360 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 22, 1885. 
gate; and Geo. Bunyard, Maidstone. Professor Foster opened an 
interesting discussion on the “ Germination of Seeds,” which was 
continued by Messrs. Geo. Paul, Druery, Cousens, &c. The thanks of the 
members present were given to Professor Foster for his kindness in 
introducing the subject, and for the interesting facts brought forward. 
- The British colonies include the richest and largest forests 
in the World, extending over millions of square acres. In India alone 
about 60,000 square miles are afforested, and the forests of Canada, 
Australia, New Zealand, and Cape Colony are second to none in size and 
the variety and value of their productions. The acreage under timber in 
France, Germany, and Great Britain is small and constantly decreasing. 
Of the 20,000,000 square acres of Scotland only about 700,000 to 800,000 
acres are woodland. 
- Mr. George Augustus Sala is contributing to the Daily 
Telegraph a series of articles descriptive of Australia, the majority being 
readable and freely written letters. In a recent one on Adelaide he 
makes, however, an amusing Botanical Blunder. He states that— 
“ The site was, less than fifty years ago, literally a swamp, intersected by 
numerous small creeks and overshadowed by the maleficent umbrageous¬ 
ness of the Mangrove. That gruesome plant is said to shriek when it is 
interfered with by man. How the Mangroves must have bellowed when 
the practical utilitarianism of the last generation of South Australian 
colonists built up a commodious haven and a thriving town out of this 
quagmire.” Is it possible that this usually accurate writer can have 
confused the British Mandrake with the tropical Mangrove ? 
-In the production of Rose Blooms for Otto of Roses no 
less than 145 towns and villages are concerned. Under favourable cir¬ 
cumstances 2000 lbs. of Rose leaves will yield 1 lb. of the otto, whereas at 
other times it will take no less than 5000 lbs. weight of leaves to produce 
the same quantity. The area required to grow the Rose trees to produce 
such innumerable quantities of flowers covers large tracts of country, and 
in order to save loss by evaporation after picking small stills are erected 
in the open fields. It is the more necessary to have the apparatus close 
at hand, as all the flowers for the same reason are picked if possible before 
sunrise. 
- The fourth annual report of the North of Scotland 
Horticultural Association contains a general report of the pro¬ 
ceedings and several papers that have been read by the members 
during the past season, those on the education of young gardeners, 
the culture of the Chrysanthemum, and the culture of the Tomato 
being particularly good. The Association is making substantial 
progress, and now includes 258 members. The programme for 
the present season is as follows, the meetings taking place the third 
Friday in each month at 7 P.M., in the Young Men’s Christian Institute, 
198, Union Street, Aberdeen :—November 20th, “ Climbing Plants ; ” 
James Connon, East Seaton. “Dinner-table Decoration;” J. M’Kay, 
Westwood. December 18th, the Lessons and Experiments of the Year. 
1886.—January 15th, “Should Science or Practice Obtain Most Pro¬ 
minence on Discussions on Horticultural Subjects.” Science, A. Robson, 
18, Market Street ; Practice, J. Henderson, Wellwood. February 19th, 
“ Rose Propagation ; ” A. Innes, Ruthrieston. “ The Construction of 
Fruit and Kitchen Gardens; ” J. Forrest, Haddo House. Meetings at 
8 p.m. March 19th, “The Origin and History of a Few of the More 
Interesting Cultivated Plants ; ” Prof. Trail, Aberdeen University. 
April 16th, “ Formation of Hardy Fruit Tree Borders and Management 
of Trees P. W. Fairgrive, F.B.S., Dunkeld Gardens. May 21st, “The 
Action of Light, and the Colour of Flowers ; ” J. Taylor, Clashfarquhar. 
“Peas;” R. Farquhar, Fyvie. Jnne 18tb, “An Hour among the 
Lichen ;” G. Murray, 115, Causewayend. The Secretary is Mr. William 
Reid, 8, Hadden Street, Aberdeen. 
JUDGING GRAPES. 
Now that this most important subject is being well discussed in the 
columns of the Journal, I trust that all who are interested will lend 
their aid in trying to solve this most difficult problem. Much good may be 
expected from having this subject thus freely ventilated through the 
medium of the press. Still, gardeners should not neglect to use their in¬ 
fluence in having the subject discussed in the horticultural societies to 
which they belong. I think the subject could not have cropped up at a 
more convenient season, as there is still enough time to have the matter 
fairly discussed ere the majority of schedules and prize lists are prepared 
for the ensuing year. It only requires a few energetic and influential 
individuals to take the matter up in earnest, and endeavour to induce the 
leading horticultural societies to adopt some method which would bring 
both exhibitors and judges to a better understanding. 
For instance, if a committee were formed composed of men well known 
for their experience and success as Grape-growers to gather evidence and 
carefully consider the respective merits of all the varieties of Grapes 
generally grown in our gardens, to decide the maximum number of points 
each variety ought to receive, and to draw out rules for the guidance of 
j udges and exhibitors, such rules to partake of a kind of national charac¬ 
ter and free to any society which might choose to adopt them, the 
society adopting such standard rules would, by printing them in their 
prize lists, give intending exhibitors an idea of the lines upon which 
their fruit was to be judged. Besides, it would to a great extent prevent 
judges displaying their individual tastes and fancies, which are often as 
wide and diversified as the localities to which they may belong. 
