524 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ December is, \m. 
the judicious arrangement -of which was due to the efforts of the highly 
respected head gardener at the Castle, Mr. G. Harris, who has spared no 
pains and trouble in his endeavours to add beauty and variety to the 
non-competitive portion of the exhibits. At the south end of the hall a 
number of Orange plants—also from the Castle Gardens—were exhi¬ 
bited. Other exhibits not for competition included a number of 
Chrysanthemums of the variety Ralph Brocklebank, and for which 
Mr. Thomas Winkworth, gardener to Mr. Ralph Brocklebank, of Child- 
wall Hall, Liverpool, was awarded a first-class certificate ; a fine collec¬ 
tion of Apples and Pears from Mr. R. Henderson, of Chillingham Castle ; 
baskets of Tomatoes in excellent condition from Mr. J. Thompson, Shaw- 
don, and Mr. D. P. Bell, Alnwick; a few well developed Brussels 
Sprouts from Mr. J. Oliver, Eslington Park ; and some large Leeks and 
heads of Celery from Messrs. T. White, and G. Lockey, Alnwick. The 
exhibits were arranged on tables placed along the sides and centre of the 
hall. As was anticipated, the Chrysanthemum secured a large competi¬ 
tion the chief prizetakers being Mr. Paul Blanshard, Jesmond, and Mr. 
D. P. Bell, Alnwick. Prizes were also awarded for fruit, Mr. D. P. Bell 
carrying off first honours for Grapes, Mr. D. Inglis, Howick, for fruit 
and Pears. Cut flowers also entered into the competition, Mr. Bollom, 
Axwell Park, being most successful in this department. The Judges for 
pot plants and cut flowers were Messrs. T. B. Morton, Darlington, and 
R. Thompson, Felton Park ; and for the miscellaneous exhibits Messrs. 
G, Harris, Castle Gardens, and D. Inglis, Howick. The duties of 
Secretary were ably performed by Messrs. G. Simpson, J. Ferguson and 
W. Robertson. In the evening the Show was crowded to excess. 
CHALLENGE CUPS. 
I CAN assure Mr. Jameson, in reply to his “ last ” note, that the only 
“ feelings ” of mine he has yet reached are those which are identified 
with the humorous part of my nature; and my previous note was penned 
for the purpose of showing that it was impossible for him to be aware of 
the exact amount of my knowledge of the subject discussed. Doubtless 
Mr. Jameson’s motive for suggesting a clause enabling exectors to continue 
a competition was good, but it has to be remembered, in the case of the 
death of an employ er, there are scarcely any executors who would carry 
on the gardens and allow the necessary time and money required to 
grow Chrysanthemum flowers for the purpose, and on the chance of 
winning a cup. That being so, Mr. Jameson’s clause is a “ dead letter,” 
and my proposition remains in effect. 
It is a singular fact that out of between fifty and sixty Chrysanthemum 
exhibitions held this season there appears to be only three or four at 
which the challenge cups or vases are offered. The Liverpool people do 
not offer one, and I think that is the best Chrysanthemum show in the 
country. The National Chrysanthemum Society does not, nor Birming¬ 
ham, York, Lincoln, Sheffield and West Riding, or Huddersfield, and 
probably others that I have not seen are equally as good. If about 
SO per cent, of good shows are obtained without offering challenge 
vases, I think the remaining 10 per cent, could get up equally as good 
displays without recourse to them. I have always thought that chal¬ 
lenge vases, when offered for individual competition, were valuable 
objects misapplied. Nothing that I have yet heard, seen, or read has 
altered my views on that matter. I do not expect everyone else to agree 
with me, and least of all do I expect any member of those Committees 
who offer them, nor yet all the exhibitors who have won such cups or 
vases ; but I believe the majority of those exhibitors are tired of the 
system. 
Mr. Jameson appears desirous of encouraging employers of gardeners 
to take a gre,ater pleasure and interest in exhibitions ; that is a very 
laudable desiie. The question arises, How shall that object be best 
attained, and involving the minimum of individual disappointment 
combined with the maximum amount of true pleasure and most enduring 
inter st ? I suggest that competitions between town and town or county 
and county be arranged; challenge vases to be offer.d by committees 
in such towns or counties. The exhibits to be of a specified number of 
flowers of any kind or kinds of Chrysanthemums, the same to be 
obtained from any gardens within a certain radius of a town, or the 
boundary of a county, and with the consent of the owner as well as 
gardener. Large numbers of gentlemen who now object to their green¬ 
houses being denuded of all their best flowers for exhibition purposes, 
would have great pleasure in giving two or three or more of his best for 
a town or county competition, and he would feel all pride and pleasure 
of a soldier in a victorious army, if his town or his county won ; whilst, 
if they lost, he would not feel the chagrin of a losing individual com¬ 
petitor ; but, like the soldier in the conquered army, could say—right 
or wrong—“ it was all through those other fellows.” Perhaps this 
proposal is not very practicable. I know there are some objections, 
though not insurmountable, but I will leave them for others to point 
out. If any Chrysanthemum Society can see their way to carry this 
suggestion into practice, I think they would achieve such popularity as 
has not yet been attained. It may be objected, Why Chrysanthemum 
tournaments and not “Rose tournaments,” or “Cabbage Fights?” I 
reply, Why, indeed ? Most people are weary of the monotony of our 
ordinary flower shows. Chrysanthemum shows bid fair to fall into the 
same grooves, but as they are yet a comparatively new institution 
something may perhaps be done to save them from coming to such a 
miserable fate as the others.—J. Udale. 
