424 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
November 8,1894. 
sufficient model or illustration. Setting aside, however, all minor 
considerations, what I claim for these analyses are— 
1, That the materials upon which they are based are the most reliable 
that have ever been collected together, because they represent the 
opinions of a large number of rosarians, including all our leading 
exhibitors as exemplified by their practice and by that alone. 
2, That for the treatment of these materials no hard and fast rules 
whatever have been laid down, the performances of each variety, whether 
new or old, alone serving as a guide to placing it in the tables. This 
common sense method is, in my opinion, the only fair and reasonable 
way to deal with statistics dependent upon so many different influences, 
if the best and truest results are to be obtained from them. 
3, I further claim that the relative positions of a very large majority 
of the varieties in the tables are there given with greater accuracy 
than in any other lists of the kind that have as yet appeared.— 
E. M,, Berlihamsted. 
I CAN hardly understand “ E. M.’s ” few lines in last week’s issue 
(page 412). It seems to me that I specially selected Margaret Dickson 
and asked for an explanation of its position ; in fact,I should like to see 
how often it has been exhibited in each year in winning stands since it 
first found its way into the analysis. I am glad to see that Mr. Grahame 
mentions this same Eose amongst the seven or eight that he names. 
In the analysis this Rose is said to have been exhibited (I hope I am 
stating rightly, but having lent the number of the Journal I am only 
writing from memory) twenty-five times this 1894 season. Incidentally 
Mi. Mawley tells us of the strides it has made, saying it was only 
exhibited five times in 1893. Well, to my intellect the average of these two 
years would be fifteen, and I went on to remark that to bring the 
average up to twenty-five, which, if memory serves me, was its average 
in this 1894 analysis, it must have been exhibited seventy times in the 
two previous seasons, a most improbable result at its early introduction. 
Without the data it is impossible for outsiders to say whether this is an 
error or not. I only surmised, and sought to have the enigma explained. 
Surely this was something “ definite to answer ” (Mr. Mawley says 
“ there was nothing definite to answer,”) I know only too well the 
trouble and labour of such analysis or election, but to be of any use it 
must approach correctness. Mr. Mawley’s own figures led me into the 
suspicion of error. 
I have not a word to say against that gem of my old friend Bennett’s 
raising—Mrs. J. Laing—heading the list. She deserves every praise, and 
must under any form of election come out near the head : but I think there 
are several Roses far more exalted than their merits can place them when 
looking at the best exhibition Roses. In such an analysis a bad season 
just before these exhibitions on which the analysis depends must of 
necessity greatly disturb the calculation, and a number of Roses, espe¬ 
cially some of the light ones, are certain not to appear on the board, 
and as a consequence not in print. This does not destroy the interest of 
such an analysis, and I thank Mr. Mawley and his helpers. If it were 
carried out over the whole season—a great labour, I grant—through some 
fifteen or more of the leading exhibitions, it would be far more valuable, 
and I for one should not be surprised at many alterations in position. I 
shall be curious—and so, I expect, will others—to see Mr. Mawley’s reply 
as to the Roses named by Mr. Grahame.—Y. B. A. Z. 
GRAPE GROWING IN SCOTLAND. 
It seems very remarkable that so many fine Grapes are seen of 
finest quality in the leading fruiterers’ shops in our large towns this 
season, and so many on exhibition tables which could not, with close 
inspection, be said to be of higher merit than second or third rate. It 
seems ridiculous to read some reports lauding Grapes as being of great 
excellence while censors were lamenting their unfitness for exhibition. 
This has been the case in many of the newspapers where untutored 
reporters have to take notes. It is some years since we listened to so 
much untoward criticism as we have this season. The two finest varieties 
of Grapes (Muscats and Black Hamburgbs) have come in for the largest 
share of severe criticism. There was little the matter with the former 
except in tack of finish ; bunches and berries generally fair, while less 
than a third of what we have seen at shows have been of the desired 
golden tint. The latter have been generally small in berry (in many 
cases lamentably so) loose, and badly coloured. 
I think for exhibitions held in August some limit to the lightest 
weight of bunch should be made for exhibiting purposes. A bunch 
under 1 lb. with small half-sized berries, though ever so finely coloured, 
is unfit for the exhibition table. Alicantes have been generally of first- 
rate appearance, and though only a third-rate Grape is esteemed by 
many by reason of its easy cultivation, Gros Maroc, though very large 
in berry, and bunches averaging 3 lbs. on exhibition tables, have been 
below par generally in colour. This Grape takes capitally in market, is 
productive, and of easy cultivation ; but its tough skin and coftse 
flavour has caused its eradication in many private gardens of late years. 
