236 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 21, 1889. 
introduction of those Dahlias which for the first time find places 
in the analysis.—E. M., BerJchamslcad. 
JUDGING MELONS. 
ES Your correspondent, “ W. H.,” seems to think that the time is near 
at hand when tasting Melons as an evidence of quality will be abolished. 
For one I do not agree with his conclusions, but still think, with the 
old proverb, that the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and as a 
grower and an exhibitor of Melons for twenty years, I can still say that 
the smelling test as applied to Melons is most deceptive. When ex¬ 
hibiting Melons I have often, after the prizes have been awarded, tasted 
the fruits in company with a few friendly exhibitors, and have proved 
more than once that the smelling test is not reliable. Some of the very 
best thick-fleshed types and green-fleshed Melons have not much smell, 
even when quite ripe, and a Melon at its very best does not keep 
long ; a day or two either way makes a great difference. And as an 
instance that appearances in Melons as in other things are deceptive, I 
was told on good authority, that when the variety known as Turner’s 
Scarlet Gem was first exhibited at the Ttegent’s Park Show, the prizes 
had been awarded to some large fine looking Melons ; at the last one 
of the Judges suggested they should taste the little rough one, with the 
result that the little rough one was tbe best flavoured one of the lot, 
and probably the Editor was among the Judges, and can recollect the 
circumstance. The variety is known to most Melon growers as small 
and highly flavoured, with a tendency to cracking, and previous to 
Read’s Scarlet was the best scarlet fleshed Melon known.—II. M. 
I must decline to budge an inch from the position I have taken up 
that Melons ought not to be judged without tasting them. The grandest 
looking Melon ever produced is utterly worthless if the flesh be hard 
and having the flavour of a Turnip. How many of the handsomest 
of fruits have not proved when cut of the quality they were de¬ 
scribed. The outcry against cutting Melons arises from the fact 
that exhibitors cannot guarantee quality in their fruits, and they are 
afraid to stand the only real test of value. And yet we were invited by 
Mr. Mclndoe to award prizes co collections of fruits by the giving of 
almost infinitessimal marks, three-fourths of which would in the case , of 
Melons be absolutely dependent upon quality. In how many instances I 
have met with it constantly happens. In some of the most important 
Melon competitions the showiest and apparently richest perfumed 
fruits have had to give place to others hardly taking in appearance, but 
superb in flavour and quality of flesh. I do not know of any fruit so 
erratic and so uncertain in its production of quality as the Melon ; in 
fact we may say even of the most favoured kinds, those which have 
received certificates, that three-fourths of the fruits after all are only 
moderate in quality, the rich flavoured ones being the exception. And 
yet with that fact before us judges are desired to take quality in Melons 
for granted 1 It would be as wise to demand that Pitmaston Duchess 
Pear, because of its size and grand appearance, should have precedence 
of Marie Louise, or Beurr4 Diel or Doyenne du Comice. Wherever 
judges are deprived of the power to judge Melons by flavour the weights 
and scales and not competent men should be the instruments of making 
awards.—A. D. 
RHODANTHES. 
For conservatory decoration or furnishing purposes generally 
few plants surpass Rhodanthes when well grown. They are 
amongst the easiest of plants to cultivate, and flower three months 
after sowing the seed, therefore a succession can be maintained if 
desirable over a period of several months. By following a few 
simple rules they can be grown to a high state of excellence, even 
where very limited glass accommodation exists. This, however, is 
not the case, and there is ample room for improvement ; therefore 
the necessary details of culture may with advantage be given at 
this season of the year. 
Two systems may be followed ; one is sowing the seed in the 
pots in which the plants are to flower, and the other sowing in 
pans or boxes and then transplanting the seedlings as soon as they 
are large enough into pots. The latter method is the most 
economical as regards seed, and may result in the plants being at 
flowering time 1 or 2 inches dwarfer than when the seed is sown 
direct into the flowering pots. We prefer the former system, 
because the labour required in transplanting the seedlings amounts 
to considerably more than the cost of a little extra seed. This, 
however, is a matter that should be decided by each individual 
cultivator, and the quantity he intends to grow. If a sharp boy 
could fill sufficient pots in a day that would not increase the cost 
of production more than the cost of the seed, then the transplanting 
system would be advised. Boys vary widely in this matter, and 
under these circumstances no hard and fast rule can be laid down. 
The pots used should be 5-inch. These should have one crock or 
a few small cinders at the bam, and then filled moderately firm 
with soil to within half an inch of the top. The compost may con¬ 
sist of good loam three parts, one part leaf mould, a little sand, 
according to the texture of the loam, and one-seventh of decayed 
manure. Soil that has grown Cucumbers and Melons with the 
addition of a little sand will grow Rhodanthes well. 
