268 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 24, 1835. 
however, which might he noticed, as it will most surely become 
one of the most popular of all—Blushing Bride, a splendid new 
acquisition, and the first in the early section at all approaching 
to the incurved form. The bower is something in the way of 
Miss Hope in the late Chrysanthemums. I have only beemable 
to get weak plants of it this season, but they have been one nfcss 
of tlower. 1 enclose specimen spray, perhaps the Editor will 
give an opinion upon it. I also have pleasure in adding blooms 
of a few other varieties, notably Madame C. Desgrange and its 
golden sport, which I regard as a most valuable acquisition, and 
congratulate Mr. Wermig upon fixing such a sport. 
Jn conclusion, I would like to point out that the varieties 
denoted in this article as early Chrysanthemums are all really 
free flowering summer and early autumn varieties. I have seen 
varieties occasionally mentioned that have not the least title to 
being classed in this family, being merely the result of propa¬ 
gation from stem cuttings, which may be said to have the buds 
in them before struck, but they only produce the one bloom as a 
rule, and then either die or grow on till their natural time. Most 
of the new introductions from France bloom prematurely the 
brst season unless the buds are pinched out. i find they are 
chiefly struck from stem cuttings, and hence the reason.— 
H. Davis, Chrysanthemum Nurseries, Camberwell. 
[Accompanying this communication was a beautiful collection 
of flowers, whichfully bears out all that Mr. Davis has said in their 
favour. They are most useful plants, and are extremely welcome 
at this season either in borders or in pots for the conservatory, 
while their abundant flowers form a welcome addition to the 
supply. The variety Blushing Bride is a charming one, the 
flowers 2] inches in diameter, the florets slightly cupped, and the 
colour a delicate pretty rosy purple tint, fading to nearly white 
in the centre. It also appears very floriferous. Salter’s Early 
Blush, also a pleasing variety, has flatter florets of a more 
uniform lighter pink; Anastasio, small flower, but very free, 
though of sturdy compact habit; Lyon, an extremely hardy 
useful purple variety; Surprise is a new early Pompon with 
small neat pink flowers; Frederick Pele, an old but useful rich 
crimson-coloured variety; Flora, rich yellow, very free and 
valuable for bedding; La Petite Marie, a very dwarf bedding 
variety, the whole plant not exceeding 10 inches in height, with 
small neat white or yellow tinted flowers; Mrs. Oullingford and 
White Crouts are meritorious white varieties, but the specimens 
of Madame C. Desgranges sent are superb, pure and substantial, 
as well as the light yellow sport, G. Wermig, which is a fine 
companion for it. Bouquet National, an early rosy purple 
Japanese, and M. Pynaert Van Geert, bronzy yellow, of similar 
character, are also two charming varieties.] 
JUDGING GRAPES. 
I wish to add a supplementary testimony to Mr. Iggulden’s sensible 
remarks on the above subject. Want of time must be my apology for not 
doing so sooner, as I quite agree with him regarding the present system 
of judging Grapes at the various fruit and flower shows I have had the 
privilege of visiting this season. At one held in this neighbourhood on 
the 3rd inst., forty-two bunches of Grapes were staged, and not a single 
berry was taken off them by the Judges—appearance alone carried the 
day. In the class for four varieties, one bunch of each, a good even col¬ 
lection in fair condition was set up, consisting of Mill Hill Hamburgh, 
Madresfield Court, Muscat Hamburgh, and Muscat of Alexandria, against 
which were staged Cooper’s Black, Alicante, Gros Colman, and Muscat of 
Alexandria, for which the first prize was awarded. In the class for two 
bunches black, any variety, Cooper’s Black was again awarded the premier 
prize against two well-finished bunches of Muscat Hamburgh, one of the 
best flavoured Grapes in cultivation, and not the easiest to finish either, 
whilst Cooper’s Black, although a showy Grape with a splendid bloom, is, 
nevertheless, one easily brought to perfection, yet is not fit to send to 
table for at least two months after being apparently ripe. Alicante and 
Gros Colman are not September Grapes, and one might ask, Are Grapes 
intended for desert or are they to be sent to a gentleman’s table like a 
bouquet of flowers, only to be admired P Let a dish of Black Hamburgh, 
Madresfield Court, Muscat Hamburgh be set on the dinner table against 
the three varieties already referred to, aDd we should soon see which 
dish would be cleared first. I hope this matter will be taken up by 
competent writers, so that honest competition shall have its just reward, 
and when the time comes forjudging Grapes at our local shows, men will 
bo appointed to adjudicate who will not give all the preference to appear¬ 
ance, but taste and see which is best. 
Just a word on that noble Grape, Madresfield Court. I have 
frequently read that its great defect in the hands of some cultivators is 
splitting just as it approaches maturity, some assigning one cause and 
some another, such as keeping the roots too damp, not allowing the 
laterals to extend, &c. Now, I have grown it for the last eight or nine 
years, planted in an ou'side border, where, of course, it gets a due share 
of rainfall, and in dry weather as much from the watering can as any 
other variety, with the laterals removed the same as others, and I have 
never had cause to find fault with it for splitting when watering and 
ventilating were duly performed. I would, therefore, advise anyone 
troubled with berries splitting to crop fairly, thin the bunches liberally, 
keeping a moderately dry atmosphere with plenty of ventilation while 
colouring, and we shall soon hear less complaints about one of the finest 
Grapes in cultivation.'—B. R., Belfast. 
