228 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 15, 1887. 
liberal member of the Imperial family, and gave the Baron to understand 
that he must either concede the Archduke’s request or forfeit his own 
citizenship. The Baron chose the latter alternative, and has voluntarily 
ceased to be an “ Austrian.” 
- Messrs. J. Laixg & Soxs have had a grand display of 
Begonias at Forest Hill this season, both indoors and out; but 
the outside beds are even now a brilliant mass of colours, and will 
continue gay until the frosts cut the plants down. In a series of beds 
running at right angles with the main road, 50,000 seedlings are planted 
out, and some idea of their merit can be formed when it is stated that 
in size, form, and colours the flowers are equal to the best named 
varieties of recent years. Many are 5 inches in diameter, thick, bold, 
erect, substantial blooms, fit to stand any weather. Much improvement 
has been effected in the habit of these plants ; they are now compact 
and sturdy in growth, the flowers are borne well above the foliage, not 
so drooping as formerly, and their value for bedding purposes has been 
proved beyond all doubt. They are arranged in a dozen tints, but the 
scarlet, crimson, rose, and orange varieties are extremely effective in 
masses, and the appearance of the beds has been improved by the intro, 
duction at intervals of a few plants of green and variegated Maize, a 
dwarf form of the latter affording a fine contrast with the rich colours 
of the Begonias. 
- *• C. 0.” sends the following note on Damsons axd Plums :— 
“A striking example of the superiority of the Farleigh Damson over 
the old variety for free and early bearing is exemplified in the gardens 
of Mr. Will Tayler of New Hampton, Middlesex, where young two- 
year-old trees are growing loaded with fruit clustering around the stem 
of the last year’s growth, while there is not a fruit to be seen on trees 
of the old common variety of the same age growing side by side. At 
Farleigh in Kent, where this variety originated, and from whence it 
takes its name, I have seen trees planted in hedgerows around gardens 
and pastures. The trees annually produce a good crop of fruit, and are 
both ornamental and profitable. There are no doubt many hedgerows 
in gardens that might be planted with advantage in the same way. 
The Czar Plum is a comparatively new variety that Mr. Tayler finds 
a large demand for. It is a round, dark, early fruit, coming in before 
the Early Orleans, a sure and free bearer ; Grand Duke is a good com. 
panion to this as a late Plum. It bears freely, and will hang until the 
beginning of October without showing any signs of cracking. A very 
striking variety is Pershore, with fruit of a clear bright golden-amber 
colour ; a sweet ar.d good juicy fruit. It is grown somewhat largely in 
the Midland counties for the market.” 
-Gladiolus Brexchleyexsis. —This Gladiolus is very useful 
for planting among clumps of hardy Azaleas, Kalmias, Heaths, dwarf 
Rhododendrons, and all young low growing American plants. Coming 
into flower during August and September, its brilliant scarlet spikes 
brighten up the otherwise sombre hued beds, and such plants are 
admittedly dull looking when not in flower. Strong flowering corms of 
this Gladiolus can be had at 7s. Gd. per 100 ; they are taken up when the 
flower spikes die away, carefully dried, cleaned and stored. The}' last 
many seasons, increasing in size and number, so that a good stock may be 
quickly secured. Plant the corms in March 3 to 4 inches deep, placing 
them on a little sand, which encourages quicker root action afterwards. 
The peaty soil used for the American plants suits them admirably. A 
good companion is John Bull, an almost white variety having a tinge of 
delicate pink in its flowers ; it forms a good contrast to the scarlet sort. 
HOLLYHOCKS. 
Referring to Mr. Steel’s remarks in the Journal of September 8th, 
I in no way wish to depreciate the good work done by Mr. Blundell in 
reference to the Hollyhock, as from what I have seen of the Cowers he 
sent to me, he is obtaining some fine varieties, but Hollyhocks reached 
such a very high state of perfection in the old days of Turner, Paul, 
Chater, Parsons, llircham, Roake, Bragg, and others. This perfection of 
form was the work of years, and the Hollyhock having been so long a 
neglected flower, and only recently taken in hand again, we cannot 
reasonably look for absolute perfection just yet. 
I am very pleased to see that growers are springing up about the 
country, and we shall shortly find the Hollyhock taking a very foremost 
place in popularity, and it is to be hoped for that the August Flower 
Show' Committees will see their way to give special prizes for, say, six 
spikes and twelve cut blooms to begin with, for remembering so well as 
l do the old Hollyhock days when the flower occupied prominent 
places at our late summer shows, and were striking features there, I am 
certain that these being reinstated, in schedules would soon bring 
exhibitors forward at the flower shows. _ , . 
