Septemter 8, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
205 
like the present one with a little extra care. Potatoes were a large 
class and splendid quality. Beans of all kinds, and Celery, especially in 
the amateurs, were some perfect exhibits. Vegetable Marrows were 
numerous and Onions too arc worthy of mention as being clean and 
well grown examples. Collections of vegetables, for which special 
prizes were offered, receiving high commendation from the Judges. 
The Judges were Mr. Brooks, Leek Hall ; Mr. Geo. Danson, Ingleton; 
Mr. Burton, Lunefield ; Mr. Wilson, Casterton ; and Mr. Alvey, 
Melling. 
GRAPE JUDGING AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE 
SEPTEMBER 2nd, 1887.—A PROTEST. 
I have been unfortunate enough to have been the only exhibitor 
or twenty bunches of Grapes, in ten varieties, two bunches of each, at 
the above Show, I beg to record my most emphatic protest against the 
treatment which 1 received at the hands of the Judges who were 
selected to make the awards in the Grape classes at what may be 
correctly described as the “ National Fruit Show ” of this country, in 
placing me third for better Grapes than those which placed me a“ close 
second in a good competition the two previous years at the same Show. 
Ike twenty bunches in question, I may be allowed to say without being 
considered egotistical, were greatly admired by Grape growers before 
and atter the award was made, These included, among many others, 
-ir. Pratt, Longleat ; Mr. Goodacre, Elvaston ; the Messrs. Goldsmith 
feme a member of the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural 
..Odety of London), Mr. Read (of the Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea), 
vr ’.i i ar< en ’ Clarendon Park ; Mr. Pullman, Frampton Court; Mr. 
Markham, Mereworth Castle, all being loud in their condemnation of 
the award, not because I was the victim, but because they considered it 
radically wrong. I may also state by way of giving further strength 
and justification for making my protest, that a gentleman presidinz 
oyer a large ducal establishment, and who has frequently distinguished 
himself as a Grape and fruit grower in the exhibition tents of our large 
shows, said, in reference to the award complained of, that he had several 
times seen worse collections of twenty bunches of Grapes placed first in 
a good competition. Such an expression of opinion coming from such 
an authority carries conviction with it. 
Mine, although the most important, was not the only Grape class in 
winch errors of judgment were made. They were noticeable in the 
Muscat three-bunch class, basket of white Grapes class, and “ any other ” 
black Grape class. In the latter class Lady Downe’s were placed first 
and second, while three neat and well finished bunches of Muscat 
Hamburgh were passed. Therefore, I endorse the opinion freely ex¬ 
pressed by Grape exhibitors and growers who were not exhibitors at the 
Palace on the 2nd inst., that only men of proved competency in judging 
Grapes, and in whom Grape growers have confidence, should be secured 
to make the awards at fruit shows of importance. I have no doubt the 
gentlemen who made the awards in the classes indicated are first-rate 
men m their respective departments, but I repeat they are not the sort 
ot men that should be selected to award the prizes at a great fruit show ; 
and I may add that if the Judges who made the awards in the Grape 
classes this year are again invited to act in a similar capacity at the 
Palace, it is the intention of more than two of the largest exhibitors in 
tie Grape classes withdrawing their patronage. In conclusion, I may 
say I do not write as a disappointed exhibitor, but simply as one whose 
exhibits have been placed before the public in an unjust light.— 
H. \\ . Ward, Longford Castle Gardens, 'ialisbury. 
[We do not know who the Judges were to whom Mr. Ward’s stric¬ 
tures apply. Messrs. A. F. Barron, W. Coomber, J. Burnett, J. Wood- 
bridge, J. Willard, B. Wynne, G. Bunyard, W. Earley, S. Ford, J. Lain?, 
J. Douglas, and J. Wright officiated, the three latter in the cut flower 
section of the Exhibition.] 
THE LILY OF THE VALLEY. 
Praises may be published of recent introductions, but which of 
them may ever supplant this, or the Moss Rose or Mignonette ? Some 
things therefore in gardening are beyond the caprice of fashion, and 
nobody doubts the continuance of their influence. For the bridal 
or any other bouquet who shall despise this lovely chaste flower, 
whether as a denizen of our forcing houses from December until 
March, or as yielding its charming groups of little snowy and fragrant 
bells in our borders and woodland walks in May and June ? Some 
account of its culture from one who has grown it in various forms 
for the last twenty years may, I trust, prove useful. 
