244 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 17, 1898, 
perience may show that alteration is 
necessary in order to frame a system that 
will answer the purpose universally, so far 
as Britain or the British Isles are concerned. 
The smaller and isolated or local societies 
that do not invite competition from outside 
their own particular district need not be 
taken into consideration, though it might 
be to their own advantage to fall in with 
a general scheme of estimating the relative 
value of their exhibits. Even here a large 
and influential committee has had great 
difficulty in coming to a distinct conclusion 
upon such points as “ kind ” and “ variety,” 
the “ Brassica Family,” “ Hardy Plants,” 
and the term “ Amateur.” With regard to 
the terms kind and variety there would be 
little or no difficulty, if botanical usage 
were followed; but all schedule makers 
have got to deal with a system that has 
been built up according to usage, by no 
means universally consistent. The builders 
very often took what would be termed a 
common-sense view of the matter, which 
may be regarded as a convenient way of 
cutting the gordian knot, rather than a 
solution of the peculiar point at issue. 
White and black Grapes for exhibition 
purposes are regarded as distinct kinds, 
though actually only varieties of Vitis 
vinifera. The case is further complicated 
by allowing io points as a maximum for 
Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, and 9 points 
for all other white and black varieties. 
The Brassica family offers another familiar 
instance, for Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, 
Savoy, Cauliflower, and Kale are regarded 
as distinct kinds, though only varieties of 
Brassica oleracea. Broccoli and Cauli¬ 
flower are not considered as distinct, though 
either one or other may be exhibited as a 
kind. Botanically they are inseparable as 
vaiieties, because the term Broccoli has 
lost its originial significance, and we now 
speak of '• Sprouting Broccoli” to indicate 
what was the original and true form of this 
vegetable. Then it follows that a number 
of the rules laid down are purely conven¬ 
tional, and not regulated according to any 
natural affinity of the exhibits to which 
they apply. 
There are numerous other points that 
will strike the casual reader as curious or 
requiring elucidation. For instance, it is 
essential that Red and White Currants 
should be shown in bunches as grown, 
while Black Currants may be picked as 
single berries. Every gardener knows that 
the lowest berry on a string of Black Cur¬ 
rants is the largest, finest, and first to ripen. 
Surely it would be more creditable to an 
exhibitor to take the first prize for Black 
Currants in bunches as grown, than to 
range over a large number of bushes to 
make up a dish of the one big berry in a 
bunch. All exhibitors would be on an 
equality provided they had the requisite 
number of bushes to pick from. Somewhat 
akin to this is the case of Brussels Sprouts 
on the plant, and picked, seven points being 
allowed for the former, and only five for the 
latter. This, however, is a very judicious 
distinction, and perfectly fair to the 
exhibitor. Four points are allowed for a 
dish of Tomatos when shown as a fruit, but 
seven are allowed when shown as a vege¬ 
table, thus putting them on a par with 
Asparagus, Runner and Kidney Beans, 
Cauliflower, Celery, Onions, and other 
first-class vegetables. This arrangement is 
no doubt perfectly fair, but it appears 
curious at a first glance. Until we are able 
to settle the question as to whether the 
Tomato is a fruit or a vegetable, its position 
in various respects will remain doubtful. 
The code of rules will render great service 
to the cause if it engenders unanimity 
amongst judges as to the best points in a 
Tomato, for no two sets of judges seem to 
be agreed in the matter. Possibly Tomatos 
are still in a state of evolution that prevents 
any general agreement about them at 
present. 
As in the case of Tomatos, so in many 
other subjects, size is a variable quantity in 
different localities, and in the opinion of the 
judges. A size suitable for table use is the 
criterion in judging the exhibits of gentle¬ 
men’s gardeners, according to general con¬ 
sent ; but this code of rules suggests that 
size might take the precedence of quality in 
the case of cottagers’ exhibits. It would be 
matter for regret, however, if mere size in 
preference to quality should be encouraged, 
even amongst cottagers. There is no rea¬ 
son why the poor man’s Cabbages and 
Potatos should not equal in quality those of 
the gentleman’s table ; and we should doubt 
the economy of fostering coarseness 
amongst vegetables for human con¬ 
sumption. Turning to flowers, we have 
noted the leading prizes given to exhibits of 
Roses at certain shows, the blooms of 
which were so large and expanded that they 
would have had no chance at exhibitions of 
the National Rose Society. A similar dis¬ 
parity between the winning exhibits of 
Dahlias at different shows may often be 
noted, and exhibitors themselves, as well 
as a discerning public, are disconcerted at 
the results of the awards. Hand bouquets 
have doubled or trebled in size during the 
past twenty years, particularly those known 
as shower bouquets. 
Fashions, of course, change, and it may 
be that a code of rules like that under 
notice will be invaluable in fostering 
uniformity in method, while some of the 
rules may be framed on a sort of slidingscale 
so as to allow for the vagaries of fashion, 
the race after novelty, and the ever-shifting 
landmarks of opinion. This is distinctly 
admitted in the case of floral devices, table 
decorations, and the arrangements for 
effect. 
Notwithstanding all these things and the 
intricacies of the subject of judging, the 
rules here set forth are the first and best in 
the field, and cannot but prove serviceable 
to the cause in proportion as they are dis¬ 
seminated over the country, adopted by 
societies and their precepts enforced. 
Judges, societies, schedule makers, and 
exhibitors could not do better than make 
themselves conversant with the rules and 
directions here laid down for the common 
good. 
