March 8, 18S8. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
201 
tbem into the divisions ; but 1 find a better plan is to first line the 
divisions with paper shavings and wadding ; then place each fruit on 
square pieces of tissue paper sufficiently large to well envelope the 
fruit, then draw the four corners of the paper together and by them let 
each fruit dorvn in the compartment?, if necessary slightly drawing 
them up and down, so as to get them firmly seated. The four corners 
of the paper should then be spread over the fruit and the wadding, of 
which a liberal portion should have been laid over ; the partitions should 
bo lapped over and around the fruit, and in order to make it quite firm a 
small piece of wadding should be gently thrust into each corner of the 
compartment. In unpacking the first things to be removed are the 
corner pieces of w’adding, the four corners of the paper being again 
brought together ; the fruit is lifted by them out of the divisions, so that 
not a finger mark can be seen, which is so desirable to avoid, and can in 
no other way that I know be so successfully accomplished. I may also 
remark in the dispatch of fruit, should there be two or three boxes to 
be sent to the same address, I invariably find the fruit in better 
condition when tied together in one package than if travelling singly. 
THE NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE SHOW. 
Yes, “ Old Hand,” I can do more than substantiate my former 
statements, that the most glaring instances of size being preferred to 
quality are to be found in the North, and justify my remarks by stating 
the stipulated rules of the schedule and particularising the favoured 
exhibits at the above Exhibition, where handsome prizes were offered 
for fifty dishes of fruit to be ripe and fit for table, to include the 
following :—Six sorts of Grapes, three of Melons, three of Nectarines, 
and t\vo of Peaches ; four of Plums, two of Figs, three of Cherries, two 
of Apricots,;three each of Gooseberries and Currants, and eight varieties of 
Pears, with the like number of Apples. Thus we find we have forty-seven 
dishes stipulated, leaving three dishes to the option of the exhibitors, 
which are required to be distinct. The numbers of fruits in each dish 
were also given, yet we find the first prize awarded to a collection not 
only deficient in the stipulated dishes, but containing at least one-third 
of unripe coarse fruits and some dishes that never would be fit for 
table, as the following particulars will show :—One dish or peck of 
Tomatoes, one of unripe Citrons, one of Lemons, six dishes of unripe 
Pears, seven dishes of unripe Apples (mostly culinary varieties), two 
dishes of unripe Plums, and one dish of Cycas fruits. The second prize 
collection was equally faulty, containing as it did two dishes or pecks of 
Tomatoes, one dish of green Bananas, one of unripe Citrons, six of unripe 
Pears, and the like number of unripe Apples (mostly culinary sorts). 
If “ Old Hand ” can get a couple of conscientious, disinterested, practical 
gardeners to say in plain English that the awards wmre justly made and 
in accordance with the stipulated conditions of the schedule, it would 
strengthen his case much more than any reference to the Judges, as they 
would naturally uphold their former awards. Nevertheless, it would do 
no harm to know who the gentlemen are that officiated as Judges. Are 
they some noted clief»? as some allusion is made by “ Old Hand ” to 
different ways of eating fruit other than from the trees. Suppose we 
grant him the assistance of a chef to make his exhibits eatable, they 
could not rightly be termed dessert fruit, as cooked fruits are always 
under the beading of sweets in a mvnu for a dinner. I have seen many 
skilful feats in cookery, but it would confound the cleverest chef to 
convert Cycas pods into an eatable delicacy of any sort. 
With regard to Tomatoes, to say the best of them, they are certainly 
an injudicious innovation amongst fruit at our exhibitions, and ought 
not to be admitted as fruit and passed over at convenience ; it is nothing 
less than an injustice that I am anxious to abolish. Personally, “ Old 
Hand,” I am anxious to give honour where it is duo, but where is the 
honour in violated treaties? If anyone can lay claim to honour it is the 
Committee for their spirited enterprise, and I am glad they are so well 
rewarded. 
“ Old Hand ” seems somewhat alarmed at my position, but I can 
assure him that I can still find comfort in the fact that I am the only 
exhibitor that staged fiftv dishes of ripe fruit, and I can well afford to 
ignore his insinuations.—J. H. Goodacee. 
For several weeks past I have,watched with great interest the corre¬ 
spondence with reference to the awarding of prizes in the Jubilee fruit 
competition at Newcastle-on-Tyne. The name of Mr. Goodacre is familiar 
enough as a successful exhibitor throughout England, but in this 
instance he has certainly showed very bad taste in challenging the 
judging at a show, on the exhibits of which he should certainly not 
venture to give such a decided opinion, being an absentee from the said 
Show, and, therefore, he must have received his information from others. 
Of the superiority of the premier collections over his own, no one would 
have been more convinced than himself had he seen them. If Mr. 
