October  13,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
289 
collection  of  Begonia  blooms,  both  double  and  single  varieties,  cut  from 
the  open  ground. 
Mr.  W.  T.  Empson,  gardener  to  Mfs.  Wingfield,  Amphill,  exhibited  a 
pretty,  group  ot  his  decorative  Chrysanthemum  Mrs.  Wingfield.  It  is 
a  dwarf  pink  variety,  and  very  fioriferous.  Messrs.  H.  Cannell  also 
contributed  a  table  of  specimen  Chrysanthemum  blooms.  The  best 
varieties  were  W.  Towers,  Lady  Ridgeway,  Madame  Liger  Ligneau,  and 
Kathleen  Rogers.  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  &  Sons,  Highgate,  exhibited  a 
very  good  display  of  Apples,  Pears,  gigantic  Onions  and  Tomatoes,  with 
a  collection  of  winter-fi  jwering  Carnations  and  well- berried  Pernettyas. 
Mr.  H.  Deveril),  Banbury,  had  a  very  extensive  display  of  hardy 
flowers,  comprising  Asters,  Gladioli,  Chrysanthemums,  Gaillardias, 
Rudbeckias,  Tritomas,  together  with  a  general  display  of  autumu  flowers. 
Mr.  H.  Berwick,  Sidmoutb,  staged  a  good  collection  of  fruits,  which 
were  very  well  coloured,  a  truly  grand  display.  Messrs.  S.  Spooner 
and  Sons,  Hounslow  Nurseries,  also  staged  an  attractive  exhibit  of 
Apples  and  Pears.  Mr.  E.  Beckett,  gardener  to  Lord  Aldenharo, 
staged  a  very  attractive  collection  of  Rieinus  varieties.  Mr.  S.  Mortimer 
somewhat  paled  the  display  of  Chrysanthemums  by  staging  a  very  fine 
exhibit  of  Cactus  and  Show  Dahlias.  Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest 
Hill,  sent  some  splendid  fruit,  and  T.  S.  Ware,  Ltd.,  Tottenham,  Cactus 
Dahlias. 
JUDGING  BY  POINTS. 
At  the  recent  Show  of  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society, 
held  in  Edinburgh,  a  new  departure  in  judging  was  introduced  in  having 
the  premier  prize  for  fruit — a  decorative  dessert  table  of  sixteen  dishes 
of  fruit — judged  by  points,  the  several  points  awarded  to  each  item  to 
be  shown  on  cards  on  the  winning  tables. 
This  system,  though  I  believe  common  in  the  South,  was  new  to  us  in 
the  North,  and  exhibitors  and  others  interested  looked  forward  to  the 
competition  with  much  interest,  and  with  the  view  of  gaining  useful 
information  therefrom  ;  but  the  judges  in  this  case  adopted  a  plan  which 
I  venture  to  assert  is  new  to  both  sides  of  the  Tweed,  and  as  it  is  the  first 
time  we  have  seen  it  carried  out  in  the  North  I  hope  it  may  be  the  last. 
The  directions  of  the  schedule  were  “  that  each  dish  of  fruit  was  to  receive 
up  to  a  maximum  of  so  many  points — such  as  ten  for  Pine  Apples,  nine 
for  Grapes,  and  so  on,  the  number  of  points  awarded  to  each  item  to  bo 
shown  on  the  winning  tables.” 
Had  this  rule  been  followed,  even  with  the  points  they  gave  to  the 
several  kinds  of  fruit,  and  which  no  one  could  find  much  fault  with, 
the  second  prize  table  should  have  been  first  with  121 J  points,  and  the 
first  prize  one  second  with  118}.  The  judges’  decision  was  70}  to  the 
first  prize  table,  and  64  to  the  second  prize  one.  They  arrived  at  this 
conclusion  by  “slumping”  all  the  dishes  of  the  same  kind  of  fruit  on 
each  table,  and  allowing  them  no  more  than  the  number  of  points  which 
should  have  been  awarded  to  each  separate  dish. 
