54 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 19, 1894. 
dealing with the various genera of Orchids is adhered to, and 
in that point can hardly be improved, but all the latest informa¬ 
tion on Orchids has been included, while the numerous species 
and varieties that have sprung into existence during the past ten 
years are described. Mr. H. Williams, in the preface, says, “We 
do not aim to instruct botanists, but to assist amateurs by placing 
before them plain and practical information on a sound scientific 
basis, so that for the time and pains bestowed on the cultivation 
of this charming class of plants they may be rewarded by the 
production of fine specimens, and as a consequence abundant and 
beautiful flowers.” Such results cannot other than accrue if the 
cultural directions are put into practice, and there is no doubt 
orchidologists will appreciate the publication of this excellent 
work. 
As in former editions the one before us contains chapters on 
the erection of Orchid houses, collecting and management of the 
plants, propagation, making baskets. Orchids for room decoration 
and exhibition, diseases of Orchids, and numerous other matters of 
interest to growers. References to figures in botanical and 
horticultural periodicals are also given, in addition to upwards of 
300 illustrations which the book itself contains. A comprehensive 
index enhances the value of the work, which should be given a 
place in every horticultural library. 
FRUIT REPORTS FROM THE LIVERPOOL DISTRICT. 
In the following notes I have endeavoured to select a few places 
where hardy fruit is extensively grown, and which will give a fair idea 
of fruit prospects. 
Eainford Hall, St. Helens. 
The earlier sorts of Apples, Lord Suffield in particular, are quite a 
failure. Some of the later sorts have a fair sprinkling ; but they will 
be a very light crop. The earlier sorts of Pears, such as I)oyenn4 d’Etdi, 
Louise Bonne of Jersey, Williams’ Bon ChrStien, Jargonelle, and Hessle 
are well cropped ; Marie Louise and others will be rather thin. Plums 
are fair, notably Victoria. Cherries, dessert kinds are fairly good, 
Morellos excellent. Gooseberries plentiful. The first blooms of early 
Strawberries were killed ; but President and later sorts are affording 
good crops. 
Allerton Priory. 
Apples here are a thin crop. The best are Lord Suffield, Potts’ Seed¬ 
ling, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Stirling Castle, Sandringham, Claygate 
Pearmain, and Cellini. Pears are a moderate crop, the bitter easterly 
winds cutting them severely w’hen in bloom ; Jargonelle, Louise Bonne 
of Jersey, Durondeau, Beurr6 d’Amanlis, Beurr^ Clairgeau, and Clapp’s 
Favourite being amongst the best. Plums have nearly all fallen, with 
exception of the local variety Halewood. Small fruits are generally 
satisfactory. 
Cleverley, Allerton. 
Most of the Apples here are grown as bushes and pyramids on the 
Paradise stock are carrying good average crops. Lord Suffield, Warner’s 
King, Alfriston, Beauty of Kent, and Worcester Pearmain are good. 
Pears are a full crop, the wall of cordons being the best I have met with 
this season. Plums on walls, which were carefully protected, are abun¬ 
dant, and there are good crops of small fruits generally. Blackberries 
are extensively grown here, trained over a long arch of iron trellising ; 
one variety called “ Taylor’s ” is worthy the attention of all lovers of 
this delicious fruit by reason of its earliness, being ready to gather when 
all other varieties are only colouring. 
Calderstones, Aigburth. 
Mr. Tunnington nearly always takes a hopeful view of things even 
in the most adverse seasons. Peaches, Nectarines, and Cherries on open 
walls are a full crop. Plums are poor; Apricots fair.' All the early 
Pears are a heavy crop ; the later ones being in flower at the time of 
the cold winds and frost are almost failures. The same applies to 
Apples; but altogether the crop is light. Currants, Gooseberries, 
and Raspberries are good. Strawberries suffered from the May frosts. 
Blacklow House, Roby. 
Apples, culinary varieties, are a very fair crop, such sorts as Beauty 
of Kent, Whorle Pippin, Hawthornden, Bedfordshire Foundling, York¬ 
shire and Northern Greenings, Keswick Codlin, and Warner’s King 
being the most abundant. It is the only season [ can remember of 
Lord Suffield carrying a thin crop. Dessert kinds are very light. Pears, 
with few exceptions, are very good crops, as are small fruits except 
Strawberries. 
Court Hey, Broad Green. 
A noted fruit grower, Mr. Elsworthy, finds Apples a poor crop. 
Pears, such as Jargonelle, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Beurr6 Diel, and 
Easter Beurr6 a grand crop ; but late bloomers, including Marie Louise, 
are very sparse. Strawberries a fair crop only. Currants and Goose¬ 
berries abundant. Dessert Cherries poor, but Morellos above the 
average.—R. P. E. 
