August 24, 1693. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
173 
- The Island op Foemosa. —A report on the Island of Formosa 
by Mr. Hosie has been published as a Parliamentary paper. It is the 
first which has been issued in this country since 1886, and in the 
interval the island has become an independent province of the Chinese 
Empire. The agricultural products include Rice (two crops annually), 
Wheat, Millet, Indian Corn, Sweet Potatoes, and other bulbous plants, 
and various kinds of Yams. Bamboos and Lotuses flourish in the North, 
and the Ginger plant is freely cultivated. The Guava tree grows wild# 
Mr. Hosie says : “ In respect of economic plants the island is indeed 
wealthy, but up to the present neither the native nor the foreigner has 
taken full advantage of the wealth.” The other products include Tea 
(a black variety erroneously classed as green), camphor, sulphur, and 
tobacco. Two kinds of sugar are obtained, the most important being 
“ Saccharum sinense, J7oarZ>.” In conclusion, Mr. Hosie says that the 
trade of the island is woefully undeveloped. The bulk of the tea goes to 
the United States, and most of the sugar to Japan. 
- Wild Flowee Competitions. —Almost everywhere these 
competitions are to my mind very unsatisfactory. At one show I found 
not less than eighty-five bunches of wild flowers staged in competition 
for three prizes, and though three others were awarded, there were 
seventy-nine unsuccessful exhibitors. In the corresponding class for 
baskets of wild flowers there were thirty-one exhibits, leaving twenty-six 
that were disappointed. A very interesting class, however, was one of 
wild flowers, dried and preserved in book albums. Three of these were 
exhibited, the contents well preserved but very indifferently named, not 
one botanically, and the common names more or less local or incorrect. 
I ventured later in addressing the visitors to urge that some local effort 
should be made, as I would wish to see it universally made in rural 
districts, to form classes for the instruction of children in the botanical 
and common nomenclature of wild flowers, as that would be educational 
and useful, whilst the present practice of asking for mere bunches did no 
good whatever.— Alex. Dean. 
- Peeshoee Flowee Show. —This and the attractions which 
are associated with it provide one of the most popular holidays in South 
Worcestershire. The eighteenth annual gathering took place on 17th 
inst., and the result must have been eminently satisfactory to all engaged 
in its promotion. The Show was revived after an interval last year, 
and the new management, which then successfully commenced its career, 
has continued to extend and develop the attractions of the horticul¬ 
tural Show and the attendant entertainments. Their enterprise was 
fairly rewarded, the attendance being larger than last year, and number¬ 
ing between 6000 and 7000. The pleasant grounds of the Abbey, again 
placed at the disposal of the Committee by Major Hudson, formed a 
picturesque locale for the Exhibition. The Show displayed many 
points of excellence. Of the plants and flowers shown. Ferns, Coleus, 
and Fuchsias were thoroughly good exhibits. Begonias were creditable, 
and Asters, Zinnias, Roses, and Dahlias were all good and well shown 
for the season. Fruit was on the whole excellent. The Apples were 
remarkably fine. The Kent fruit sent by Mr. Bunyard was well to 
the front. 
- Peopoetional Prizegiving. —I beg to thank Mr. Cummins 
for the information respecting the ultimate apportioning of the prizes 
at Carshalton published under my reference to the subject of last week. 
