m 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 16, 1695. 
It would not be doing justice if these notes concluded without 
3 reference to the Dendrobiums, which are largely grown for floral 
decorations. In fact all the Orchids are more or less pressed into 
this se-irvice, and are very highly appreciated. A very beautiful 
flower is that of D. chrysotosum, and the same may well be said 
of D. c. suavissimum. Equally as attractive, though not perhaps 
30 showy, is D. Pierardi latifolia, which is now wreathed in its 
delicately tinted blooms. These are but three out of many, but 
they must suffice, at any rate for the present. 
Before leaving the Orchid houses, of which some are new and 
more will soon have to be erected if the collection, as it is hoped 
it will, continues to grow at the present rate, we remarked on the 
extreme cleanliness and tidiness that prevailed, and which cer¬ 
tainly materially improved the general effect. The plants are as 
clean as the structures, no evidence of insect pests being readily 
perceptible. This freedom from such enemies must, to a certain 
extent, account for the great substance of the growth and the 
leathery texture of the leaves, for these could not come from 
plants that had their energies sapped in any way. 
Master of the cultivation of Orchids is Mr. Thorne, and it is 
Apparent that he is thoroughly engrossed both in their growth and 
their improvement. Some day it is hoped another chance will 
arise of a visit, and when it does it will be seized, as affording 
pleasure and instruction at one and the same time.—W. 
Sale oe the Holly Lodge Orchids. 
This lice collection of Orchids, brought together by Mr. W. 
Bown, Birmingham, was disposed of on the 8th and 9th inst. by 
Messrs. Protheroe & Morris. Comparatively low prices were the 
result. Mr. J. Earle, a new amateur grower, was the principal 
purchaser, whilst a smaller complement of the choicer varieties 
were secured by Mr. W. B, Latham for the Botanical Gardens, 
Edgbaston. Messrs. Cypher of Cheltenham purchased a grand 
specimen of Cymbidium eburneum, which last year produced 
thirty-five spikes of blossom. 
The major portion of the collection went Londonwards, 
including a huge specimen of Cattleya Mossise with over 500 bulbs. 
Among other large specimens sold, mention may be made of 
particularly a grand plant Epidendrum prismatocarpum with 
150 bulbs and growths. Excellent health appeared to prevail 
over the collection generally, and reflecting much credit on Mr. J. 
Palmer, the accomplished and painstaking gardener. 
JUDGING AT SHOWS. 
A coRREsrONDENT, who seems grieved because he was dis¬ 
qualified at a show last year, says he is getting out of patience ” 
in waiting for the report of the Judging Committee. He seems 
to have a grievance against certain Judges both in hardy flower and 
fruit classes, and he “ wants something settling about Tomatoes.” 
The Judges may or may not have been in fault, all depending on 
the terms of the schedule and their interpretation. Our friend 
will have to wait a little longer for the report he covets, and in the 
meantime may ponder over an extract we take from the “ Journal 
of the Royal Horticultural Society.” 
“After turning this question [of judging] over and over in my 
mind,” says Mr. James Douglas, "I found it to be one of the most 
difficult subjects I ever attempted. It has been my lot several times to 
judge an entire exhibition single-handed, and I have managed to get 
through it in good time for the admission of the public. This, the prac¬ 
tical side of the question, is one thing ; explaining to others how to go 
and do likewise is another ; but, having been successful as a practical 
man, I will do my best to put on paper something of the ‘Principles 
of Judging,’ in order to afford at least a theme for discussion. 
“ The first point to consider is the framing of the schedule. This 
should be done with great care, as it must be the guide both of ex¬ 
hibitors and judges. Under the heading of ‘Pules and Regulations’ 
every point ought to be so definite and exact that no mistake may be 
excusable and no difference of interpretation possible. Moreover, the 
schedule must always be interpreted by what it grammatically says, and 
not according to the preconceived ideas, either of exhibitors or judges, 
o! what it ought to say or mean. 
“The four words, ‘ species,’‘ kind,’‘ sort,’‘ variety,’ are often used 
quite indiscriminately, sometimes even being interchanged one with 
another in the same schedule without any regard whatever to any differ¬ 
ence of meaning. For instance, in the case of hardy herbaceous plants, 
the word ‘ variety ’ has been used when ‘ species ’ was intended. If 
either of the words ‘ varieties ’ or ‘ sorts ’ are used, an exhibitor would 
be within his rights if he staged only two or three ‘species’ or ‘kinds’ 
of plants in a collection of, say, twenty-four varieties. He might 
exhibit halt a dozen varieties of Delphiniums and as many Phloxes, but 
if the word ‘ species ’ or ‘ kind ’ is used he may not exhibit more than 
one variety of each. 