Rose Show Fixtures. 
July 19th (Thursday).—Halifax (N.R S.), Halesworth, and Trentham. 
„ 2l8t (Saturday).—Manchester. 
„ 24th (Tuesday).—Tibshelf. 
„ 26th (Thursday).—Southwell. 
„ 28th (Saturday).—Bedale. 
Aug. Ist (Wednesday).—Chesterfield. 
THE NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. 
The Trophy Classes and Multiplicity of Exhibits. 
The subjects with which I head this letter have been for some time 
occupying my attention. I have not, therefore, ventured to open 
a discussion on them and in the manner I do without due consideration, 
nor have I done so without reference to those most intimately concerned. 
I long since came to the conclusion that whoever may originally have 
been responsible for the introduction into the N.R.S. competitions of 
very large classes of distinct varieties had done nothing to benefit our 
Society, either in the beauty or in the real merit of the exhibits staged 
at our shows. It is possible that the original idea and intention was to 
benefit the professional growers, but if such were the idea some ten or 
fifteen years ago it does not now apply, as the very large amateur 
growers and exhibitors of recent years have more usually budded their 
own plants, and are by no means as useful patrons to the professional 
grower as the small growers with numbers under 1000, or even under 
500 plants. The old Scotch proverb, “ many a little makes a muckle,” 
suits the position exactly, as it is the very large numbers of growers of 
small collections who are the real friends of the professionals. 
Having now partially explained the relative beneficiary positions of 
big and small amateur growers to the trade, I proceed to my argument. 
For some time past I have been aware that the champion amateur trophy 
class of forty-eight varieties has been a great tax, I might really say a 
nuisance, to our great amateur growers—it has become a tax to such an 
extent that it seriously endangers the continuance of several of them as 
exhibitors at our N.R.S. meetings. The matter, however, does not hinge 
solely on the point that this monster class is a serious tax, there are 
other questions closely connected with it—for instance, is there any 
great beauty or advantage in an exhibit of forty-eight varieties 1 Does 
it not, in nine cases out of ten, mean that in such an exhibit there are 
twelve, eighteen, or twenty-four first-rate or good flowers, but that the 
“ tail ” is comprised merely of poor Roses 1 I speak with the knowledge 
acquired from an intimate acquaintance with and the personal friend¬ 
ship of several of our greatest amateur rosarians, when I state they one 
and all agree that it is most diflficult even to cut forty-eight distinct 
varieties on any given day, and simply impossible to cut forty-eight good 
distinct Roses. Such being the undoubted fact, and it was very patent 
in the exhibits staged on July 7th at the Crystal Palace, the next 
question arises, For whose benefit is this unwieldy class of forty-eight 
varieties retained 1 Many big amateur growers do not care for it, and 
the professionals do not gain by it, why then retain it 1 The only answer 
which is at all possible is that it is in the position once ascribed—by 
Punch —to Marshal MacMahon when President of the French Republic, 
of “ J'y suis, J'y reste," and if this be the only answer which those in 
authority can give, then the sooner the class is amended, or ended, the 
better it will be for the future of the N.R.S. as a progressive and going 
concern. If those who are most directly interested at present in the 
championship see no reason for the retention of a huge restrictive 
class, then there can be no raison d'etre in its continuance in its 
present form. 
Assuming that those most intimately concerned are satisfied, and I 
know that the majority of the big amateur growers are in agreement, 
the next question is. What number would best suit the competitors for 
the championship Z This is a point which can be alone decided by an 
opinion or vote of the majority of big growers, and of those who, 
although now not in the very highest rank, are yet rapidly forging 
ahead, and will in time aspire to the championship. My own view is 
that the number at present staged for the provincial amateur champion¬ 
ship—viz., twenty-four distinct varieties—would in all years produce a 
fine and most satisfactory competition, and anyone who could produce a 
faultless twenty-four would certainly win ; but a faultless box of 
twenty-four distinct varieties would tax the greatest professionals on 
their best days. A competition of twenty-four high-class Roses would 
be a delightful sight, and infinitely preferable to the inferior boxes of 
forty-eight varieties usually staged. I trust that this question having been 
broached will be discussed by those directly interested, with the view 
of having a change in the champion amateur trophy class in next year’s 
schedule. 
Multiplicity op Exhibits. 
I am now going to discuss a far more difficult question, and yet 
one that most intimately affects 99 per cent, of our exhibiting members. 
I confess that I approach it with the feeling that, even at the risk of 
being misconstrued, it is one that must be grappled with if discontent is to 