Ip Mr. Iggulden’s ideas on judging Grapes are to be held as correct, 
and to be acted upon, then all our fine late Grapes should never be shown 
at any autumn exhibition. This would not be subject of regret if there 
were more shows held in winter and early spring, when all such varieties 
as Gros Colman, Alicante, Lady Downe’s, &c., would be at their best; but 
until there are more shows at that time of year, it surely may be per¬ 
missible to exhibit such kinds as aforementioned in autumn rather than 
not show them at all. 
If Mr. Iggulden’s advice be acted upon, our shows will be robbed of 
many fine-looking samples of late Grapes, which, although not arrived at 
their perfection as regards edible qualities, can be shown in such a style 
as proclaims to all who know anything about them that time alone is 
needed to see them at their best every way. Let special shows be held 
throughout the country where late Grapes can be shown in season, and 
then there would be no excuse for exhibiting them in early autumn. 
There are many shows held in March and April, but that is rather late 
to have the bulk of late Grapes seen to advantage. Let there be exhi¬ 
bitions in, say, February, and a good display could be made. Of course, 
Lady Downe’s attains its best quality in March, but, taking one kind 
with another, February would be a better time to see late Grapes shown 
in edible condition. , 
I only support “Judges in their preference for colour rather than 
ripeness’’ when size of bunch and berry and perfection of bloom are 
combined with it; when these are found in a late Grape—which only 
requires a little more time to make it fit for table—I fail to see why it 
should be passed over simply because the. show is held at a time that suits 
some other varieties better. Unless late Grapes be entirely excluded 
from autumn prize lists there appears no other course open for judges 
than to make allowance for want of edible quality in late varieties when 
other essential points of good quality are conspicuously displayed. 
Mr. Iggulden thinks I miss a point when he refers to the sacrificing 
of late Grapes at autumn shows. There are many Grapes shown, both 
late and early kinds, which never appear, or are intended to appear, at the 
employer’s table. Where well served, most reasonable employers do not 
grudge the cutting of a few bunches not quite fit for the dessert table, 
when they are made to understand that no other convenient opportunity 
of exhibiting them can be had. I speak of those gardeners who make 
showing only secondary to their employers’ interests, and grow a crop, 
not a special few. In the latter case a long-suffering employer could 
hardly be expected to allow the “ select few ’’ bunches to be cut at a time, 
wheD, for after use at the dinner table, they are comparatively quite unfit. 
I would never advocate the placing of “really good Madresfield Court” 
third to “two lots of only fairly good Alicantes.” I only advocate 
placing “extra well grown Alicante ” before Madresfield Court when 
the latter is not shown in its best form. Mr. Iggulden admits that he 
would do this himself. What comes of his theory about Alicante not 
being admissible at all at shows held in August or September, when he 
makes this admission regarding “extra well grown Alicante?” 
There is no other way out of the difficulty than either banning late 
Grapes altogether from early autumn shows, or else allowing the judges 
to weigh all other points and make allowance for the late kinds being 
wanting in edible qualities through want of time. “A Young Exhibitor ” 
asks, Why should Madresfield Court “ be passed for Grapes less fine in 
berry, less in weight, less noble in appearance, and lacking in flavour ?" 
He may well ask, “ Why ? ” So would all Grape-growers, I think. Any 
judge who would pass Madresfield Court, superior to any other kind in 
all the points mentioned, would deserve to be severely taken to account. 
Surely such cases are rarely to be met with P—S. 
THE PRIMULAS. 
In view of the Primrose Congress to be held at South Kensington 
early next year by the Horticultural Society I have thought it de¬ 
sirable that a list should be published of the Primulas known to be in 
cultivation, both European and Asiatic,&c., and which may in a measure 
tend to further the ends of the Congress by enabling growers or in¬ 
tending exhibitors of these beautiful alpine flowers to judge of the 
numbers in cultivation, and also to interest themselves,iu getting their 
plants named correctly. Many are of opinion that such a Congress is 
undesirable from the fact that very little, if any, confusion exists 
among them, and that other plants are more in need of comparison. 
The latter is by far the best argument, but as Primulas are extremely 
popular garden flowers the Congress will be as welcome next year to 
those specially interested as it would be later ; besides, it is much 
easier to deal with slight confusion than to unravel what would be 
very great confusion a dozen years hence, especially when we note 
the rate at which these plants are imported from the Continent and 
plentiful but similar forms made to supply the place of the rarer 
ones. Mr. Baker of Kew and Mr. Lynch of Cambridge have been 
deputed to draw up a list, but as that will simply be a classification of 
the European species without cultural details it will in no way inter¬ 
fere with my present plaD. In the paper referred to attention will be 
given chiefly to the type species, and which will form a foundation 