Onpage292 of theJournal of October 1st, under this heading, “ AKitchen 
Gardener,” while comparing Alicante to Madresfield Court, indulges in 
some rather hard remarks and a prophetic announcement regarding the 
latter variety, which must raise the ire of every lover of this noble Grape. 
I could not help thinking, while reading the remarks referred to, that if 
“ A Kitchen Gardener ” is as ungenerous in his cultural treatment of 
this variety as his style of writing about it is, I do not wonder at it both 
splitting, cracking, and failing to set with him. Some time ago I read 
in the pages of the Journal of an exhibitor who had for four or five years 
in succession taken first prize with this variety for flavour (black) against 
all comers, and that, too, at the largest Grape shows in the country, where 
hundreds of bunches are shown annually. So much for its “ standard 
quality.” As for its appearance, I have always been led to consider 
Madresfield Court has the handsomest bunch of any Grape with which 
I am acquainted. At the September show of the Royal Caledonian 
Horticultural Society a magnificent example of this Grape was shown by, 
I think, Mr. Brown of Abercairney, in a class for any other black, which 
was considered by many as the finest bunch in the show—no mean 
honour considering that over 400 bunches were staged. Judging from its 
appearance it would weigh about 6 lbs,, was well shouldered and beauti¬ 
fully tapered, compactly built, with large berries, no evidence of any 
having been removed through splitting, perfectly black to the footstalk, 
and with a bloom as dense as any Alicante. 
Again, I know a large establishment where Grapes are exceptionally 
well done, where this variety is as much esteemed for general use as 
Black Hamburgh, being found as sure a cropper, as free a setter, more 
handsome in bunch, keeps as long, scarcely ever splits, and is found to 
bring to maturity a heavier crop than the Hamburgh. It has peculiari¬ 
ties, I admit. But what first-class Grape of recent introduction has not 
faults ? Duke of Buccleuch, Golden Queen, Golden Champion, Muscat 
Hamburgh, Mrs. Pince, Madresfield Court, and a few others, compara¬ 
tively new Grapes, have each their peculiarities, and more difficult to 
manage than either Alicante or Black Hamburgh ; but are they to be 
discarded and denounced as worthless, as many writers are trying to do, 
upon this ground alone ? I daresay lhat during the last twenty years 
more matter has been written in connection with Grapes than all other 
home-grown fruits together. And what is to be the result of it ^all ? Is 
no greater success to be expected from us than was achieved by our fore¬ 
fathers fifty years ago, who, with thin old-fashioned pits and frames, 
could grow Black Hamburghs, and such varieties, as good as we can do 
now ? or the amateur of to-day, who, with his little greenhouse, would 
put many of us to shame in growing these common varieties ?—D. 
Buchanan. 
I AM pleased to think of the regard Mr. W. Jenkins (page 341) has had 
for my writings, and I should feel still more exalted if he would give me 
full credit for what 1 have written on this subject. He says I “ even 
dispute the superiority of Madresfield Court over Alicante, and this 
simply on the ground of the popularity of the latter.” Now, let me ask 
him if this was the only ground I claimed for the superiority of 
the Alicante ? “ S.,” who deals uncommonly fairly with his opponents, 
remarks at page 320, “ A Kitchen Gardener ” defends Alicante vigorously, 
and ably states his reasons for doing so. I also gave my objections to 
Madresfield Court, and if Mr. W. Jenkins can see nothing more in my 
notes than the brief distinction of “ popularity,” I can only say he is 
making poor use of his Journal. It is new to me to know that Madresfield 
Court has become more popular this last year or so. I have seen it better 
shown in Mr. Meredith’s time than I have ever seen it since. “ The 
grand bunch” shown at Dundee and “again at Edinburgh” does not 
speak highly for its abundance. 
Referring to your report of the Edinburgh Show (page 248), I observe 
in the collection of twelve sorts Mr. Hammond (first) exhibited “grand 
Alicante,” Mr. McKelvie (second), “ Alicante, fine.” In eight varieties, 
Mr. Hammond (first), “Alicante;” Mr. Jenkins, Durham (second), 
“ Alicante, fine.” In four sorts, Mr. Boyd (first), “ fine Alicante ;” Mr. 
Hammond (second), “ Alicante, fine.” “ Messrs. Hammond and Boyd 
took prizes for Alicante, both with grand examples.” Here we have 
Alicante figuring in all the prize collections, but not a word as to Madres¬ 
field Court or “the bunch” referred to by Mr. Jenkins. The same thing 
is occurring at all shows, no matter where they are held or who is 
judging, and so long as imperfectly finished Madresfield Courts are shown 
against those grand Alicantes all the writing in the world would never 
bring prizes to the former at the hands of impartial judges. 
I see Mr. Iggulden has got as far as Shrewsbury in his cnuade against 
this blind and foolish judging, but if I might be allowed to offer my 
candid opinion, I would say he is getting beyond his depth and including 
that which lies quite outside his experience. Unless it be Mr. Iggulden 
