THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 19, 1854. 
fe 96 
POINT JUDGING OF CHRYSAN¬ 
THEMUMS. 
I ATTENDED the meeting of the members of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society held last week for 
the purpose of gathering, so far as possible, the 
general views of those present, especially the 
experienced growers, with respect to Mr. C. E. 
Shea’s paper on the subject of point judging, set 
down for special discussion. Some few members, of 
whom Mr. Edwin Molyneux so worthily took the 
lead, did deal with the matter in a very practical 
way. Some others preferred to touch and very 
briefly on mere side issues, but the bulk preferred to 
remain silent, although doubtless eloquent enough 
to each other when the meeting was over. This 
reticence, to whatever cause it may be due, is 
deplorable, as it still so largely leaves the executive 
of the Society in the dark in respect of what may be 
the unexpressed opinions of those who should have 
very practical opinions, but do not make them 
known. 
Now there were two things that should have given 
the fullest encouragement to discussion. The first 
was the admirably broad spirit shown in Mr. Shea’s 
paper, of the writer’s undoubted effort to grasp all 
the matters that may be presented for and against 
his proposals, and of the very full and intelligent 
way in which he sought to deal with them. The 
second was found in the piAlication of that paper 
and of what then followed, by the executive of the 
Society in the schedule, thus enabling every member 
to become familiar with the views propounded. 
However, I will assume that shyness kept so many 
undoubtedly good growers and exhibitors silent, and 
therefore, though somewhat of an outsider, yet not 
being without courage, I propose to open a discussion 
in the pages of The Gardening World on the 
matter propounded by Mr. Shea, and invite any who 
were silent to take part in the discussion. 
The first matter to be determined, if it be not 
practically already determined by the vote of the 
meeting, is that in the case of all close competi¬ 
tions, especially of show blooms, point judging is 
absolutely indispensable. Practically we may 
regard that matter as settled and henceforth 
outside of discussion. The next matter to be 
determined is how shall point judging be arranged, 
specially in relation to show blooms, so as to render 
it easy to grasp and capable of universal acceptance. 
That it must be based on simple methods if to be 
held in universal esteem is certain. It may be easy 
enough for experienced judges, men of superior 
intellect and of judicial capacity, to grasp even 
somewhat involved methods of point judging. That 
may be all very well so far as relates to the larger 
shows, but the case of the many smaller exhibitions, 
however, where men of little experience and limited 
ideas are often selected to judge, then any involved 
plan would lead to misconception and blundering, 
sa that matters would be rather worse than better. 
Now Mr. Shea advocates in his pointing method 
six elements, to which Mr. Molyneux added a 
seventh in “ form,” not that the latter expert holds 
so many divisions to be needful, but he simply shows 
that without this element Mr. Shea’s number is in¬ 
complete. It may, I think, be taken for granted that 
with almost any amount of time at disposal, two or 
three judges could undertake to note and point six 
or seven elements or features in all the flowers in 
some three or four stands of forty-eight, thirty-six, 
or even twenty-four blooms. There is, however, not 
the least necessity for any such detailed judging. 
What the judge needs at the first is a clear compre¬ 
hensiveness of what are the points of a good show 
flower, and as he looks upon a bloom he mentally 
grasps all those points in the glance. Still, it is 
essential that some list of points, such as are held to 
be essential, should be formulated, and with these the 
judges’ minds should be saturated. 
Mr. Shea has six elements, beginning with 
” breadth,” which has the highest number of marks, 
but I should consider " breadth ” without ‘‘ depth ” 
to be an absolute defect, so that one cannot be dis¬ 
associated from the other. Then both “ breadth ” 
and “depth” would be of little value without 
“ solidity,” and all three without “ form.” Now 
here we have four elements which are indispensable 
in a good bloom, but they are too many to have in¬ 
dividualised, and if the word “proportion” be em¬ 
ployed to comprise breadth, depth, solidity, and 
form, we get everything needful in the build of a 
bloom brought out at once under one head, and to 
that heading I would give a maximum of four points 
which, with sub-divisions of halves of points to suit 
varying quantities, would, I think, meet every case 
that might crop up. 
