158 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Nov. 8th, 1884. 
having to play second fiddle to Mr. Joseph Ham, of 
Broadclyst, whose dishes of Warner's King and 
Wellington were really grand. In the second col¬ 
lection, Mr. Watkins’, included a dish of enormous 
specimens of the Loddington Seedling. In the 
class for sis dishes of Culinary Sorts there 
was a very strong competition, Warner’s King, 
Gravenstein, and the Fall Pippin being the most 
noticeable in the three winning collections. The 
Dessert Apples were extremely fine. The prizes for 
the heaviest dishes brought out some very fine fruit, 
but Mr. Dennis’s six easily took first honours, his dish 
of Warner’s King weighing two pounds more than the 
six Gloria Mundi, which were awarded the second prize. 
In the contest for the prizes for the best flavoured 
Apple, Ribston Pippins took first, Cox’s Orange second, 
and Nonsuch third. The Mayor’s prize for collections 
of six — half culinary, half dessert — created a good 
competition among Devonshire growers, the Rev. T. 
Yarde, of Chudleigh, leading the way. The Pears 
were a fair show, but the year has not been a good one 
for English Pears and the display could not be 
compared with the exhibition of Apples. The chief 
honours were taken by Sir T. D. Acland, Bart., several 
of whose dishes were really remarkable. Five Pears 
of the Doyenne du Comice shown by Sir Thomas 
weighed 5 lbs. 2 ozs., and five of the Pitmaston 
Duchess sent in from Killerton weighed 6 lbs. 10 ozs., 
the two largest turning the scale at 3 lbs. 2 ozs.; 
Pears of this variety have the recommendation of 
coming from a free-grower, and from one young tree 
twenty-five dozen fine fruit were gathered in one 
season. 
For the following additional particulars we are 
indebted to the courtesy of a local correspondent:— 
Although the idea of holding an Apple Fair was only 
suggested by the Mayor towards the end of September, 
a good working committee, including nurserymen and 
gardeners, was formed, and with the assistance of -a 
most energetic honorary secretary, Mr. Pengelly, the 
managing body got the affair into thorough working 
order, and conducted the Show to a most successful 
issue. The principal object for which the Exhibition 
was organized was to attract attention to the recog¬ 
nized best sorts of Apples and Pears, and thus conduce 
to an improvement in the special culture of these 
fruits in the. county of Devon. There were thirty- 
eight classes, twenty-four of which were for Apples, 
the competition was open to English grown fruit, and 
exhibitors came from the Isle of Wight, Essex, 
Hereford, Kent, and other counties. In Class 1, for 
the best collection of twenty-five distinct sorts, six 
fruit of each, the first prize of two guineas, given by 
the Vegetarian Society (Manchester) was awarded to 
Mr. Berwick, Sidmouth, whose best sorts were Blen¬ 
heim Pippin, Royal Russet, Beauty of Kent, Brabant 
Bellefleur, Wareham Russet, and Alexandra Russet. 
Mr. C. Selater, Exeter, was second, with good dishes 
of Golden Noble, Scarlet Pearmain, Gravenstein, Buff 
Coat, Winter Warden, Cox’s Orange Pippin, and King 
of the Pippins. Messrs. Bunyard & Co., of Maidstone, 
were third;, with a fine collection, but not equal in size 
and colour to the fruit grown in Devon.* By far the 
best collection in the Exhibition, both for size and 
colour, came from Mr. John Watkins, of Pomona 
Farm, Hereford, who exhibited in this class, but 
through some mistake only put up twenty-four dishes, 
and the collection had to be disqualified. 
In Class 2 for twelve dishes of Culinary Varieties, 
Mr. J. Ham, Budlake Farm, Broadclyst, was first, 
with well-coloured samples of Hoary Morning, Tom 
Putt, Beauty of Wilts, Gravenstein, Dumelow’s Seed¬ 
ling, and Warner’s King. Mr. J. Watkins was second, 
and Messrs. Bunyard & Co. again third. With six 
dishes of Culinary Sorts, Mr. W. Blaekmore was first, 
Mr. W. J. Sweetland second, and Mr. A. Truman 
third. In the class for twelve Dessert Sorts, Mr. C. 
Selater was first, with handsome dishes of Winter 
Warden, Ribston Pippin, Blenheim Pippin, Ross 
Nonpariel, Old Nonpariel, Lord Burghley, and Adams’ 
Pearmain. Mr. J. Watkins was second, and Mr. J. 
Ham third. 
