October  17,  1895, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
363 
Cypripedium  Cyris. 
The  number  of  Cypripediums  is  ever  on  the  increase,  and  that 
with  fair  rapidity  ;  but  despite  this  fact  each  new  form  of  merit 
is  hailed  with  the  greatest  delight  by  enthusiasts.  To  what  numbers 
they  may  eventually  attain  it  is  of  course  impossible  to  say,  but  it 
may  safely  be  said  that  the  one  that  is  to  receive  an  award  of  merit 
or  a  first-class  certificate  henceforth  from  the  Orchid  Committee  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  have  to  be  wellnigh  perfect. 
Of  more  than  ordinary  merit  was  C.  Cyris,  depicted  in  the  illustra¬ 
tion  (fig.  58),  and  it  certainly  deserved  the  first-class  certificate  that 
was  accorded  to  it.  It  is  a  hybrid  resulting  from  a  cross  between 
C,  villosum  Boxalli  atratum  and  C.  Argus.  The  dorsal  sepal  and 
petals  are  larger,  white  and  green  heavily  spotted  with  brown  in 
colour.  The  lip  is  brown  and  green.  It  was  exhibited  by 
Norman  Cookson,  Esq.,  Wylam-on-Tjne. 
VEGETABLES. 
Growing,  Showing,  and  Judging. 
A  LIVELY  discussion  has  occupied  a  certain  amount  of  space 
in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  during  the  past  few  weeks  on  the 
subject  of  judging  vegetables  at  shows.  As  an  old  showman, 
and  not  unsuccessful,  and  very  occasionally  an  appointed 
adjudicator,  I  am  requested  by  the  Editor  to  examine  the  whole 
matter  in  the  light  of  long  experience.  I  am  informed  that  the 
space  alluded  to  was  conceded,  not  for  the  gratification  of  the 
few  persons  interested  in  a  particular  case,  but  because  an 
important  princip'e  was  involved — namely,  whether  very  large 
size  or  very  high  quality  should  be  the  predominating  factor  in 
determining  the  relative  merits  of  competing  exhibits.  That 
there  is  a  conflict  between  those  two  cardinal  features  at  nearly 
every  show  in  the  kingdom  will  and  must  be  admitted  by  all 
unprejudiced  onlookers.  Putting  entirely  aside  any  individual 
case  or  the  predilections  of  any  particular  judges,  let  the  question 
itself  be  examined  on  its  merits. 
This  question  of  size  versus  quality  is  not  in  the  least  confined 
to  the  vegetable  classes  at  shows.  It  is  apparent  in  every  section — 
plants,  flowers,  and  fruit  as  well  as  vegetables.  It  is  the  source  of 
much  difference  of  opinion  among  judges,  of  cavilling  between 
exhibitors,  and  of  wonder  among  visitors,  who  are  not  without 
knowledge  on  what  they  may  critically  examine,  as  to  why  in  one 
case  size  has  outweighed  quality,  and  in  the  other  quality  has 
triumphed  over  size.  This  is  seen  at  Rose  shows.  Dahlia  shows. 
Chrysanthemum  shows,  competitions  of  specimen  plants,  of 
various  fruits,  and  of  vegetables.  In  respect  to  the  florists’  flowers 
indicated,  as  well  as  some  others,  it  is  observable  that  when  the 
judging  is  done  by  specialists,  who  work  from  a  generally  under¬ 
stood  standard  of  merit,  that  excellence  in  form  and  refinement, 
carries  more  weight  than  does  size  if  in  the  least  accompanied  by 
coarseness  ;  but  it  is  not  by  any  means  so  generally  the  case  when 
the  judging  is  entrusted  to  persons,  of  whom  it  can  be  said  without 
the  slightest  derogatory  allusion,  that  they  have  no  clear  con¬ 
ception  of  the  features  which  in  combination  constitute  the  highest 
exemplification  of  intrinsic  merit  and  most  nearly  approach  the 
ideal  of  perfection.  In  such  cases  it  is  not  in  the  least  uncommon 
to  find  that  size  has  gained  more  than  a  fair  share  of  approval. 