The figures given stand as an admirable object lesson, and merit every 
attention. I looked for four prizes only, but six were awarded. Now 
had the six been provided on the ordinary system we should have seen 
the £5 divided about as follows—SOs., 253., 203., Hs.. 7s., Is. The new 
method of apportionment given aecording to actual merit shows that the 
first prize is but 8.3. 3d. more than is the sixth or lowest. The first and 
second prizewinners may grumble, but the lower winners have much to 
be satisfied with. Another excellent result of the system I uphold is that 
no prize awarded is higher than the relative merits of the exhibit 
require. Thus in this particular competition the first prize collection 
was 18J points below the Judges’ maximum, showing that there was 
room for half a dozen better exhibits to have come between it and the 
maximum. Who, in such case, therefore are entitled to complain ? I 
do not understand that the general adoption of the system advocated 
would necessitate a greater number of judges, except that it would often 
compel a higher appreciation of the work involved, and keener examina¬ 
tion. But very much of judging is done by poin s already, and in all 
cases a maximum being determined even for .single dishes, or of any¬ 
thing, let the points be written on the backs of the entry cards, with 
the position of the collection, and the thing is done. It would really 
rest with the Committee to properly apportion the prize money.— 
A. Dean. 
- The Beeadalbane Vine. —In the article in your last issue 
(page 139) entitled “ The Giants of Grapedom,” which I have found 
very interesting, there is an incidental reference to the Breadalbane 
Vine, regarding which the writer desires farther information. I had the 
pleasure of inspecting this famous Vine several years ago; but the 
statistics then acquired would not obviously describe either its dimen¬ 
sions or its productiveness at the present time. It constitutes un¬ 
doubtedly the prevailing attraction at the beautiful Killin residence of 
the Marquis of Breadalbane. I understand that the splendid Grapes 
produced by this Vine are annually distributed by the benevolent 
Marchioness among the hospitals and infirmaries of Edinburgh and 
Glasgow. Her ladyship is exceedingly popular in the former eity, in 
whose charitable institutions she takes a deep interest. Her husband 
is at present the representative of the Queen at the General Assembly 
of the Church of Scotland. I have no doubt that the Marquis of 
Breadalbane’s head gardener at Auchmore in Killin parish, Perthshire, 
would be very glad to give your contributor the required statistics 
regarding the world-famous Breadalbane Vine. If he desires me to do 
so I will write to him on the subject.— David R, Williamson. 
- Beediansk Grapes. —Berdiansk is celebrated in Southern 
Russia for the size and sweetness of its Grapes. The British Consul 
in Southern Russia in a recent report speaks of Berdiansk town as 
formed by Prince Woronsoff in 1842 on the low ground adjoining the 
steppe, and was originally probably washed by the Sea of Azof, the soil 
being entirely sand and shells, with brackish water everywhere within 
a foot of the surface. Plans were drawn up for the formation of gardens, 
and about 800 acres were offered to peasants and German colonists, on 
condition that they planted not less than 120 fruit trees or 2400 Vines 
per desiatine of 2 7 acres, a rent of 7J per annum per desiatine being 
levied. Sole ownership was granted upon condition that, in case of 
default, the land would revert to the town. Every available plot was 
soon taken up, and in a few years the entire space was transformed into 
well-arranged and profitable gardens. During 1888 this experiment was 
repeated by the Town Council. A quantity of land—about 500 desiatines 
—was sold by auction, and averaged £10 to £50 per desiatine, the terms 
being an annual payment of 6s. per desiatine for ten years, and the 
same conditions as to cultivation. No difliculty occurred in finding 
purchasers, and the necessary Vines and fruit trees were planted, and 
the gardens now present a very favourable aspect. The Vines thrive 
well, and already bear fruit, large quantities of ordinary garden produce 
being also grown. The descriptions of Vines principally grown here are 
the Chassla or Bernska, Chaons, Isabella, black and white Muscat, 
Burgonski, Arcitinski, and the Alexandra Muscat. The Vines give a 
greater yield on the low, sandy soil; but the more delicate kinds thrive 
better on the slopes in a clay soil. About 3000 Vines occupy a desiatine 
of land, and no manuring is practised, although, where experiments have 
been made with old Vines, manure has been found advantageous. The 
average yield of Grapes of the common kinds is about 10 lbs. per Vine, 
36 lbs. producing about 2 gallons of wine. The superior kinds give a 
smaller yield. Prices of Grapes average from Is. 8d. to 8s. per 36 lbs., 
and new wine from 3s. to lOs. per 2 gallons. The crushing is carried on 
in a primitive manner, and little attention is paid to sorting or cleaning. 
Bulgarian and German colonists go in from the country districts during 
the early autumn and buy up the wine, none being as yet exported. 
There are several large private growers, who take special care in the 
cultivation of their Vines and preparation of wine, and some good, 
sound wine can be generally found in their cellars. The bulk of the 
wine being of a light character (8 to 10 per cent, of alcohol), does not 
bear keeping ; but where the superior kinds are properly cleared from 
the stalks and sun-dried a good, strong wine is obtained, which keeps 
well, and can be bought at 12s. to 163. per 2 gallons. No phylloxera or 
other Vine disease has yet been experienced at Berdiansk. It is estimated 
that some 1500 desiatines of land are under Vine cultivation amongst 
the various colonies and villages in the district, in addition to the 
quantity belonging to the town. Probably in a short time an outlet will 
have to be found for the surplus wine, as the quantity produced will be 
doubled, and the supply will be greater than can be consumed in the 
surrounding districts. The Vines seldom fail to give a good yield. The 
cultivation, therefore, is found to be lucrative ; but it is five years before 
the Vine is in full bearing. The present production of wine at Berdiansk 
amounts to about 300,000 gallons per annum. The Vines during the 
autumn are bent down and well covered over with earth to provide 
against the attack of the severe frosts. In the spring this is removed 
and the Vines cut down to 2 feet and 3 feet from the ground, and no 
more than five stalks or branches are allowed to remain, and these have 
necessarily four or five buds on each. 