One thing is a certainty, that very fine varieties can be had trom 
seed, but to get strong flowering plants early the seed should be sown in 
the autumn, and the plants protected. Seed sown in February and 
grown on make good flowering plants in August and September. In co < 
districts they do not grow so quickly as in more favoured places. \ i 
Mr. Steel kindly give a list of the old varieties he possesses ? and 1 am 
sure that his kindly notes will tempt many, not at present growers, 
to take up the Hollyhock.— W. Deax, Florist , Walsall. 
GRAPES AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE, SEPT. 2nd, 1887 
THE WAIL OF A DISAPPOINTED EXHIBITOR. 
It is seldom necessary or desirable to take notice of what may be 
said about one in the public press, but as some of my fellow Judges 
seem anxious to be exculpated I have no hesitation in coming forward 
and stating that I am one of the wicked Judges referred to by Mr. Ward 
in your last week’s issue—Mr. Burnett and Mr. Coomber being mv col¬ 
leagues—and that I have no intention of evading my share of the 
responsibility. It is well to note Mr. Ward’s statement that he does 
“ not write as a disappointed exhibitor yet it is scarcely possible to 
assign to him any other position. What is the terrible sin we have com- 
mitted ? Simply our failing to estimate his collection of Grapes in the 
same order of merit as he had done himself, and using our discretionary 
powers by withholding the first and second prizes and awarding the 
third only. It seems to be generally admitted that it was quite m order 
to withhold the first prize, but quite wrong to do more. \V e <“<1 s°> 
however, and deliberately and unanimously, on the grounds firstly, 
that they were quite second-rate in quality, not a single sort if put into 
competition in the other classes would have secured a place; and, 
secondly, they were not fresh. This was notorious. The Madresfield 
Court and several others had the stalks quite withered and in very bad 
condition. These had evidently been about to other shows and had got 
used up. Is it expected that stale Grapes are to carry off leading prizes 
at a great fruit show like this in the month of September because there 
is no competition ? What would be the value of such Grapes in Covent 
Garden ? Dare Mr. Ward have put these Grapes on his employer’s table i 
Not good enough for that, perhaps, but to snatch a prize with it seems to 
be quite another matter. 
We feel terribly fri.htened at the array of great names Mr. W ard puts 
up in evidence against our decision, and the mere mention of the ducal 
magnate, who, by-the-way, has no name or address, fills me with dismay. 
It is but natural that exhibitors, especially those who make exhibiting a 
trade, should sympathise with each other and find fault with the Judges 
when they discover the prizes are slipping away from them. The Grapes 
generally were of a high standard, but on referring to the prize lists it will be 
found that they were mostly taken by new exhibitors, the old and regular 
habitues being obliged to take a back seat. This is in itself a gratifying 
fact, and as it should be. This is according to the laws of Nature. This 
is the fate of all Grape growers—a little while victorious, then a gradual 
decline. It would be well for Mr. Ward and others to note this, that if 
their threatened retirement takes place to-morrow they are only making 
room for others to come to the front. The bumptious threat of with¬ 
drawing their patronage is almost too good. Is it expected that this will 
cause a panic amongst the shareholders 1 Patronage, indeed ! It was 
really not necessary to invoke such an awful calamity on my account. 
I have always thought that if such a thing existed it was on the other 
side. But Mr. Ward is not egotistical. No. Mr. Ward’s instructions to 
the Crystal Palace authorities are truly excellent, and will no doubt 
receive due attention. They do not go far enough, however. 1 would 
suggest that every exhibitor be allowed to appoint his own Jud'.e, for 
out of the multitude wisdom might come. Having lost Mr. Wards 
confidence I may never be able to join that happy band, or to make any 
amends for my recent misdeeds.—A. F. BARRON. 
[Relative to the judging at the above Show, one of the best of fruit 
growers and a successful exhibitor, but not a competitor in the Grape 
classes at the Crystal Palace, writes : I note Mr. Ward is expressing 
his dissatisfaction in various directions. He would have done better to 
have swallowed the verdicts in my opinion. Possibly his Grapes vvere 
worth second, they were decidedly not worth first, for on looking into 
several of the bunches closely I noticed the stems were discoloured, 
showing they had either been kept for some time after cutting or else 
badly finished. What most surprised me in the Grape judging was Mr. 
Pratt being placed third for Muscats, and also for a basket of white 
Grapes. I considered he was a good second in both instances ; but if 
one goes in for showing he must put up with much disappointment at 
times. 1 have had my share.”] 
MILDEW ON ROSES. 
Ix late autumn or early winter it is no uncommon occurrence to 
discuss the probable cause of mildew on outside Roses. Frequently by 
that time the weather has been of a variable character, and wet cold 
autumns are more usually considered to be the cause of the plants lie¬ 
coming a prey to this disease. I have repeatedly pointed out that this 
is not the sole cause. I do not doubt that prolonged rain, combined with 
cold days and nights, will not only aid its development, but briDg all 
dormant spores into full activity, but at the same time the real origin of 
the disease may have been overlooked. To find out the exact conditions 
under which it will start into existence and spread most rapidly is 