Gros Colman and Lady Downe’s have been scarcely represented at any 
of our large northern exhibitions this year. Though of these I know 
some of the finest ever seen in Scotland are plentiful in a number of 
market establishments. 
At Clovenfords I hear from visitors (and I also have seen some of 
the fruit) that the crops are equal to former years, and the quality is of 
the highest order. Most people who have seen the very remarkable 
crops which the Viges at that great emporium have produced for many 
years past are astonished at the vigour of the Vines and excellence of 
the fruit. At Kippen the Messrs. Buchanan are rising rapidly as market 
men. They do their work simply, and with pure soil, and liberal 
applications of Thomson’s manure. I expect to see and hear more of 
their produce from their 1800 feet of houses.—M. Temple, Carron, N.B. 
EARLY PEACHES. 
It is questionable if the somewhat new Peaches that originated in 
America will continue to find so much favour in the future as they 
have done during the past few years. Their greatest recommendation is 
their remarkable earliness, which enables us to obtain ripe fruit from 
warm outside walls by the end of June or early in July. In such 
positions the trees bear good crops of large and very handsome fruit of 
a fair quality, but when the same varieties are forced early under 
glass the conditions are altered, and, as a rule, not so satisfactory. 
Alexander has been very largely planted in the earliest Peach houses 
in many private and market gardens, but is being rooted out in many 
places, as it is an uncertain bearer, much given to casting its buds, and 
although the fruit is large and handsome the flavour is infinitely 
inferior to our English varieties that are a week or two later in 
ripening. This variety is becoming well known to our leading 
fruiterers, many of them not being anxious to purchase it if other and 
better flavoured sorts can be obtained. Amsden June and Waterloo may 
be termed fairly free bearers in the early house, but like the preceding 
variety the flavour is by no means excellent, and a large fruiterer that I 
send our surplus Peaches to from the middle of May onwards always 
gives a lower price for the three varieties named than for such sorts as 
Dagmar, Crimson Galande, Dymond, Hale’s Early, Early York, and 
Early Silver, all of which are only a week or ten days behind the 
varieties named first. Under good management the latter half dozen 
sorts will crop freely and produce large and handsome fruit of a 
delicious flavour that will always sell at a high price, as purchasers 
of Peaches are beginning to appreciate good flavour, and are willing to 
pay a trifle more for the same than for fruit lacking in that desirable 
element. 
There are two more varieties that have never failed to force 
admirably in the early house—viz., Royal George and Bellegarde. 
These are not much behind the others in earliness, always bear full 
crops of large and highly coloured fruit, and have paid me better than 
any other varieties over a number of years.— Fetjitman. 
Events of the Week. —During the ensuing week horticulturists 
will be busy in various parts of the country. The Committees of the 
Royal Horticultural Society meet at the Drill Hall, James Street, 
Westminster, on Tuesday the 13 h inst,, when a special display of 
Chrysanthemums is expected. On the same day exhibitions open at 
Kingston, Kidderminster, Plymouth and Farnham, among other places, 
continuing the following day. Chrysanthemum shows will also be held at 
Hull, Birmingham, South Shields, York, Hereford, Bristol, and Rugby 
on the 14th and 1.5th inst. On the last mentioned day exhibitions will 
likewise open at Birkenhead and Winchester. 
- The Weather in London. —The past week has again been 
characterised by changeable weather in the metropolis. Much rain has 
fallen since publishing our last issue, and the weather has been 
generally dull. Sunday was fine, however, and Monday opened 
similarly, but it rained in the afternoon. Tuesday morning was foggy, 
but it cleared as the day advanced, and on Wednesday the weather was 
favourable. 
- Royal Horticultural Society. —At the next meeting of 
this Society, which takes place in the Drill Hall, James Street, Victoria 
Street, Westminster, on Tuesday next the 13th, special prizes are offered 
for Chrysanthemums, and a large show of these flowers is anticipated. 
At 3 p.M. a lecture on “Chrysanthemums” will be given by Mr. C. E. 
Shea, F.R.H.S. 
- We have received the third fasciculus of the Index Kewensu, 
which brings the work down to PsiDiUM, The same care that was 
bestowed on the earlier portions is manifest in this latter, and the 
rapidity with which those concerned in its productiop have worked is 
worthy of the highest commendation. 
- Death of Mr. Henry Sibray.— We regret to hear of the 
death, which occurred on the 24th ult. at his residence. The Hollies, 
Handsworth, of Mr. Henry Sibray, of the firm of Messrs. Fisher, Son, 
and Sibray, Handsworth Nurseries. The deceased was fifty-seven 
