown nearly as perfect in shape as a Carrot. The soil to 
grow it for exhibition should be precisely the same as that I have 
described for Potatoes—viz., a mixture of good light loam, peat, 
vegetable ash, and sea 'and. Prepare the soil in autumn by 
trenching to a depth of 18 inches, and having roughly shaped the 
bed, let it lie rough all the winter. A little well-decayed manure 
may be placed at the bottom of the trench, but none mixed Avith 
the soil, either in autumn or at sowing time. About the beginning 
of March turn the bed over and sow a little salt and soot. About 
the first week in April prepare the bed for sowing, which, when 
finished, should stand 10 inches above the level. Make the drills 
1 inch deep and a foot apart. Sow thinly, but evenly, not in 
clumps at a certain distance apart, which is sometimes the custom, 
as, by so doing, the plant intended to stand is often pushed on one 
side, and is apt to grow crooked. Should the weather be warm 
and dry, give tbe bed a good soaking. As soon as ever the seed is 
up, give the bed a good dusting over with vegetable ash, which will 
effectually prevent the ravages of slugs. As the seed intended to 
produce exhibition roots will have to be sown (in cold districts) at 
least a fortnight earlier than the main crop some protection to 
guard against the spring frosts will be necessary. For this 
purpose drive a few stakes into the ground each side of the 
rows, against which place deal planks in a slanting position, so 
as to leave about 2 inches open at the top. These planks can 
be removed in the daytime, and replaced at night. Nothing 
but pure water must be used, no liquid manure of any sort. 
Do not prepare a large bed for exhibition purposes ; one large 
enough to contain from twelve to eighteen plants is all that will 
be required, as, if the seed be good, nearly every root will be fit 
for the exhibition table under the treatment I describe, and with 
very few of the coarse fibrous roots at the side and tail. A model 
root for exhibition should be as nearly as possible the shape of a 
fairlj’ grown Carrot, of moderate length and size, of the finest 
colour and texture, and free from the long coarse tail so often seen 
but not appreciated, being perfectly worthless for culinary pur¬ 
poses. Lift and prepare the roots for exhibition the same day as 
they are wanted, if possible, as the skin becomes somewhat rusty in 
colour if exposed for any length of time to the air and light. 
The Turnip. 
Of all our garden vegetables (Potatoes excepted) perhaps the 
Turnip may be classed among the most useful, and it therefore 
deserves the best cultivation that can be given to it. It will grow 
in shade and in sunshine, in poor ground and in rich, and will yield 
a plentiful supply, at least eight months in the year, if properly 
managed. Among the early sorts I think the Snowball is about 
the best, and for summer and autumn crop nothing can surpass 
Veitch’s Red Globe, which, under many years of trial, I take to be 
the very best white-fleshed Turnip in cultivation. It has often 
been a matter of surprise to me why yellow-fleshed Turnips are not 
more cultivated. If people only knew their vastly superior quality 
and flavour over the white-fleshed varieties a place would be found 
for them in every garden. I remember a few years ago entering a 
dish of the Golden Ball Turnip at our Exeter Show, which for 
shape and quality were good enough to take a first at any show in 
England. What was my surprise to find that the judges had only 
awarded them “highly commended.” On talking over the matter 
with my friend, Mr. Veitch, he told me that yellow-fleshed Turnips 
were not sufficiently known to be appreciated. I returned home 
thoroughly disappointed, but not beaten, for I resolved to offer a 
special prize for yellow-fleshed Turnips, in order that the public 
might judge of their quality for themselves. I trust the class will 
be better filled this year. 
Soil and Situation .—To grow Turnips for the early autumn 
exhibitions a somewhat damp and half shady position should be 
chosen, in order that the growth may not be checked during the 
excessive summer heat. The soil should be moderately light, and 
a good quantity of vegetable ash may be incorporated with it, 
but no fresh yard manure. No doubt some have remarked that the 
tap root of a Turnip when pulled from stiff soil is hard and coarse, 
but seldom or never so when taken from deeply trenched light soil. 
Time to Sow .—If roots are required for exhibition at the middle 
or end of August two sowings should be made, one about May 25th, 
the second about June 7th. It must be remembered that yellow 
varieties are slower in growth than the white, and therefore require 
a little longer time. The drills should be made 14 inches apart. 