The sowing is rather a slow process, because the seeds cling to 
each other by the woolly material attached to them. Before 
sowing the seed should be teased, and then the work can be done 
without wasting much of it, and on the other hand, without gaps 
in the pots after the seed has germinated. The seed should be 
covered with a quarter of an inch of fine soil and the pots stood in a 
temperature of 55° to G0° until the young plants appear. If the 
soil is in a sufficiently moist state when the pots are filled, and 
these and surface lightly dewed with the syringe occasionally, no 
water will be needed before signs of germination are visible. As 
soon as the plants are well up they should be removed to a tem¬ 
perature of 45° where the ventilators are kept close for a few days, 
and may then occupy a cool structure. The night temperature 
may safely range from 40° to 45°, but plenty of air should be 
given on all favourable occasions during the day. They will do 
in cold frames directly it is certain they can be protected from 
frost ; the place they enjoy is close to the glass on a moisture¬ 
holding base and abundance of air. Later plants can be sown in 
heat, then transferred to cold frames, and after the weather is 
sufficiently genial they can be stood on ashes outside or plunged. 
The object is to keep them dwarf, and this is accomplished by 
abundance of light and air. 
The seedlings as soon as they are large enough should be thinned 
so that by the time they are 2 inches high the pots are full. They 
may with safety be left nearly as thick again round the rim of the 
pots as in the middle. The earliest batch may need four or five 
very thin stakes about 4 inches above the soil, placing round the 
edge of the pots, and a thin piece of bass tied from stake to stake 
for support. Tbe stakes and ties should be of the lightest descrip¬ 
tion so that they can be easily laid by the foliage of the plants. 
Later batches will not require stakes if they are properly grown. 
When the plants are growing be careful they do not suffer by an 
insufficient supply of water at their roots. Once the soil becomes 
dry the foliage will fade at the base and assume a sickly yellow 
instead of a healthy pea green appearance. If the soil in which 
they are grown is good stimulants may b) dispensed with ; clear 
soot water may however, be given, for it imparts quickly a dark 
hue to the foliage. The white form generally grows a little 
taller than the rose-coloured one. Where larger plants can be 
used G-inch pots may be employed, for in this size the most hand¬ 
some plants can be produced. The plants are liable to become 
infested early in the season by aphides, but these are readily 
destroyed by slight fumigations of tobacco smoke. Those who 
have been in the habit of sowing patches in mixed borders outside, 
will find that they can grow them equally well and as dwarf in 
pots, provided they pay attention to watering and grow the plants 
close to the glass under cool airy conditions.—W. B. 
INTERNATIONAL POTATO. 
Says “ Utilitarian,” on page 211, “ That misnomer International, so 
fine in appearance as to carry all others before it ; ” and again, “ the 
tubers arc what they should not be for use.” I am not quite so certain 
about that. Village shows have originated in many parishes since I 
came to live in these parts, where I am as a standing dish as a judge. 
I always give an award if I can to International in a cottager’s collec¬ 
tion, or as a cottager’s dish, but never in a gentleman’s gardener’s or an 
amateur’s collection, if I can help it. I remember some years since at 
Tadley—and Tadley was famous for its collections of Potatoes—Inter¬ 
national running off with the majority of the prizes. Sir M. Hicks 
Beach, Bart., presided at our luncheon, and of course spoke in praise of 
the Potatoes exhibited. He also explained that he had only the day 
before held an argument with his gardener about the sorts which he 
cultivated, forbidding him sending International again to his table, as 
he found it to be like what your correspondent expresses, “ what it 
should not be.” Sir Michael did not know that I was the raiser'of the 
best abused Potato in creation, but his speech instantly brought me to 
my feet in, defence of my bantling. I went on to explain how gardeners 
were human ; they are supposed to supply the household for certain 
months in the season, and they grew what would give quantity, and a 
chance' of winning, as Potatoes go, at the shows, quality not being 
strictly a first consideration either for the shows, the servants’ hall, and 
not generally so for the parlour. 
I never considered my Potato-raising for or from a gardener's point 
of view, and I never intended International to go into circulation either. 
I explained how I formerly grew my seedlings under Mr. Dean’s 
supervision at Bedfont, paying periodical visits from Woodstock to study 
their growths and features, eventually tossing aside those I wished to 
condemn. International was one of them, but Mr. Dean was so taken 
with this handsome tuber that he over-persuaded me eventually to let 
him have the “stock” of it on these conditions. I foresaw the rocks 
ahead, and I stipulated with my old friend that my name should not be 
mentioned in connection as the raiser ; that all responsibility concerning 
its quality, and all the combative ability resulting from the inevitable 
