September 24,18)1. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
267 
little short of a riot round the doors, such fighting and shouting 
has surely never been known at a show before. Then, too, 
when admission was obtained some exhibitors discovered that their 
best fruits had been stolen. This is a very serious matter for 
gardeners, who are often expected to return their prize fruits to 
their employers’ tables, and even where the fruit had been sold it 
would lead to many difficulties. If some of those who suffered in 
this way would record their grievances in the Journal it [might 
result in a considerable improvement on another occasion, for no 
doubt the Council of the Society are in a measure responsible for 
FIG. 53.— ME. THOMAS BOYD, CALLENDAR HOUSE. 
the safe custody of the exhibits, and for their own credit they 
should take active measures to stop such disgraceful procedure.— 
A Visitor. 
Stands for Grapes at Edinburgh. 
In your excellent report of the Edinburgh Show you give the 
dimensions of the stands for Grapes as they should be according 
to the schedule—viz., “a breadth of 14 inches from front to back, 
depth at back 10 inches, and depth at front 2 inches.” Now as this 
was probably the largest and best exhibition of Grapes that has 
ever been held there is a danger of these proportions being copied 
by ether societies, and this is my chief reason for sending you a 
line on the subject. 
As a matter of fact, I believe I was the only exhibitor who used 
such stands, and they were made specially for this show. The 
result was that large bunches lying on so flat a surface opened their 
shoulders considerably, and of course showed where the berries 
had touched each other, hence the remarks which your reporter 
was justified in using concerning my exhibits—“ suffered in transit,” 
“ slightly rubbed,” &c. The fact is the Grapes travelled very 
well, and the damage occurred in the Waverley Market, when the 
stands which had hinged supports were opened out to the specified 
angle. 
I find the stands I generally use—and they do not differ materi¬ 
ally, I think, from the majority of those used at Edinburgh—are 
about a foot in breadth and 15 inches high at back. This gives a 
very good angle both for exhibiting and for travelling. It would 
be desirable to have something like uniformity in our Grape stands, 
not to be too rigidly enforced, and now is the time for suggestions. 
—Wm. Taylor, Bath. 
Our Portraits. 
In accordance with our promise last week we give four other 
portraits of northern horticulturists in the present issue, pages 266 
and 267. Mr. R. Lindsay is the well-known and respected Curator 
of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh ; Mr. R. P. Brotherston 
has charge of the gardens at Tynninghame, and has contributed to 
these pages for many years ; Mr. Thomas Boyd is the able 
gardener at Callendar House ; and Mr. J. Brown holds a similar 
position at Abercairney near Crieff, where he grows both fruit and 
vegetables very successfully. 
FRUIT CULTURE AND VARIETIES. 
An excellent idea is brought forward in the Journal last week, 
where we find it stated in the columns allotted to correspondents regard¬ 
ing the naming of fruits (page 255), “ In consequence of the large 
number of worthless Apples and Pears sent to this office to he named, 
it has been decided to name only specimens and varieties of approved 
merit, and to pass the inferior which are not worth sending or growing.” 
In these days, when the fruit industry is being so steadfastly advanced 
and which must, on account of the great assistance it is receiving 
from the county councils, societies, and private individuals, be 
destined to occupy a large share of attention in the future, I think 
every suggestion of a practical nature likely to benefit those who will 
be largely dependent upon it ought to be given in the columns of your 
valuable paper. Quite a revolution in this matter has come upon us. 
Many people who have not had any serious thoughts on the subject are- 
beginning to find out that, with a proper system of growing and the 
right varieties, much that was thought impossible may be made possible, 
and a greater amount may be produced from the land, which will 
certainly augment their incomes. But it is quite impossible to bring 
about all this without a great deal of help being given by those- 
qualified to give it. We see fruit, handsome in shape and brilliant in 
colour, exhibited at many of our leading shows, and which naturally 
finds many admirers. How often do we hear the remark made by some 
on-looker that they must have a tree or trees of such a variety ? never 
for a moment asking themselves the question if it will do in their 
particular locality. The trees are forthwith purchased, and they go on 
growing, but produce very little fruit, and certainly nothing like what 
was exhibited. Much time is often spent in trying to bring them to 
perfection, but all to no avail. Now had some of those persons who do- 
this been instructed that the variety was never meant for their locality, 
how much time and patience might have been saved, and instead the 
space could have been occupied by a suitable variety, and one which 
would give full crops of fruit each year. This, to my mind, is one of 
the essential points to be considered far and wide, more especially by 
those who have to make a living by it. 
In conclusion, may I ask if it would not be possible to find out of 
each county at least one who would undertake to gather what infor¬ 
mation they could as to the most approved varieties for their county, 
with style of training suitable, and any other information that would 
prove useful ? I think by this means we should have much valuable- 
information imparted which would prove of lasting value. I am well 
aware that a gnat deal has been already done in this direction by con¬ 
ferences, reports, &c., the benefits of which cannot be over-estimated, 
but much more may still be done. Of course this is merely a suggestion. 
If any of your correspondents who could offer anything better, I should 
be very willing to give way to them, and do what I could to further the- 
objects in view.—R. P. R. 
MISS ORMEROD AND HER WORK. 
In answer to a correspondent who desires to know in what manner 
and on what terms this lady will continue her work in future, we haver 
pleasure in publishing the following statement from Miss Ormerod. It, 
is evident that she is much more generously disposed to the public thaa 
the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society has been to her. It, 
appears from what we learn that they not only wanted her services, but. 
FIG. 54.— MR. JAMES BROWN, ABERCAIRNEY. 
that of her helpers, and to turn all <wer to the Board of Agriculture in a* 
peculiarly high-handed manner. Though the claims made were with - 
drawn Miss Ormerod prefers to be free to act for the public good*, 
untrammelled by any Society. Writing from Torrington House, St. 
Albans, she srys :— 
“ I feel I shall work with more comfort and, I hope, usefulness, if free 
from possibility of claims being urged on me for work other than that 
of attending to the inquiries of my many and much-respected> 
correspondents. 
“ I hope to make no change whatever in the nature of the work whicli 
I have now been carrying on for fourteen years, i.e., to reply with thc- 
greatest care and attention in my power to every inquiry with which I 
may be honoured (for I esteem it a great honour, as well as pleasure, to 
be of service in the matter), regarding measures useful in lessening loss 
