248 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  12,  1895. 
In  this  state  it  is  most  charming,  and  must  rank  as  one  of  the  most 
attractive  of  stove  climbers  ;  but  as  one  for  exhibition  purposes  its 
rampant  growth,  prior  to  flowering,  would  seem  to  preclude  it.  As 
usual,  there  is  the  unique  group  of  Stag’s  Horn  Ferns,  Platycerium 
stemmaria,  said  to  be,  than  which  there  are  no  better  examples,  even  in 
its  native  clime  ;  while  growing  in  one  corner  of  the  Palm  house  is  a 
gigantic  specimen  of  its  congener  P.  alcicorne. 
The  flower  beds  and  borders  in  the  grounds  are  now  in  resplendent 
array,  particularly  four  large  circular  beds  filled  with  seedling  Verbenas 
in  variety,  and  not  an  inferior  one  among  them  ;  especially  charming 
are  they  when  viewed  in  close  proximity  in  bright  sunshine — the  effect 
not  being  nearly  so  good  at  a  distance  owing  to  the  height  of  the  plants. 
It  was  with  no  little  reluctance  that  we  withdrew  from  the  scene  of  their 
chaste  and  multi-coloured  presence.  The  Verbena,  especially  utilised 
in  the  way  indicated,  deserves  wider  recognition,  and  not  the  least  of 
the  advantages  it  possesses  is  the  comparative  little  expense  and  the 
readiness  of  its  culture  ;  and  we  venture  to  assert  that  no  other  kind  of 
“  bedding  ”  plant  can  eclipse  them  for  effect  in  the  style  alluded  to. 
We  may  in  conclusion  remark  that  the  recently  constructed  “alpine 
rockery”  is  rapidly  assuming  a  more  furnished  appearance  from  the 
unrelaxing  attention  devoted  to  it  by  the  intelligent  official  in  charge 
of  the  alpine  and  herbaceous  department ;  also  scrupulous  neatness 
and  order  were  to  be  observed  all  over  the  grounds,  and  a  most 
interesting  scene  it  was  to  witness,  on  the'  evening  of  our  visit,  the 
numerous  attendance  of  visitors  dispersed  over  the  gardens,  or  seated 
along  the  terrace  in  front  of  the  conservatories  and  on  the  beautifully 
undulated  lawn  below,  listening  to  the  strains  of  a  military  band  engaged 
for  the  occasion. — W.  G. 
VEGETABLE  JUDGING  AT  SHREWSBURY. 
Thh  writer  of  the  report  of  the  vegetable  section  of  the  great  show 
recently  held  in  Shrewsbury  and  published  in  the  Journal  of  Horti¬ 
culture  for  August  29th,  page  203,  has  made  some  very  strong  and,  to 
my  mind,  unjustifiable  remarks  regarding  the  awards,  such,  for  instance, 
as  “  the  tendency  here  seems  to  be  in  favour  of  size  tending  to 
coarseness,”  which,  he  says,  “  is,  of  course,  chiefly  due  to  the  annual 
judging,”  adding,  “  it  is  evident  that  exhibitors  soon  learn  to  cater  for 
the  prevailing  judging  tastes,  and  give  size  the  preference  to  what  is 
commonly  termed  quality  ;  yet  even  at  Shrewsbury  it  was  easy  to  find 
that  there  was  some  ‘  occasional  gleams  of  sanity  ’  in  regard  to  quality, 
as  now  and  then  what  would  generally  be  regarded  as  quality  apart 
from  mere  size  came  to  the  front,”  adding,  “  but  then  again  there  would 
be  a  lapse  to  the  other  aspect,  so  that  it  was  diflficalt  sometimes  to 
determine  just  which  element  most  widely  dominated.” 
It  is  difficult  to  understand  what  state  of  mind  your  reporter  was  in 
when  he  penned  the  opening  remarks  of  his  report,  unless  the  magnitude 
and  excellence  of  the  show  had  affected  him  to  such  an  extent  that  he 
was  unable  to  see  that  quality  combined  with  fair  size  was  the  standard 
of  excellence  by  which  the  exhibits  in  all  the  vegetable  classes  were 
judged  at  the  late  show  as  in  previous  years,  and  the  fact  that  the  same 
leading  exhibitors — including  Messrs.  Wilkins,  Pope,  Waite  and  Milner 
— together  with  fresh  aspirants  to  fame,  submit  their  produce  every 
year  to  the  judgment  and  impartiality  of  the  same  judges  in  the  open 
classes  goes  to  show  that  they,  as  well  as  the  Committee  and  Honorary 
Secretaries,  have  confidence  in  the  men  annually  selected  to  make  the 
awards.  This  is  at  it  should  be,  notwithstanding  your  reporter’s  remarks. 
Regular  exhibitors  at  the  Shrewsbury  Show  reserve,  so  far  as  they  can, 
their  best  produce  for  staging  there,  being  well  aware  of  the  fact  that 
the  winning  exhibits  in  all  the  classes  must  necessarily  be  of  a  high 
order  in  every  respect. 