- 
The Highgate and District Chrysanthemum Society 
will hold its next show on the 2nd and 3rd Novem¬ 
ber, 1899. 
Mr. W. Middlebrooke has been appointed manager 
to Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, and 
enters upon his duties there on the gth of January 
n:xt. His numerous friends will be pleased to learn 
of his new appointment. 
Mr. 1 . B. Reid has been appointed Secretary of the 
Durham, Northumberland, and Newcastle Botanical 
and Horticultural Society, in place of Mr. J. J. 
Gillespie, Jun.. and the Offices of the Society have 
been transferred from Cross House Chambers, 54, 
Westgate Road, to Mosley Chambers, 30, Mosley 
Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
Mr. Jones, gardener to C. A. Smith-Rhyland, 
Esq , Barford Hill, Warwick, has been very success¬ 
ful again this year with his Chrysanthemums, gain¬ 
ing no less than twenty-four prizes throughout the 
Midlands This speaks for itself, when one con¬ 
siders that the Chrysanthemums are flowered in 
iron structures. Not only is Mr. Jones an enthu¬ 
siastic Chrysanthemum grower, but an ardent 
Orchid and Carnation grower, for it is not often one 
meets with such a healthy collection of Orchids as 
may be seen at Barford Hill. On some future 
occasion we may be able to give a more detailed 
ieport of Barford Hill. 
Raspberries in December.—Ripe Raspberries were 
being sold in the market at Great Yarmouth, on the 
12th inst. One of our correspondents in Devon 
gathered ripe Raspbsrrbs in the garden under his 
charge last week. 
Mr. Chas. Masson, late gardener and steward 
Col. Cooper, Dunboden, Mullingar, Ireland, has 
been appointed gardener to E. J. Beaumont-Nasbitt, 
Esq., Tubberdaly, Edenderry, King's Co. Mr. 
Masson enters on his new duties in January. 
The next Edinburgh Chrysanthemum Show will be 
held on the 16th, 17th, and 18th November, 1899. 
The Scottish Horticultural Association seems de¬ 
termined to have its work organised and orderly all 
in good time, and that goes a long way towards 
success. It does not depend on guinea and half¬ 
guinea membership, nor dees it ask donations to its 
funds, but depends upon gate money. Since the 
Chrysanthemum show was started in the Waverley 
Market the association has been able to contribute to 
charitable institutions something like /500 in the 
aggregate. 
Messrs. J. Carter & Co.’s Special Prizes. —This emi¬ 
nent firm of seedsmen inaugurated last year a system 
of public trials of vegetable and flower seeds sent out 
by them at 103 horticultural shows in various parts 
of the country. The movement has been a distinct 
success, no fewer than 1,319 prizes having been won 
in competition by customers of the great Holborn 
house. Following up the system in the coming 
season, the Messrs. Carter intend to duplicate all 
prizes won by produce raised from seeds sent out by 
them, but it is to be on a larger scale than formerly, 
for these extra prizes may be obtained during 1899 
by any society in the United Kingdom that chooses 
to apply for them. 
Remarkable Weather in Russia.—It is usual to 
think of the Russian winter as always being a long 
and very severe one, and so it generally is. This 
year, however, the Muscovites are enjoying a most 
unusual experience. At Moscow and Kazan the 
weather has been so genial for some time past that 
the trees and bushes in the parks and squares are 
rapidly swelling their buds. The grass is looking 
quite spring-like in its verdure, and Dandelions and 
and Daisies are making their pppearance with their 
customary promptitude to take advantage of a mild 
season. Such subjects as Birches, Lilacs, and 
Honeysuckles have also astonished everybody by the 
rapidity with which their buds have been swelling of 
late. In St. Petersburg,on the other hand,the weather 
has been exceedingly inclement. Rain, frost, snow, 
and wind have alternated with each other, and the 
heavy falls of snow and rain, coupled with the 
violent winds have caused the Neva to overflow its 
banks along a considerable part of its course. 
Wakefield Paxton Society.—The members of this 
society listened to Dr. Clark (late of Leeds College) 
on Saturday, December 10th, who lectured on soils t 
under the title “ Practice with Science.” The lec¬ 
ture could not have been made clearer, and was in¬ 
teresting and instructive. Facts gleaned from his 
lecture are :—That, having shaken up a sample of 
soil—half an inch in a test-tube—with sufficient 
water, and, having allowed it to settle for a short 
time, one finds half of it to be sand (sand always 
lowermost), then such a soil requires potash. The 
smaller the particles or grains of soil, the more 
water they can hold, and, of course, less air. He 
believed twe-thirds of the diseases of fruit trees arose 
from root-suffocation. Roots breathe—a scientific 
fact. For every ten times a soil is finer than some 
other, it holds ten times more water. Vegetable 
mould acts as water reservoirs in the soil. Dr. 
Clark has also experimented with solutions of sul¬ 
phate of ammonia poured into soils with an appreci¬ 
able amount of leaf-mould in them. He found the leaf- 
mould gleaned 96 per cent, of the solution, and gave it 
off most regularly and equally. He also explained 
how lime acted, as it does, on clay—making it more 
open by putting the fine particles into larger 
masses, and so forming a " coarser ” and better soil. 
The effect of lime on sandy soils is to make them 
firmer and stiffer. This comes about from the 
cementing together of sandy grains, or of holding to¬ 
gether a corner here, to the side, of ancther grain 
there—the ultimate being greater density. Apply 
lime to sandy soils before claying them. Dr. Clark 
did not ramble over many points, but the few he 
dealt with were explained.- Harrison D. 