JUDGING. 
I have read with very great pleasure Mr. Wright’s article on the 
science of Chrysanthemum judging in your issue of 8th inst. As a 
Chrysanthemum grower for nearly twenty years I consider it to be 
a most valuable contribution to Chrysanthemum literature. Many 
growers, although believing the decision of judges should be fina', 
take an interest in revising their decisions in close competitions. I was 
present at the Hull Show last year, and as soon as I heard that a 
protest had been entered in respect of the award referred to by Mr. 
Wright, I went to have another look at the two competitive stands. 
The losing stand appeared by general comparison to have the advantage, 
but on carefully pointing up the blooms after a similar system to 
that indicated in Mr, Wright’s article, my conclusions confirm the 
decision of the judges. The winning stand gained more in symmetry, 
solidity, and freshness than it lost in size and depth—the two points 
which first strike an observer. Had the Show been held a week sooner 
the verdict of the judges would probably have been reversed. If some 
such system of pointing had been used by the judges at the recent 
Chrysanthemum Show at Manchester, we should not, I fancy, have seen 
six equal prizes given, as referred to by your correspondent last week. 
No other system can be satisfactory in close competitions. I hope 
Mr. Wright will not think of leaving the ranks of the judges for some 
time to come.— Yorkshire Grower. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Manure for Fruit Trees. —It is a curious fact that the vegetable 
quarters frequently get more manure than is good for them, while the 
fruit trees do not have nearly enough. Market growers never neglect 
their fruit trees and bushes, those in full bearing receiving annual, or 
at least biennial dressings of much better manure than most private 
gardeners can procure, and the superior crops of fruit well repay for 
the extra outlay. It is the long established trees and bushes in full 
bearing order that require assistance at the roots : those planted in fresh 
rich soil, and which grow too rankly, not needing any—are better with¬ 
out it in fact. In very many instances the wall borders are raised much 
higher than the rest of the garden, and old trees rooting in these not 
only suffer from poverty at the roots, but not unfrequently rarely, get 
enough moisture at any time of the year. We have seen Peach, Apricot, 
Plum, and Pear trees much improved by having first the surface roots 
bared, then giving a good soaking of liquid manure from a farmyard, 
followed by a liberal dressing of half-decayed manure, this being enclosed 
by the surface soil. Thus treated at this time of year, they break strongly 
in the spring, the bloom being stronger and more perfectly formed, the 
natural consequence being a good set of better formed fruit. During 
the summer and autumn the trees are much less liable to suffer from 
drought, and the fruit will be found of a better quality than heretofore. 
Many a fine old Pear tree both against walls and in the open fully 
deserves a tub or tubs of strong liquid manure and a good load of juicy 
manure. Orchard trees may well have a soaking of liquid manure at 
once and more during the winter, as well a liberal surfacing of solid 
manure, and it is very certain well established Raspberry, Strawberry, 
Gooseberry and Currant plantations need plenty of manure, these all 
being hungry surface-rooting plants. The finest samples of fruit are 
produced by the manured trees, and in some seasons it is only the best 
that will sell well. Advantage should be taken of the first frost to 
wheel out a good quantity of manure among the bushes, or enough to 
just cover the ground about them, and this we would very lightly 
fork-in in preference to leaving it in the form of a surface mulching. 
We have tried both plans, and find that the manure is most efficacious 
when just covered with soil,'it being the more accessible to the roots 
and less liable to dry up by winds and sunshine. Deep digging among 
fruit quarters generally is most injurious, but if the manure and weeds 
are lightly forked-in no harm results. All wall trees should have a 
clear border not less than 5 feet in width. As a rule the border is closely 
cropped nearly up to the wall, the cultivation necessary as well as the 
impoverishing vegetable crops inevitably driving the roots of the trees 
into the cold subsoil. The mistake is made in the first instance of 
having the borders so narrow, the temptation to crop them being 
irresistible. 
Pruning Cherries and Plums. —Although widely differing in 
their character, these yet require very similar treatment as far as 
pruning and training is concerned. The fruit in both cases is produced 
on the old spurs formed by shortening back the breastwood or lateral 
growth on the main branches. In the case of wall trees lay in the 
leading branches wherever there is space yet to be filled to their full 
length, and according as the fan-shaped trees spread a few well placed 
laterals ought also to be laid in, the aim being to have the whole of the 
wall covered with branches about 9 inches apart. If previous in¬ 
structions have been attended to the lateral growth would have been 
shortened at the summer prunings, but unless again spurred back to a 
length of about 2 inches these permanent spurs soon become long and 
unsightly. As a rule the fan-shaped trees are the best for walls, but 
we have done well with horizontally trained Cherries, and cordon Plums 
are recommended by some good growers. It is yet too early to prune or 
nail the young newly planted trees, and remarks on this portion of the 