In Class 8, the first prize in which was two guineas 
given by the Mayor for the best Six Varieties, three 
culinary and three dessert, grown in Devon, there 
was a very strong competition. The Rev. T. Yarde 
came in first, Mr. J. Stevens second, and Captain 
Levett third. Among the best sorts shown were 
Ribston Pippin, Yorkshire’Pippin, Cornish Gilliflower, 
Monstrous Pippin, Dumelow’s Seedling, and Blenheim 
Pippin. The prizes for the Heaviest Dishes of Apples 
were won by Mr. Dennis (6 lbs. 3 ozs.), Mrs. C. Smith 
(4 lbs. 8 ozs.), and Mr. Eveleigh (4 lbs. 7ozs.), in the 
order named. In the classes for Single Dishes all the 
samples shown were remarkably fine. 
Special prizes were offered by Mr. Harry Hems for 
the best Dish grown by Labourers and Artisans in 
Devon, and some fine samples were shown in this 
class. The first prize went to Mr. Eveleigh, the second 
to Mr. E. Dipstale, and the third to Mr. R. Dennis. 
In Classes 25 to 38 for Pears, some very fine dishes 
were shown, although these fruits are comparatively 
scarce this year. In the class for Six Dishes, five 
fruits of each, the Right Hon. Sir T. D. Acland, Bart., 
was first. The sorts exhibited from Killerton were 
Glou Morceau, Easter Beurre, Winter Nelis, Josephine 
des Malines, Doyenne du Cornice (5 lbs. 2 ozs.), Pit¬ 
maston Duchess (6 lbs. 10 ozs.), two of them weighing 
1 lb. 9 ozs. each, and both sorts grown on pyramid" 
trees. One of the samples of Winter Nelis weighed 
10 ozs., an unusual weight for this delicious little Pear. 
Mr. Berwick was second with fine dishes of Marie 
Louise, Beurre Diel, Beurre Clairgeau, Catillae, and 
Uvedale’s St. Germain ; Mr. Searle, who came in third, 
had Beurre Diel, Beurre de Capiaumont, Easter Beurre) 
Bergamot d’Esperen, and Nouveau Poiteau. 
In Class 26 for Three Sorts, Sir T. D. Acland was 
again first, Mr. G. Shell second, and Mr. G. B. Carlile 
third. For three dishes of Culinary Varieties, Sir B. 
Samuelson was first, Mr. Searle second, and Lord 
Poltimore third. In the Classes for Single Dishes, good 
specimens were shown, the most remarkable being 
grand specimens of Catillae from Sir B. Samuelson’s 
garden and Uvedale’s St. Germain, shown by Mr. 
Blythe. In addition to the competitive exhibits, large 
collections were shown by trade growers. Messrs. 
Lucombe, Pinee & Co. had one hundred named sorts- 
Messrs. R. Veitch & Son showed one hundred and 
twenty dishes, and Messrs. Bunyard & Co., of Maid¬ 
stone, one hundred dishes. There were two thousand 
dishes staged, and for all round quality would be 
unsurpassed. The Apple Fair was well attended by 
the public, and kept open until 9 p.m. on Friday. The 
judges were—Messrs. G. Baker (Membland Hall, 
Plympton), J. C. Clarke (Taunton), Ireland (late of 
Sidbury Manor), G. Medland (Exeter), and W. 
Roberts (Crewkerne).— G. 
GUMMING ROSES FOR 
EXHIBITION. 
At our last show a ease of gumming Roses was 
discovered, and- after the exhibitor had prevaricated 
and then confessed, he was unanimously disqualified. 
Afterwards, at his earnest solicitation, it was resolved 
to obtain an opinion from the National Rose Society, 
and to reconsider the resolution of disqualification if 
necessary. In order that this position shall appear 
quite clear, the concluding paragraph of the case sent 
by us is given:—“The committee of the National 
Rose Society are therefore asked their opinion upon 
the practice of gumming, and to give it then- official 
approval or condemnation.” To our utter astonish¬ 
ment, after waiting some months, we received from 
the hon. secretary a “ decision ” that the exhibitor 
was not disqualified and that the medals had been 
sent to him. To this treatment the committee 
decidedly object, and have protested their discontent. 
Until this time we had thought the National Society 
represented the English Rosarians, but this extra¬ 
ordinary action led us to doubt whether it was really 
a representative body. We, therefore, addressed a 
letter to about thirty of the leading Rose growers in 
England, and are not a little pleased to find that they 
strongly condemn the practice and award disquali¬ 
fication as the punishment, exactly as we did and 
exactly as the National Rose Society didn’t. As this is 
by no means an unimportant question, perhaps you will 
find room for a few of the opinions we have received. 
