Kovern’ier 7, 1) 9 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
391 
TvURINGr the next three weeks more prizes will he won at 
U exhibitions in various parts of the kingdom than have been 
awarded in a similar period of time since last November. That 
fact denotes earnestness of purpose on the part of cultivators 
•of Chrysanthemums and other plants, also fruit, which can be 
■presented in the best condition at this season of the year. The 
•crowds of spectators who inspect, admire, and criticise the exhibits 
also afford conclusive evidence of the popularity of autumn shows 
of the nature indicated, and these no doubt give a great impetus to 
higher cultivation, as well as gain new adherents to a pursuit that 
is worthy of being engaged in by the greatest possible number of 
persons of various grades in the community. 
Than the cultivation of plants, fruit, and vegetables, according 
-to the means and preferences of individuals, with the tasteful 
association of flowers for room adornment, we cannot imagine any 
•occupation more deserving of encouragement, and there is no other 
■way in which encouragement can be so effectually given as in 
offering rewards for the best examples of production. For 
"these the most skilful and earnest strive, while others are stimu¬ 
lated to higher endeavour in the discharge of their duties as 
gardeners, or in the exercise of a delightful occupation as amateurs. 
The great increase in November exhibitions, and their markedly 
improved character, show what can be accomplished by the 
co-operation of both those classes—those who work in gardens for 
the means of livelihood, and those who devote their time to the 
•organisation and management of societies and shows as a labour of 
love. The success of many gatherings, such as those under notice, 
as largely due to the willing workers last mentioned, and credit 
should be ungrudgingly accorded them for their valuable aid and 
•disinterested efforts. 
Passing to the growers, these must not, cannot be overlooked, 
Tor not only is the work of those who win prizes deserving of 
public recognition, but those who try to win and fail are entitled 
to be remembered as important contributors to the aggregate 
success of our exhibitions, for if only prize stands and collections 
were included, the displays would, of necessity, be seriously reduced 
in extent, while deprived of the interest that attaches to diversity 
and of the instructiveness that is found in a comparison of the 
relatively good with the relatively inferior. There is no fear, 
however, of all being prizewinners, especially where there is a 
reasonable gradation in the value of the awards provided. A sen¬ 
sational first prize, then a sudden fall to almost insignificant 
amounts, can scarcely be expected to incite competition. The plan 
may answer in an isolated case, and for a year or two, but it is 
•extremely improbable that it can long find favour with the majority 
•of cultivators. A nearer approach to equalisation in amounts 
would in all likelihood meet with more general approval, and in 
most classes the plan would be equitable, for in many of them the 
■difference in the amounts is out of all proportion with that of the 
exhibits. For instance, if a sum of say £14 were apportioned in 
four prizes of £5, £4, £3, £2, it is practically certain that a 
"better response would be made than if £15 were divided into three 
prizes of £10, £3, and £2. But under any circumstances more 
prizes will bo lost than won during the present campaign, hence 
disappointment must preponderate over jubilation among exhibitors. 
Some will bear their misfortune bravely and resolve to repair 
No. 4S9 .—Vol. XIX., Third Series. 
it ; others will ft cl bound to express their chagiin, and in a 
moment of irritation aver they will not stage at the same show 
again—at least under the same judges. These persons, however, 
generally alter their minds if they have anything of special merit, 
and when they win no fault is found w T ith the adjudicators. It 
is not suggested that those officials cannot err. Some of the most 
experienced have occasionally overlooked something in the con¬ 
ditions, but as a rule they are very glad to have this pointed out. 
A formal protest in reasonable terms, and the grounds stated, will 
insure a re-inspection and, if called for, a rectification ; but after 
the second examination, let the result be what it may, the question 
should be regarded as settled, and if the officials of a show are 
satisfied that justice has not been done they must be left to make 
the best amends they can and employ different men to act another 
year. All objections to awards should be made in a calm business¬ 
like way to the secretary, noisy contentions in a show room being 
the reverse of creditable to those who share in them, while they 
are highly distasteful to visitors and may be damaging to a society. 
It should always be remembered that judges who are worthy of 
the position are supremely disinterested. They do not wish to 
know the names of competitors, and care only to discover the 
faults and merits of what may be under examination, not giving a 
thought to whom the products belong. If they acted on any other 
principle they would be totally unfitted for the important duty 
with which they were entrusted, and it is safe to say they would 
soon be “found out.” Assuming that the adjudicators employed 
are competent, and a prize, it may be a third prize of small amount, 
is lost to an exhibitor who ought to have won it, there h the 
possibility that the judges are not alone in fault. No one who has 
had long experience in connection with exhibitions can ignore the 
fact that in the case of not a few the rules and regulations might 
as well not be printed, so far as they relate to the hour at which 
the judging must commence. The encroaching of exhibitors on 
the time of the adjudicators often compels the latter to “ rush 
through ” their work in about half the time that is necessary for 
doing it properly. If, for whatever reason, exhibits must bi 
admitted long after the stipulated time for the completion of the 
work, an additional number of judges should be employed in order 
that the awards can be made in a satisfactory manner before the 
inrush of exhibitors and general visitors. That is an important 
matter for insuring accuracy, and there can scarcely be a doubt that 
more errors occur through hurried work, the direct result of 
unpunctuality, than from all other causes ; yet the man who is half 
an hour or more behind time in arranging his exhibits, and who loses 
a prize he thinks he ought to have won, forgets that if the rules 
had been adhered to he would not have had even a chance of 
winning. The men who win the best and the most prizes are 
seldom late in staging. 
These remarks are founded on experience gained over a series 
of years at exhibitions in various parts of the kingdom, and they are 
recorded with the object of impressing on all the desirability of 
assisting as far as they can, and in the best way that is open to 
them, in making the November gatherings enjoyable and satis¬ 
factory. One word more on wanning and losing prizes. To win 
modestly and lose manfully are virtues, and those who possess 
them are held in the highest esteem in the horticultural world. 
PREMATURE DEFOLIATION OF PLUM TREES. 
In the early stages of leaf development Plum trees are peculiarly 
liable to attacks of aphides, especially if cold easterly winds are 
prevalent and prolonged. These differ somewhat from the common 
green fly, which, however, changes colour with the species of plant 
or colour of wood and foliage attacked, therefore difference in 
colour is not to be taken as constituting a specific difference. 
The aphis attacking the young shoots, tender leaves, and sometimes 
the insipid clusters of fruit of the Plum trees is invariably of a very 
No. 2145.—Vol. LXXXI., Old Series. 