Mclndoe, who is well known to be one of the finest fruit growers in the 
kingdom, and who took second prize, had in any way complained it 
would not have been so surprising, as the difference in merit between his 
and the premier collection was trifling in comparison with the difference 
of the first and second prize mone.v. There was a marked difference 
between these two and Mr. Goodacre’s collection, so marked that had 
these been disqualified Mr. Goodacre would even then have only 
been justified to receive the award he did for a prize of such value. 
Seeing that the Committee offered such a magnificent prize as fifty 
guineas for the Jubilee collection of iruit, it must have been in the 
highest sense gratifying to the energetic and courteous Secretary, Mr. 
Gillespie, and his fellow workers, to see the unabated and general 
interest and attention these collections excited in the thronging crowd 
of visitors.— One of the Judges. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
We have received notices of the following fixtures for the Shows of 
1888 
National Chrysanthemum Society, Metropolitan Shows, September 
12th and 13th ; November 7th and 8th ; and January 9th and 10th, 1889- 
Provincial Show at Sheffield, November 16th and 17th. 
Kingston-on-Thames, November Cth and 7th. 
Portsmouth, November 7th, 8th, and 9th. 
Teddington, November 8th and 9th. 
Southend, November 13th. 
Brighton, November 13th and 14th. 
Putney, November 13th and 14th. 
Winchester, November 13th and 14th. 
Reading, November 1.5th. 
Pembroke, November 15th. 
Lindfield (Sussex), November 16th and 16th. 
Sheffield and West Riding, November 16th and 17th. 
Liverpool, November 20th and 21st. 
Birmingham, November 21st and 22nd. 
Hull, November 22nd and 23rd. 
Pontefract, November 23rd. 
MRS. J. WRIGHT. 
This variety appears to be both early and late. The finest blooms 
we have seen were too early for the November shows ; and now Mr. 
J. W. Flight, who has obtained the first certificate for this variety, 
writes from Twyford, Winchester, under date of March 2nd, “ I have 
still a bloom of Mrs. J. Wright in one of my rooms ; it was cut six 
weeks ago, but, being kept in a cool place, it retains its form and 
looks quite fresh. I believe the demand for plants has been immense, 
and I do not know of any other variety that produces young growths sO' 
freely.” 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
On Monday, March 5th, the General Committee of the above 
Society met at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, to receive the report of 
the Sub-Committee previously appointed to arrange for the shows and 
schedules of the present year. There was a large attendance o? 
members, about forty being present, including the representatives of 
several affiliated societies, Mr. E. Sanderson presiding. The three 
delegates from the Sheffield and West Riding Chrysanthemum Society, 
Mr. W. K. Woodcock (Hon. Secretary),'Mr. J. G. Newsham (Trustee^, 
and Mr. T. B. Hague, the Sheffield Society’s representative on the 
General Committee, were introduced to the meeting by Mr, William 
Holmes, and were very cordially received. They had held a conference 
with three members of the National Society’s Sub-Committee in the 
afternoon with regard to the provincial show, and the final details 
were arranged to mutual satisfaction. Referring to this Mr. Holmes 
stated that the Sheffield officials had taken up the scheme so earnestly 
and in such a business-like manner that its success was practically 
ensured ; a fund of £120 would be guaranteed which, with the National 
Society’s contribution, would amount to at least £160, and there is a 
possibility that by local assistance it will exceed that sum. Mr. Wood¬ 
cock in thanking the members for their hearty welcome, said that they? 
had throughout the negotiations remarked the great fairness which had 
characterised the terms suggested by the National Society ; he compli¬ 
mented Mr. Holmes highly upon his promptitude, energy, and tact, 
and observed that no efforts would be wanting on the part of their 
Society to render the show a thorough success. It was hoped that it 
would be rendered the best representative exhibition of north and south 
country productions that has yet been held. Mr. Newsham lalso 
responded in similar terms, fully endorsing all that Mr. Woodcock had 
said with regard to the interest that was already being excited in the 
show, and it was felt that the National Society would fully justify 
their title in undertaking a provincial exhibition. 
After several new members had been elected, and some miscellaneous 
business transacted, the Committee proceeded to the examination of the 
schedules for the three metropolitan Shows, the dates of which have 
been already given. After considerable discussion the recommendations 
of the Sub-Committee were adopted, and the following Judges were ap¬ 
pointed. September Show : Messrs. Dean, Gordon, Henshaw, and 
Drain. November Show ; Alessrs. Donald, Prickett, Barron, Douglas, 
Wright, Gordon, Molyneux, Beckett, Castle, and Head. January Show r. 
Messrs. Dean and Gordon, with Mr. W. Holmes as referee at all the 
London Shows. At the provincial Show the Judges will be Messrs. 
Wright, Udale, Gordon, Garnett, Castle, and Dean, with a referee to be 
appointed by themselves. Numerous alterations were made in the 
classes at the metropolitan shows, several being added for amateurs, ancJ 