Sow the seed thinly, but evenly. If the weather is hot and the soil 
dry, watch your bed, and as soon as you see the soil rising soak 
the bed with water in which sof tsoap has been dissolved at the rate of 
a tablespoonful to the gallon. The fly will sometimes have done 
their work of destruction before the young plants appear above ground. 
The softsoap mixture is a grand remedy, and will seldom have to 
be used a second time. If the ground is infested with wireworm a 
little mustard should be sown and trenched in the previous autumn. 
At the first thinning be very careful not to disturb or push on one 
side the plants you mean to leave, or imperfectly shaped roots 
may be expected. It is well to draw up a little earth round the 
young plants after the first thinning, in order that the wind may 
not blow them on one side. If moderately sized roots are required 
the plants may be left 8 inches apart at the final thinning, and if 
the leaves meet in the rows it will be all the better, for the ground 
will be kept moist and the roots shaded from the heat of the sun. 
Just before the plants begin to “bulb” put a good coating of 
vegetable ash over the whole bed This will preserve the skin from 
the ravages of slugs. A model Turnip for exhibition should be as 
fair in the skin as an Apple, and without a single ring, spot, or 
inequality on its surface. 
Size for Exhibition —This is a matter which requires great 
reform, for at present no one seems to know what may take the 
particular fancy of the different judges from year to year. It 
would be well to fix a standard as to size, and if the judges would 
once and for ever ignore the gigantic specimens placed on the boards 
and award prizes only to specimens of the very highest quality 
and fair table size, a great object in the right direction would be 
gsined and the beauty of our shows enhanced a thousand-fold. 
The general public visit our shows in order to inspect specimens 
of the highest excellence, and not such as they can grow and see 
in their own gardens any day. 
Now it must be remembered that having grown our exhibition 
samples well we must be able to show them well. How sorry I 
have often felt when going the round of the exhibition tables to 
see really well-grown samples passed over by the judges, and all 
because they have been shown in a slovenly way. A highly 
respected old gardener gave me a piece of practical advice twenty 
years ago which 1 shall never forget. It was this :—“ Sir, 
remember that a good dish of vegetables well shown is equal to 
a prize half won.” 
Exhibitors, as a rule, are a little shy about letting their fellow 
competitors know their special choice of varieties for exhibition; 
bat, for my own part, I do not see why such a feeling should 
exist, as, after all, the best cultivator is sure to win, be the 
variety what it may. This can be plainly seen with regard to my 
Carrots, for since the first year I exhibited the Scarlet Model 
every exhibitor has done his level best to beat me with this same 
Carrot, but has not succeeded up to now ; and in some cases no 
one would know that the samples exhibited were any relation to 
the Model at all. Among Potatoes the following are good sorts 
to grow for the purpose of exhibition, and for crop and quality 
as well:—Kidneys : Enterprise, Edgcote Purple, Reading Giant, 
Worsley Pride, The Cobbler, and Stourbridge Glory. Round 
Potatoes : Veitch’s Prodigious (rightly named, and, in my opinion, 
one of the very best for cropping and table use ; free from 
disease). The Dean, Early Puritan, Triumph, Windsor Castle, 
Renown, and Purple Perfection. In Beets I would recommend 
Pragnell’s Exhibition, Dobbie’s Dark Red (or Purple), and the 
Extra Fine Dark. In Turnips, Veitch’s Red Garden Globe, 
Golden Ball, and Snowball. 
In conclusion, I would only add. May our newly formed Asso¬ 
ciation grow aad prosper. A great need has now been supplied. 
There is a great amount of mutual help and encouragement to be 
obtained by uniting together periodically to discuss matters of 
common interest, and I feel proud to be able to call myself one of 
you. Of one thing I am certain, no one will leave our meetings, 
be he amateur or professional, without carrying away with him 
some useful hints to guide him in his future work. 
An interesting discussion followed the reading of the paper, the 
opinion being freely expressed that at exhibitions judges should 
attach greater importance to quality and not so much to size as 
they did at present. The best time for planting Potatoes was 
freely discussed, and with the majority the middle of April found 
the most favour, regard, of course, being had to the earliness or 
lateness of particular districts. A hearty vote of thanks was 
awarded to Mr. Cruwys for his paper and also to Mr. Hope for 
reading it, and a similar compliment to the Chairman for presiding 
concluded the meeting. 