Messrs. Cranston & Co., Hereford—“ Gumming 
Roses for exhibition is decidedly illegal, and would 
not be tolerated by our National Rose Society. Any 
person found guilty of such a dishonourable practice 
should be excluded from exhibiting at any future 
shows.” 
Mr. Bruce Findlay, Royal Botanic Gardens, Man¬ 
chester—“ I have to say that I consider such a 
proceeding altogether unsound, and if we found out 
any person guilty of such a practice, he would not be 
allowed to exhibit again at our exhibitions, and I 
should be inclined to label him a trickster.” 
Mr. George Bakf.b, Holmfels—“ I most unhesitat¬ 
ingly say that in my judgment the application of gum 
to the centre of Roses intended to be staged for 
exhibition, is neither legitimate nor fan- to other 
exhibitors.” 
Mr. Joseph Hinton, Warminster—“ I believe it to 
be illegitimate, dishonourable, and unfair to other 
exhibitors ; nay, I go further, I consider it obtaining, 
or striving to obtain, money under false pretences. It 
is absolutely indefensible, and should receive well- 
deserved punishment.” 
Mr. T. B. Hall, Wirral Rose Society—“ In my 
opinion any case of gumming the centre of a Rose 
should certainly disqualify any exhibitor, and I hope 
the National Rose Society will pass a resolution to 
this effect.” 
Mr. Benjamin R. Cant, Colchester—“ If I were a 
judge and discovered that any Rose-blooms exhibited 
were gummed, I should most certainly disqualify 
the stand, and I expressed that view at a meeting of 
the National Rose Society held recently in London.” 
Mr. William Barron, Derby and Nottingham— 
“ Any attempt to deceive judges by doctoring flowers 
for exhibition ought at once to disqualify any such 
exhibitor. ‘ Honesty is the best policy.’ ” 
Messrs. Richard Smith & Co., Worcester—“ The 
practice referred to is a most reprehensible one, and 
is regarded by all the leading societies as sufficient to 
disqualify the offender from ever exhibiting again at 
any future shows.” 
Mr. E. R. Whitwell, Barton Hall, near Darlington 
—“ I have no hesitation in saying that I consider 
such a practice neither honourable nor fair to other 
exhibitors, and I think it should disqualify a stand.” 
Mr. R. H. Vertegaxs, Birmingham—“ It is a most 
reprehensible practice, and should be discountenanced 
by all committees of such exhibitions. Of course it 
would disqualify an exhibitor from exhibiting at any 
of our great Rose shows ; therefore your Committee 
would be perfectly justified in disqualifying any 
exhibitor who carries on such a practice.” 
Mr. Julius Sladden, Badsey, Evesham—“ I con¬ 
sider the practice of gumming the centres of Roses 
anything but legitimate, and a box containing any 
flowers so treated should in my opinion be disqualified. 
Competitors are too often prone to forget that prizes 
obtained by questionable means confer no real credit 
upon the recipient, while the practice of such methods 
proves that the love of a prize, however gained, is 
more to some people than personal honour.” 
Mr. G. W. Piper, Uckfield, Sussex—“ I should 
disqualify without the least hesitation. It is a most 
unfair practice to the honest exhibitors, and I do hope 
the offender will be brought to book.” 
Messrs. J. Jefferies- & Sons, Cirencester—“ Gum¬ 
ming Roses for competitions is decidedly unfair. 
Judges detecting this should have disqualified them.” 
Mr. C. W. Lyon, Rocester—“ The objections to this 
practice of gumming the centres of Roses for exhibition 
are so obvious that it is absurd to suppose that an 
exhibitor would be guilty of such a practice except for 
the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage over his 
competitors.” 
Messrs. F. & A. Dickson & Sons, Chester—“ We 
consider gumming or dressing of any kind quite ille¬ 
gitimate and unfair in competitive classes.” 
Messrs. James Dickson & Sons, Chester—“We con¬ 
sider the practice of gumming the centre of Rose blooms 
that are intended for exhibition neither legitimate, 
honourable nor fan- to other exhibitors.” 
Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry—“ It is neither 
fair nor honourable, and they ought to be disqualified.” 
Messrs. Pope & Sons, Birmingham—“In our opinion 
in any and every such case they should be dis¬ 
qualified.” 
Mr. James Brown, Reigate—“ I consider it unfair 
and dishonourable, and certainly should not be per¬ 
mitted by any society.” 
Mr. J. Ridout, Reigate—“ I should most decidedly 
consider it anything but legitimate, honourable or fair 
to other exhibitors, and any one guilty of such a 
thing should be disqualified.” 
Mr. Henry Frettingham, Beeston, near Nottingham 
—“ I should certainly not allow any gumming in the 
Rose, and would disqualify the man who did it. These 