Your  “  reporter ’’ may  think  his  introductory  remarks  “  smart.”  So 
they  are,  but  if  they  please  him  they  hurt  nobody,  unjustifiable  as  they 
undoubtedly  are,  so  far  as  they  relate  to  the  four  judges  who  made 
their  awards  in  the  open  classes,  and  who  can  well  afford  their 
awards  to^  be  criticised  by  any  competent  and  impartial  onlooker.  Fair 
criticism  is  generally  productive  of  good  results,  and  it  is  for  the  public 
good  ;  but  when  it  is  indulged  in  for  the  sake  of  saying  “  smart  ”  things 
and  fault-finding  it  is  to  be  condemned. — One  of  the  Judges. 
Reading  the  comments  on  the  vegetables  exhibited  at  Shrews¬ 
bury,  in  your  report  of  that  great  show,  one  is  struck  with  the  thought, 
“  Did  the  Judges  in  this  section  of  that  show  mistake  size  for  quality  ?  ” 
By  what  I  am  told  by  those  who  were  present,  I  am  forced  to  the 
conclusion  tha,t  size  played  an  important  part  in  the  awarding  of  the 
prizes.  Size  is  important  in  some  vegetables — notably  Onions,  and  he 
would  be  a  bold  man  who  would  say  that  a  bulb  of  Ailsa  Craig  Onion 
weighing  2  J  lbs.  was  not  superior  to  one  of  the  same  kind  weighing  but 
1  lb.,  both  in  other  respects  being  equal  in  merit ;  but  he  would  be  a 
much  bolder  individual  who  would  apply  the  same  test  to  Cauliflowers, 
especially  when  the  heads  were,  as  jour  report  informs  us,  “rather 
burst.” 
I  think  some  judges  themselves  are  to  blame  for  encouraging  over¬ 
grown  vegetables.  If  at  some  of  our  large  exhibitions  the  highest  prizes 
were  awarded  to  vegetables  of  the  best  quality,  accompanied  by 
adequate  size,  we  should  soon  hear  fewer  complaints  from  that  particular 
show.  It  is  quite  true  that  exhibitors  cater  for  special  judges  at  various 
shows  that  I  could  name.  For  this  they  caunot  be  blamed,  as  their 
object  is  to  win  prizes.  From  experience  of  both  judging  and  exhibit¬ 
ing,  I  know  mistakes  are  made  annually  in  honouring  huge  produce,  as 
obviously  merging  on  coarseness ;  at  the  same  time,  it  is  easy  to  err 
in  going  to  the  opposite  extreme,  in  which  high  culture  is  not  represented. 
Onions,  Runner  Beans,  Peas,  and  Parsnips  all  must  be  of  imposing  size, 
but  in  the  very  best  condition.  Judging  vegetables  requires  much 
thought,  clear  ideas  on  principles  of  excellence,  common  sense  discrimina¬ 
tion,  and  integrity  of  purpose. — E.  M. 
RIPENED  WOOD  AGAIN. 
Although  widely  differing  in  opinion,  politeness  compels  me  to 
address  even  “  Sceptic  ”  as  a  friend.  My  opinion  is  that  half  an  hour 
of  practice  is  worth  bushels  of  theory.  The  last  time  he  and  I  met  in 
the  “  Journal  ”  he  remarked  I  had  made  a  had  shot.  He  was  of 
opinion  that  the  Stephanotis  did  not  hloom  from  ripened  wood,  but 
from  soft  growth  of  the  same  season.  Where  does  the  soft  growth 
spring  from  but  the  previous  year’s  matured  wood  ?  the  soft  wood  itself 
in  due  course  ripening  and  filling  dormant  buds  for  the  following 
season’s  growth  and  flowers.  Any  lad  will  tell  you  that  clay  is  not 
marbles  till  it  is  hard,  and  fruit  cannot  be  expected  unless  the  wood  of 
the  trees  is  matured.  True,  the  crops  may  fail  if  it  is  ripened,  but  I 
should  have  thought  that  most  men  know  that  late  frosts,  cold  rains, 
and  even  excessive  drought  play  an  important  part  in  the  matter, 
whether  the  wood  is  ripe  or  not.  If  Apple  wood  will  not  stand  baking, 
as  another  “  Sceptic  ”  terms  it,  let  him  explain  how  those  splendid 
Apples  are  grown  in  Yankee-land.  Certainly  not  from  soft  wood. 
I  now  wish  to  ask  “  W.  D.,”  from  Herts,  what  he  means  by  a  good 
crop  of  Grapes  on  sub-laterals  ?  I  do  not  believe  the  best  grower  in  the 
land  could  prove,  as  a  general  rule,  that  Grapes  on  sub-laterals  can  be 
equal  to  those  on  the  first  growth  from  the  rod  or  cane.  Does  not 
the  success  of  the  bunch  of  Grapes  largely  depend  on  the  stored 
up  nutriment  in  the  dormant  bud,  which  pushes  fruitful  growth? 
