February 7, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
123 
surely behoves us to keep the disease away as far as we po-sibly can. 
This is so simple if we but take precautions from the first; but if we 
let it secure a hold, as I have already said, it is the worst of all Rose 
pests. Changes of temperature, chilly draughts, and drought are the 
chief causes. In fact I may say that a serious check from any cause 
will oftener than not result in an attack of mildew. 
I recently visited a set of Rose houses, and the majority of them 
already had serious attacks from mildew. I was much surprised to find 
this, and also to see nothing but dusting with flowers of sulphur used 
as an antidote. When sulphur is used as a dry dust we have to use 
much more than I like, it also chokes up the pores of the foliage and 
has a very unsightly appearance. Drought was the cause of mildew in 
the estimation of my friend, but I feel certain that it was the severe 
check to root growth quite as much as the former. Climbing Roses 
were grown in low, span-roofed houses, and the roots turned into 
borders on the same system as Vines. Of course many of these were 
outside, and the severe frost affected them. Some few varieties are 
affected more than others, nevertheless the first cause is the same. 
The outside roots of these Roses were protected slightly, but by no 
means sufficiently for the present severe frost. I think my readers will 
agree with me that as the young growth of these Roses was in most 
cases showing the flower bud there is little doubt the whole of their 
roots, both inside and outside, were active. My own experience tends 
to prove that we should never force Roses that have their roots in out¬ 
side soil so liable to fluctuations. Either let them be confined to the 
inside border, or else treat them in as steady and cool a manner as 
possible, 
I have traced the cause of mildew on pot plants to the use of very 
chilly water, too a strong stimulant, and to a wide fluctuation of tempe¬ 
rature, Is it not exactly the same among our summer Roses in the 
open ? We find this disease prevalent immediately on any sudden 
change or artificial means that may have resulted in a check. We 
cannot entirely avoid mildew in the open, but I contend there is very 
little excuse for it under glass, and especially in the case of a house 
devoted entirely to Roses. If the temperature rises unduly, and, as is 
so often the case at this season, a bright sun is accompanied by a keen 
wind, we had far better 'temper the atmosphere with moisture and 
immediately lower the fire than to admit ever so little of the outside 
air. If we also syringe with some very weak insecticide containing 
rather more sulphur than usual we shall have a delicate and not un¬ 
sightly dusting all over our Rose growth, and it is surely far better to 
have the remedy already on the plant than to wait until the enemy has 
taken possession. 
Such is my practice, and from the result I should require consider¬ 
able persuasion to alter. In the next syringing with ordinary solutions 
the sulphur will be removed. Even if it is not we avoid any unsight¬ 
liness, and also the use of sufficient to do harm. Petroleum, again, is a 
grand addition to any insecticide when fighting mildew, and a very 
little has a wonderful effect, besides being perfectly safe.— Practice. 
CAMPANULA GRANDIFLORA PUMILA. 
The stately perennial which is variously known as Platycodon or Cam¬ 
panula grandiflora is a favourite occupant of many gardens, its large, 
open, deep blue flowers being produced most freely. This and some of 
its varieties reach the height of 2 or 3 feet, and therefore either require 
permanent corners and similar sites, or they must be placed behind 
other dwarf-growing border plants. A variety possessing all the good 
qualities of the ordinary C. grandiflora, but with a considerably dwarfer 
habit, is that represented in the woodcut (fig. 20), C. grandiflora pumila. 
This grows 9 to 12 inches high, producing flowers similar to the type in 
size and colour, and forms a beautiful specimen, as it soon becomes 
covered with flowers. The plant is well adapted for culture in pots 
also, and is readily increased by seed. Any ordinary garden soil that 
is not excessively heavy or wet suits it. 
APPEAL JUDGES. 
Without doubt “ C. K.” was disposed to be satirical when proposing 
me as an excellent appeal judge. Realising the complete absurdity and 
incongruity of such a post I respectfully decline. I have no disposition 
to gratify the humours of a few dissatisfied exhibitors. On matters of 
taste or opinion I have no faith in courts of appeal. The utter 
impropriety of such a thing was well demonstrated at that Edinburgh 
show, when an “ expert ” was invited to act as such a court. The 
position of judge of appeal would entitle the person or persons under¬ 
taking such an office to treble fees, suits of armour, and stout cudgels 
lest he or they should meet with the reception sometimes awarded to 
referees at football matches. 
If there be a disputed award made the proper court of appeal in 
every case is found in the ordinary judges, and if they choose to ask in 
such case for the assistance of a member of the Committee or other 
suitable person as assessor no exception can be taken to such course. 
That other persons of equal knowledge, or perhaps less knowledge, 
should be called on to review the decisions of other two or three 
capable judges on matters of taste or of opinion is a proposal that can 
scarcely be entitled to serious consideration. 
Obviously, as I have said before, it is the duty of committees to 
secure the best men they can as judges. To admit of an appeal is to 
admit the Committee were remiss in not obtaining the best available 
judging talent, and that farther they regarded their judges as after all 
incapable. It need hardly be said that such a thing would be intolerable ; 
in fact, nothing would so surely tend to drive the best, most capable, 
and honourable men out of the judging arena. 
My intimation that the only fitting court of appeal is found in the 
judges themselves applies only to questions of fact, interpretation of 
conditions, or of disqualifications, which can only be based on matters 
of fact. In these matters committees who prepare schedules are generally 
most to blame, because conditions and requirements in competitions are 
so obscurely drawn. Why do not exhibi ors who have reason to com¬ 
plain of troubles arising from this cause communicate with committees. 
and point out how, by different wording, similar troubles may in 
future be avoided 1 If exhibitors misread, or do not read prescribed 
conditions affixed to classes, they have themselves to blame. Seeing, 
however, how comparatively few the iona fide complaints are (I use 
that term with complete emphasis), arising from the hundreds of shows 
held during the year, it does seem after all as if molehills were being 
converted into mountains. 
As a member of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Code of Judging 
Committee, I am not at liberty to disclose what that hard-working body 
is doing, but I may say at least that this very subject is not lost sight 
of, and have reason to hope that proposals will be formulated which may, 
so far as matters of fact are concerned, satisfy all practical requirements. 
—A. D. _ 
Are they necessary, when so many competent judges, both gardeners 
and amateurs, are to be found throughout the country ? If societies 
select the most competent men that their means afford, and assign each 
set to adjudicate on the classes for which they are the most qualified, 
there would be fewer complaints about the verdicts. If one judge is an 
expert on fruit, does that make him as good a judge of florists’flowers 
or of plants ? I have accompanied judges in their work, and have not 
found them to err knowingly in their verdicts. We do not all see 
objects with the same eyes, and the owner of an exhibit close in merit 