The outdoor culture of this Lily is the first consideration; for, 
like the Seakale, its style and quality when forced depend much on 
its high culture during the growing season. The Lily of the Valley 
will grow pietty well in any good garden soil ; but to grow it in the 
highest perfection of which it is capable some extra consideration 
must be given to the compost. It succeeds to admiration with us in 
a dark and unctuous loamy soil ; and we have a north border here 
in which I have grow'n my whole stock for twenty-two years, merAy 
changing from one end to the other in making new plantations. But 
this border is exceedingly iieh in deoyed vegetable matter; and 
those who wish to excel in Lily of the Valley culture must not fancy 
that because this plant is found growing tolerably well in neglected 
situations it is averse to manures and high culture. We have seen 
them grow in woods in great breadths, and in tolerable style; but 
then the two chief conditions were present—partial shade and abund¬ 
ance of the decayed leaves of many years. 
As to the staple soil, then, for Lilies of the Valley, I am of opinion 
that a darkish and somewhat stiff soil will produce the finest buds ; 
and one essential is that the ground be not liable to droughts, for 
they love a permanent moisture. As to shade I have ever found 
them finest on a north border ; but be it understood they are not 
within 5 feet of the wall, consequently the sun shines freely on their 
foliage ; but then the border surface inclines considerably to the 
north, and of course the ground is much cooler and damper than it 
would be on a southern incline. It is very probable that an east or 
west border would be superior. 
There are at.least three distinct modes of cultivating Lilies of the 
Valley for forcing. The first, growing them in patches in the open 
ground, and potting such patches when two years old. A second is 
to grow them in pots—the latter plunged in a rich medium ; and a 
third to.take up the roots, and single them out in November, sorting 
all the finest eyes, and placing them thickly in pots adapted to the 
purpose. I think that for early, forcing those grown in pots will be 
found the best, inasmuch as it is necessary that the roots should not 
be disturbed, and that the crowns should go to rest betimes. For 
succession crops they may be cultivated by the first mode ; and for 
the latest the third mode may be best adopted. They will do well 
by any of the above modes if the roots be strong; if they are badly 
grown the forcer will be defeated in his aim. I may now detail the 
planting process, together with the preparation of the soil. 
Let.a plot of ground be selected in the beginning of March, a plot 
possessing the conditions before named. It must be deeply dug, and 
the parts well broken, and during the process means must be taken 
to introduce as much as 4 inches in depth of very old manure ; the 
kind I prefer is old hotbed linings, composed of about equal parts 
manure and tree leaves, but which have crumbled to pieces with age 
and turning. To those who cannot obtain such a valuable article I 
say lay hold of any old black residue, whether of the wood-pile, the 
rubbish-heap, old thatch, or old rotten weeds ; anything which h s 
once been living vegetables, and has bee >me a black residuum, 
through age and exposure to the air, is eligible. This, however, I 
address to the needy ; for, after all, there are few things so good as 
the hotbed linings, 'the ground being thus prepared stations may be 
marked out for the Lily patches if to be forced in pots according to 
our first mode. We force them in pots of about 9 to 11 inches 
diameter, and it is necessary so to plant the pitches that they may 
readily fit the proper s zed pot when taken up. 
The ground is marked out iu lines of 2 feet distance ; these lines 
to receive the patches of Lilies at about 14 inches apart, therefore 
pegs put down at that distance form points around which a thick 
cluster of crowns has to be planted. This done, a pot of about 
7 inches in diameter is used to stamp circles around each peg, and on 
this circle, and within it, they are dibbled as thick as they can 
be placed. Each patch will thus be made to contain from twelve 
to fifteen eyes or buds, which are as many as are necessary to form a 
good potful of blooms ; and when planted a top-dressing of rotten 
manure in a mellow state is spread nearly 3 inches thick all over the 
surface of the Lilies. Through the ensuing summer they are kept 
clear of weeds ; and after a second summer’s growth they are first- 
rate buds, and will give every satisfaction to the forcer. 
I may now advert to the s.cond mode—growing them in pots. 
I will not say what has been done, or what may be the general 
practice, but rather point to what 1 conceive would be a superior 
practice. They' need a pot wile and shallow, rather than narrow and 
deep ; and I think we may say pots about 10 inches in diameter, and 
about 7 to 8 in depth, would be highly eligible. But as I have to 
recommend a plunging mode of culture in order that the roots may 
avail themselves of a richly prepared soil outside their pots, the pots 
should have plenty of holes all over their bottoms, and even round 
the side, about 2 inches above the bottoms of the pots. 
The crowns or buds should be planted as thickly as they can be 
set in the beginning of March, and the compost must be of the most 
generous description. About half of an unctuous loam, and the other 
half old dung and leaves, almost become a mould, with a little silver 
sand, will grow them well in pots, putting some coarser manurial 
matters over the drainage ; and if crocks are used they should be very 
coarse, in order that the fibres may get through with facility. These 
things done, I have to recommend a prepared bed to plunge them in. 
Nothing would be better than a bed of half-decayed leaves, or any¬ 
thing of similar texture, even manurial matters. This should be 
quite above the ground level, in order to avoid swamping. As before 
observed, a situation where they would get only half a day’s sun 
would be well, only there must be no trees overhead. They would 