The  adjudicators  may  be  men  of  the  highest  probity  and 
splendid  cultivators  generally,  but  are  not  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  particular  products  with  which  they  are  called  upon 
to  deal. 
It  is  very  much  the  same  in  regard  to  specimen  plants,  and  in 
some  cases  it  has  been  thought  advisable  to  indicate  in  schedules 
that  superiority  in  culture  must  have  particular  attention  ;  and  it 
is  certain  that  the  highest  awards  do  not  always  or  usually  go  to 
the  largest  plants,  be  they  what  they  may,  when  made  by  the  most 
competent  judges.  Similarly  in  fruit  classes  nothing  is  more 
common  than  to  see  7  lb.  bunches  of  Grapes  placed  third,  or 
nowhere,  while  2  or  3  lb.  bunches  are  placed  first,  because  in  other 
important  respects,  such  as  size,  uniformity,  and  finish  of  berries, 
with  general  fitness  for  table,  they  are  superior  ;  at  the  same  time, 
and  in  another  class,  different  judges,  and  equally  conscientious, 
attach  greater  importance  to  8:z3  of  bunches  as  in  their  view 
affording  evidence  of  skilful  culture.  It  is  the  same  in  respect  to 
hardy  fruits,  such  as  Apples,  Pears,  and  Peaches  ;  the  highest  prizes 
do  not  by  any  means  fall  to  the  largest  fruits  if  they  are  in  some  ‘ 
other  respects  more  faulty  than  their  somewhat  smaller  competi¬ 
tors,  while  6  lb.  Melons  are  frequently  passed  in  favour  of  fruit 
not  a  third  of  the  size  and  weight. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  purposes  for  which  the  products 
mentioned  are  grown  are  kept  well  in  view,  and  those  specimens 
which  represent  the  fewer  faults  in  size,  shape,  colour,  general 
appearance,  and  quality  find  the  greatest  favour  with  the  most 
thoughtful  and  most  experienced  of  adjudicators.  It  is  true  that 
much  difficulty  is  experienced  at  times  in  deciding  even  on  that 
basis,  but  still  it  is  a  definite  basis,  and  that  is  no  small  advantage 
in  these  days  of  no  “  law  ”  on  judging.  How  long  judges  at 
horticultural  shows  will  have  to  continue  in  the  present  anomalous 
position  of  making  their  own  particular  law,  and  administering  it 
as  they  go  along,  seems  to  in  a  measure  depend  on  the  Royal 
Fig.  58.— Cypripedium  Cyris. 
Horticultural  Society  ;  and  since  it  appears  to  have  taken  the 
special  Committee  of  that  Society  several  months  to  formulate 
its  law,  there  need  be  no  wonder  that  the  verdicts  of  judges  are 
so  variable,  seeing  they  have  to  make  a  law  unto  themselves  in 
five  minutes,  and  forthwith  put  it  into  execution.  In  the  discharge 
of  their  duty  they  proceed  on  lines  which  they  honestly  believe  to 
be  right,  though  others  may  just  as  honestly,  and  from  their  point 
of  view  with  as  much  reason,  consider  they  are  wrong.  In  the 
absence  of  a  common  and  recognised  foundation,  on  which  both 
reason  and  action  must  be  based,  divergences  are  inevitable.  In 
the  absence  of  such  basis,  the  so-called  “  reasons  ”  for  this  and  that 
amount  to  nothing  more  or  less  than  personal  fancies,  born  of 
individual  proclivities.  These  may  force  one  judge  to  believe  that 
there  is  little  merit  in  anything  that  is  not  much  larger  than  the 
product  is  usually  seen  exhibited  or  used  ;  while  they  have  a 
contrary  effect  on  the  mind  of  another,  who  is  driven  to  the 
conclusion  that  abnormal  size  in  vegetables  is  incompatible  with 
the  greatest  excellence  in  quality  for  culinary  purposes.  But  are 
vegetables  always  grown  for  one  purpose  alone  —  the  purpose 
of  consumption  ?  He  would  be  a  bold  man  who  -would  say 
they  are. 
Vegetables  are  grown  for  two  purposes— one,  which  is  gereral. 
