September 10,1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
223 
fully developed, and before it has begun to diminish, which is indicated 
by the superior leaves being covered with a sort of farina or white dus^ 
the tree is felled, and the trunk cut into lengths of 6 or 7 feet long, which 
are split to admit of the pith being more easily removed. The pith is in 
the state of a coarse powder, and is mixed with water in a trough having 
a sieve at one end ; the water, loaded with farina, passes through the 
sieve, and is received in convenient vessels, where it is allowed to stand 
till the insoluble matter has subsided. The water is then strained off, 
and the firina which is left may be dried into a kind of meal, or moulded 
into whatever shape may be desired. Sago, as it comes to this country, 
is prepared by forming the meal into a paste with water, and rubbing it 
into grains; it is produced in the greatest abundance in the Moluccas, 
but of the finest quality on the eastern coast of Sumatra. The Chinese 
Madresfield Court if the former is really shown in finer condition than 
the latter ? 
The fact that the show is he'd in August or September is not the fault 
of exhibitors ; and if they have fine Alicantes, why should they not get a 
reward for them, even though the season when they are best for use is far 
distant. If all Grapes were only shown when at their best for tab'e use, 
Alicantes and Colman would never be exhibited before December, and 
Lady Downe’s would never appear before March 1 
A fine, well-coloured, well-bloomed hunch of Alicantes shown ia 
September is proof enough that the quality of the Grape will be good 
when used in, say, November or December. If superior in s : ze, colour, 
and bloom to any bunch of Madresfield Court exhibited, why not give the 
Alicante the award ? 
If considerations such as Mr. Iggulden urges should be taken into 
account, were allowed to weigh with those who make up prize schedules. 
Tiff. 
38.—Sago Palm (sagus bumphii). 
of Malacca refine it, so as to give it a fine pearly ludre, and large quan¬ 
tities are also prepared at SiDgapoie. It is said that a single tree will 
yield from 500 to 600 lbs. of sago. Sago forms the principal food of the 
natives of the Moluccas. A decoction of sago fermented yields alcohol by 
distillation, and by ascescence it f rms vinegar. The fruit of this Palm 
is the size of a hen’s egg. The base of the leafstalks is covered with 
long fibrous filaments, that serve to make cordage and sacking. 
JUDGING GRAPES. 
Mb. Iggulden’s remarks on th; above subject are very interesting, 
and there is sound advice contained in them on some of the points he 
discusses ; but there are some of his remarks which appear to the writer 
hardly correct. For instance, when ju Iges have to piss judgment on a 
number of black Grapes entered in a class for any other black variety, 
how can it be said that they are in error i j plac ng Alicante before 
there would he endless discussions as to when the different varieties should 
be allowed to compete. Granted that Alicante is easier grown than 
Madresfield Court, still, where great complexity is wished to be avoided 
in prize schedules, there can hardly be such distinctions drawn. 
In shows where prizes for all the different varieties—or, at least, all 
those more generally grown—are offered, there is no ground for the com¬ 
plaint that a less ripe and more easily grown variety finds favour before 
one more fit for immediate use ; but all societies cannot, or do not, care 
to afford such, and then recourse is had to the any other black variety, 
with the consequence that some growers are dissatisfied with judgments 
sometimes given. 
If more shows were held about Christmas then there would not be the 
same excuse for showing late Grapes in August and September when not 
sufficiently ripe; but till such is the case there need not be any wonder 
displayed when people who have fine-looking Alicantes, Colman, or Lady 
Downe’s show them in Augu-t or September in preference to not exhibit¬ 
ing them at all. 
Errors in judging do occur, and sometimes gross ones ; but that it ig 