“ Another question that may be asked, and not unfrequently is asked 
by judges, is. What is a fruit ? and what a vegetable ? The only possible 
way, I think, to decide this question, with due respect to grammar, 
truth, and equity, is to lay down and assert a principle, and say that 
fruits used in a green state, and as vegetables only, may only be shown 
as vegetables ; but if a ripe fruit of any kind is used both as a vegetable 
and as a fruit it may be shown in either category. The only fruit that 
I know of at present which may be shown both as a fruit and as a 
vegetable is the Tomato, which truth forbids us to exclude from fruits 
and general use claims as a vegetable. 
“In this place it may be well to remark on the folly of judging 
fruit by appearance only ; it is about equal to the folly of judging 
flowers by their scent only. Appearance is a great point with fruit, so 
is scent with flowers, but neither is the chief point. The chief point 
with fruit is flavour, with flowers beauty. A blind man may have the 
sense of smell very acutely, but no one would trust him to judge flowers ; 
and yet men judge fruit by sight only ! I do not say that it is always 
necessary to taste a fruit in order to judge of it correctly. The great 
majority of fruits a good judge has no need to taste ; he has sufficient 
knowledge of the quality and flavour of the fruit from the variety ; but 
an unknown variety, however good looking it may be, should never go 
untasted. 
“ Of all evils, that of judging either flowers, fruits, or vegetables by 
size only is the w'orst. Size should in many cases be considered an 
actual demerit when the objects exceed certain standards well known to 
all good judges. Overgrown Potatoes, Cauliflowers, and Cucumbers are 
always left out in a close competition, and in every case quality should 
come first. The same remark holds good with fruit. Not the largest 
bunches or berries of Grapes, but first flavour and then colour should be 
given the highest points. A big Melon counts for nothing when com¬ 
pared with a medium sized one of superior flavour. The same with 
Pears and Apples. The Winter Nelis or Seckle amongst Pears would 
win against some varieties four times their weight and far more beautiful 
in appearance. So also would Cox’s Orange or Ribston amongst Apples 
maintain the foremost place, on account of their superior quality, against 
the size and beauty of Blenheim Orange or Peasgood’s Nonesuch. Even 
in flowers size can at the best hold only a third place. Paul N6ron 
amongst Roses would never win in the class for Roses of any one variety ; 
it is large enough, but lacks form and substance of petal. Size in a 
Carnation is, I know, by some considered the principal point, but no 
good judge would put size first unless it was accompanied by substance 
of petal and good form. Men are beginning to learn that even Chrys¬ 
anthemums may be too large, and there are not wanting signs that in 
the not distant future mere size will not receive quite so much promin¬ 
ence as heretofore. 
“ No man can judge fruits, flowers, or vegetables aright unless he has 
a good knowledge of the different varieties. It is much easier to obtain 
good specimens of some varieties than it is of others, and the man who 
sets himself up as a judge should know how much skill has been required 
to obtain the productions placed before him, and good specimens of a 
difficult subject should certainly, in my opinion, receive an extra point 
to only equally good specimens of a subject that presents no difficulties 
of cultivation.” 
MODERN GRAPE GROWING. 
(.Continued from page 379.) 
Planting the Vines. 
Many things have to be known and thought over before one can 
advise as to the planting of Vines. Are the Vines to be of the first 
importance, and will everything else that may be grown in the house or 
in the border be secondary ? Is the fruit wanted of first-class quality, 
or will a large quantity of fairly good fruit satisfy ? Is it desirable to 
have the fruit as soon after planting as possible, or is it, what is most 
common nowadays, a mercantile speculation, and the object to get as 
quick a retvirn as possible for the outlay ? There are so many ways 
and seasons for planting Vines, each of which perhaps has its merits 
under special circumstances, that it will be necessary to allude to most 
of them. 
If Vines alone are to be grown, there will be little or no return the 
first year, but where a large sized house is in existence it is a general 
practice to grow something else during the first, if not, the second year. 
I know many people have an idea that you can grow a miscellaneous 
collection of things continually besides the Vines, and do them all well. 
I have sometimes seen a marvellous collection of plants in a small 
house, and have been surprised at the results achieved, but it is 
very seldom indeed that you will see any one thing done in this way up 
to the highest standard, and very often the poor Vines get the worst 
of it. 
There can be no objection to merely housing a variety of plants in 
a vinery during the winter that require a temperature not higher than 
45 ° to 50°, but any attempt at keeping the house going with flowers, 
or storing tender stove plants, is sure to end in disaster to the Vines. 
1 was once called to give an opinion as to the ailments of some Vines 
which were thought to be infested wich phylloxera. It was early in 
the spring, after a very hard winter, and the Vines had made long 
w eak growths, with here and there on some of the rods a little bunch 
of Grapes, or rather what looked like a hybrid between a bunch and 
a tendril, and some of the canes had none at all. The foliage was thin 
in texture and pale in colour, and when the sun shone it went down 
like a tame rabbit’s ea'-s. 