Surely  “  W.  D.”  knows  that  is  so,  and  also  that  ripened  wood  fulfils  a 
purpose  one  season  to  be  accomplished  the  next. 
I  should  like  to  ask  the  opponents  of  ripe  wood  the  difference  between 
it  and  ripe  seed  as  affecting  subsequent  growth.  Can  we  do  without  ripe 
seed  ;  and  if  not,  why  not  ?  If  it  is  essential  that  seeds  must  be  matured 
— the  germ  of  growth  surrounded  with  nutrient  matter  for  the  sustenance 
of  the  infantile  plant — is  it  not  also  essential  that  similar  matter  must  be 
stored  in  and  round  the  bud  of  the  Apple  or  the  Vine  for  the  purpose  of 
healthy  growth  and  satisfactory  fruit  ?  It  would  almost  seem  as  if  there 
were  persons  in  the  world,  and  who  have  been  in  it  for  a  considerable  time, 
who  have  yet  to  learn  the  meaning  of  the  term  of  ripened,  or  matured 
wood.  As  “  W.  D.”  seems  to  be  of  a  scientific  turn  of  mind,  he  will 
oblige  by  dealing  with  the  analogy  I  have  ventured  to  introduce. — 
J.  G.  Pettingeb,  Harrogate. 
BROADBANDS  PARK,  ROMSEY. 
Nothing  affords  me  greater  pleasure  than  a  run  into  the  country, 
living  as  I  do  near  a  large  town  ;  and  recently  I  directed  my  steps 
to  Broadlands  Park,  the  home  of  the  Right  Hon.  Evelyn  Ashley, 
situated  about  eighteen  miles  from  Southampton.  Making  my  way 
a  distance  from  the  town  of  about  one  mile,  I  came  to  the  beautiful 
entrance  lodge,  with  its  fine  iron  gates  and  piUars.  The  carriage  drive 
from  there  to  the  mansion  runs  about  one  mile,  through  an  avenue 
of  fine  Elms,  some  measuring  26  feet  in  circumference. 
The  glass  structures  are  numerous,  the  majority  of  them  being 
devoted  to  fruit  culture.  The  vineries,  four  in  number,  are  planted 
with  Lady  Downe’s,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Madresfield  Court,  Black 
Hamburgh,  and  are  now  carrying  a  fine  crop,  well  coloured  and  even  in 
berry.  Madresfield  Court  looks  especially  well,  and  shows  no  signs  of 
cracking.  There  is  a  fine  Fig  house,  in  which  were  noticed  Brown 
Turkey  of  good  size,  A  span-roof  stove '  contains  Crotons,  Palms, 
Dracmnas,  and  hundreds  of  small  table  plants,  all  in  good  condition. 
Tomatoes  are  grown  in  abundance,  Buttons’  A1  being  the  favourite. 
The  walled-in  kitchen  garden  is  a  picture  of  cleanliness.  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  and  Pears  are  an  abundant  crop,  all  the  wall  trees 
being  netted  owing  to  the  great  havoc  played  by  tomtits.  A  bed  of 
Hellebores,  containing  about  1000  plants,  looked  the  picture  of  health  ; 
Lady  Dorothy,  Countess  of  Radnor,  and  Emily  Andown  Sweet  Peas  are 
much  grown  for  cut  flowers  for  table  decoration.  In  a  long  range 
of  pits  is  one  entirely  devoted  to  Cyclamens,  twelve  months  old,  in 
32-pot8,  a  fine  collection  of  plants.  Mr.  Thirlby,  the  able  gardener, 
makfs  a  specialty  of  the  conservatory,  and  for  this  purpose  grows  fine 
specimens  of  Azaleas,  winter-flowering  Zonal  Geraniums,  double  and 
single  Primulas,  and  white  East  Lothian  Stock  for  winter  use.  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  are  not  grown  for  exhibition  blooms,  being  mostly  cut-backs 
for  decorative  purposes,  there  also  being  about  400  well-grown  plants  of 
Boule  de  Neige  and  Golden  Gem. 
Conifers  did  not  suffer  so  much  last  winter  as  in  some  districts,  and 
I  noticed  Magnolia  glauca,  30  feet  high,  standing  out  in  the  open.  The 
pleasure  grounds  are  very  extensive,  and  the  lawns  and  flower  beds  now 
most  beautiful.  Not  a  yard  of  ground  is  wasted,  and  all  available  space 
under  glass,  as  well  as  outdoors,  is  utilised.  Mr.  Thirlby,  who  has  had 
charge  for  seventeen  years,  may  be  proud  of  the  gardens ;  and  after 
bidding  him  adieu  I  returned  home,  having  thoroughly  enjoyed  my 
day’s  outing  at  Broadlands  Park. — W. 