Then there remains the other elements of 
"colour,” “freshness,” and ” breadth of petal.” This 
latter should hardly have a place in the pointing at 
all, as it would prove most favourable to many 
coarse flowers having breadth of petal, and de¬ 
trimental to many others, whether Japanese or 
incurved which have narrow but exceedingly refined 
petals, and are first-class representatives of their 
various sections. A fine Lilian Bird, for instance, is 
as meritorious and as beautiful as is any broad- 
petalled variety. That narrows down the finish 
elements to “colour” and “freshness,” and here 
again colour and freshness are almost always 
associated. Still there are cases when to have some 
particular variety, such as Viviand Morel or Etoile 
de Lyon in form, colour should be bright and distinct. 
Therefore, if we group colour and freshness under 
the one head of “ finish,” and that may include the 
little touching up so indispensable with many 
flowers, and give that section two points maximum, 
or for any one bloom a maximum of six in all, with 
six divisions or half points, thus leaving practically 
twelve for the judges to apply to any one bloom, the 
whole ground is covered. " Proportion ” gets the 
largest number of points because that can only re¬ 
sult from the highest cultivation. “ Finish” includes 
elements that may be found even in smaller blooms, 
but all the same must, even with the finest, have 
due weight. A judge, therefore, having the com- 
pletest conception of this method of pointing, first 
notes practically at a glance how “proportion” 
stands, then as to “ finish,” and the thing is done. 
Now turning to other things, Mr. Shea objects 
to giving special points to “ novelties.” There I 
am in full accord. There should be always special 
classes for new varieties, and the second year they 
should be no longer regarded as novel. If shown in 
competitive stands in open classes when novelties, 
they should be judged simply on their merits as 
blooms and in no sense as novelties. Then with 
regard to “flowers of special difficulty,” here I 
disagree if for no other reason than that varieties 
that are to some specially difficult to do well, to 
others elsewhere give no trouble whatever, so that 
the special allowance for flowers of this class would 
be productive of endless bickering in different 
places. I hold that judges have no business to con¬ 
sider whether a flower is specially difficult to get, 
and, still further, it is no part of their duty to 
encourage the cultivation of disappointing sorts 
while we have so many equally beautiful and good 
that can be grown with comparative ease. Let 
every flower in a stand so long as it complies with 
the requirements of the class, stand on its own 
merits, and allow of no distinctions. If, however, 
the Committees think that the special difficulty 
flowers need special encouragement, let them make 
special classes for them and give a list of the sorts 
that are eligible for exhibition as such. 
There are other matters of opinion, both in rela¬ 
tion to the creation of some system of harmony in 
judging throughout the kingdom, and also in regard 
to relative proportions of prizes to points which I 
propose to refer to another week if thought desirable. 
These seem to me to be two features that of 
necessity grow out of the discussion, and especially 
from Mr. Shea’s very excellent paper. Some 
disappointment seemed to be felt at the meeting 
that the judging of groups and plants was not also 
discussed, but it is very difficult indeed to 
lay down any fully acceptable basis of points 
in relation to these things. Still they need 
to be grappled with. So long as groups are, hovv- 
ever, judged chiefly for quality, great difficulty must 
be experienced in pointing blooms on them. Only 
by a sort of rough average can that be effected. To 
my mind decorative effect should be the great 
dominating feature in group judging, as quality 
finds the fullest recognition in cut flowers. When 
groups can admit of at least one third of foliage 
plants and be judged as other plant groups 
are for decorative effect, then no further trouble 
will arise so far as they are concerned.— A.D. 
Chrysanthemums and their Culture. By Edwin 
Molyneux. Sixth Edition. By far the best practical work yet 
written on this subject. Price, is.; post free, is. 2d. Publisher 
Gari3Eninq World, i, Clement’s Inn, Strand, London W.C. 
THE ROSERY. 
Mildew'. 
All rosarians dread this, and in the open I do not 
believe any remedy is worth the trouble and expense 
of application. Under glass we have the principal 
causes under control, and can battle against it suc¬ 
cessfully ; outdoors we have not this advantage, and if 
we cannot av'oid the cause it is litile use applying any 
remedy. What are the causes? I think they can 
be summed up in three words—check to growth. It 
matters little in what form this may aris“, but I will 
point out a few of the most frequent causes. 
Plants are growing healthily, and all looks most pro¬ 
mising, when suddenly mildew appears upon the 
foliage in all directions. If we give a little thought 
and inquiry we shall find that they were either dry 
at the roots for a short time, had an overdose of 
manure water, experienced a sudden rise and fall in 
the temperature, or else a cold draught through un¬ 
wise ventilation. Either of these will cause a 
check, but the two last named are more frequently 
the cause of mildew. During March and the two 
following months, just w'hen the Rose growth is 
particularly tender and susceptible to attacks, we 
frequently get a few hours of excessively bright sun¬ 
shine spring upon us unexpectedly. The temperature 
in the house rises with astonishing quickness, the 
plants get dry, so does the atmosphere. Noticing 
the high temperature, the ventilators are opened 
rather freely, with the consequence of a sudden 
inflow of cold air. This gives the plants a chill, 
and the mischief is already begun. 
A keen, searching wind generally accompanies 
bright weather during early spring, so that the in¬ 
flux of air is almost certain to be keen. Do not 
imagine that opening the ventilators “just for a 
few minutes ” will do no harm, as five minutes’ 
draught will be terribly injurious when the air is 
keen. My plan is to very slightly shade the centre 
of the glass in March. This, while scarcely de¬ 
priving the house of full sunlight, is a great safe¬ 
guard against a too rapid rise in the temperature. 
I also throw water down freely and admit air with 
caution, limiting this entirely to the sheltered side of 
the house. In short, endeavour to regain the 
desired temperature without haste. As a remedy to 
mildew we cannot do better than mix up a little 
sulphur in a paste, and then add this to the solution 
already advised against insect pests. Smoke is not 
of the slightest assistance; and as the syringe is, 
besides keeping the foliage clean at the same time, 
this is another point in favour of its use with a weak 
insecticide. Sulphur is recognised as a deadly 
enemy to the germs of mildew, but I would never 
use it as a dusting. This is wasteful and unsightly, 
and far less effectual than when applied in the 
solution. The paraffin is also a grand remedy 
against mildew, and I am certain this disease need 
not be feared under glass, provided a little care is 
taken to avoid the chief causes, and the use of the 
above solution is carried out thoroughly. The 
sulphur will be left upon the foliage and wood, both 
above and below, while instead of being spread un¬ 
evenly and only on the surface, every spot where the 
solution touched will be covered with a fine and 
almost imperceptible dusting of sulphur. Early 
remedies, weaker solutions more frequently applied, 
with due care in watering and ventilation, will sur¬ 
mount the numerous difficulties named.— Rosarian. 
-- 
FRUIT PROSPECTS. 
These, according to our own experience, were never 
brighter than at present. Cherries, Plums, Apples, 
and Pears have their branches thickly studded with 
fruit. Peaches and Nectarines on some trees must 
have set nearly every blossom ; small fruits will be 
abundant and Strawberries are in full bloom, which, 
is bold and strong. Now if we should have, as is 
most likely, fruit in as great plenty as in 1S93, what 
will be the result to the growers who, in many cases, 
came off rather badly, owing to the low prices which 
much of their produce realised ? As regards small 
fruits, the abundance of it was not the only factor 
that helped to bring about the low prices. The 
excessively hot weather had very much to do with 
it, by ripening the crops off in so short a time and so 
causing a glut in the markets. The low prices at 
which Currants, Strawberries and Raspberries were 
retailed proved most conclusively that they could 
hardly have paid for the gathering, in fact, some 
growers left their fruit to spoil rather than be at a 