For  instance,  the  second  prize  table  contained  two  extra  fine  dishes  of 
Peaches,  to  which  the  judges  gave  7  points,  whereas  it  should  have 
been  14.  The  corresponding  dishes  in  the  first  prize  table  were  an 
infer  or  dish  of  Peaches,  awarded  4}  points,  a  poor  dish  of  Figs  awarded 
5  points,  or  a  total  of  9}  against  7  for- the  two  fine  dishes  of  Peaches, 
which  should  have  been  14,  No  wonder  this  decision  was  subjected  to' 
so  much  criticism,  or  that  the  exhibitor  who  was  awarded  the  second 
prize  was  not  the  quietest  man  in  the  Waverley  market  that  day. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Caledonian  will  be  in 
no  way  prejudiced  against  point  judging,  though  this,  their  first  venture 
in  that  direction,  has  met  with  such  curious  misjudgment.  The  system, 
when  properly  carried  out.  is  the  only  fair  and  true  way  to  arrive  at  a 
correct  conclusion  in  judging  collections  of  either  fruit,  vegetables,  or 
flowers  ;  besides,  it  has  an  educational  influence  for  those  who  are 
interested,  especially  to  young  gardeners,  and  I  think  horticultural 
societies  would  be  taking  a  step  in  the  right  direction  if  they  made  point 
judging  in  the  more  important  items  compulsory,  the  results  to  be 
displayed  on  the  winning  exhibits.  I  should  strongly  recommend  this  for 
the  consideration  of  the  Royal  Caledonian  in  more  things  than  the 
decorative  dessert  tables,  such  as  the  six  and  the  four  bunches  of  Grapes 
and  the  collections  of  vegetables. 
I  understand  that  the  idea  of  a  decorative  dessert  table  originated  with 
the  advanced  horticulturists  of  Shrewsbury,  nnd  that  the  Edinburgh 
stipulations  are  exactly  the  same  ns  those  of  the  southern  show.  Tt 
would  be  of  interest  if  you,  Mr.  Editor,  would  refresh  our  memories  with 
the  total  points  gained  during  this  and  last  year  at  Shrewsbury.  If 
pointed  on  the  same  standard  by  competent  men  a  fair  idea  of  tie  quality 
of  fruit  exhibited  is  gained  by  numbers  of  eardeners  who  are  never  privi¬ 
leged  to  see  ic  for  themselves  at  that  greatest  of  all  our  horticultural 
exhibitions  -it  Shrewsbury. — Exhibitor. 
[Assuming  our  correspondent  is  correct  in  his  statement,  the  Edin- 
burgh  judges  seem  to  have  curiously  overlooked  the  terms  of  the 
schedule,  and  had  the  exhibitor  who  was  awarded  the  second  prize 
entered  a  formal  protest  on  the  ground  indicated  we  suspect  it  would 
have  been  sustained.  As  our  correspondent  leaves  the  matter,  the  table 
with  64  points  ought  to  have  had  71,  that  is  if  the  second  dish  of  Peaches 
was  equal  to  the  first.  It  is  rare  that  duplicate  dishes  point  equal,  and 
“An  Exhibitor  ”  does  not  show  how  the  higher  figures  of  121}  and  118} 
were  determined,  but  shows  that  the  second  table  ought  to  have  been  first 
by  half  a  point.  At  Shrewsbury  in  1897  the  points  awarded  for  three 
decorated  dessert  tables  were  105},  104},  and  99}  ;  during  the  present 
year  they  were  124},  119,  and  100  respectively.  Messrs.  A.  F.  Barron 
and  Owen  Thomas  were  the  judges  in  1897,  and  Messrs.  Owen  Thomas 
and  J.  Wright  at  this  year’s  show.] 
THE  CRYSTAL  PALACE  SHOW. 
Dessert  Apples. 
Whilst  the  samples  staged  in  all  the  dessert  Apple  classes  at  the 
Crystal  Palace  recently  were  on  the  whole  of  excellent  size,  and 
specially  suited  for  the  table,  I  could  but  feel  that  the  huge  fruits  of 
Gascoyne’s  Scarlet  were  but  of  place  in  the  dessert  section,  for  they  were 
equal  to  big  Bismarcks,  Emperor  Alexanders,  or  Lord  Derbys.  Now  the 
variety,  also  Round  way  Magnum  Bonum,  may  have  considerable  table 
excellence,  and  look  very  fine  dished  up,  but  it  is  so  obvious  that  those 
huge  fruits  are  unfitted  for  the  dessert.  An  able  gardener  recently  said, 
“  My  employer  does  not  care  at  all  for  big  fruits,  indeed  will  not  have 
them  at  the  table.  He  says  : — 
“  I  cannot  eat  a  big  Apple  or  Pear  at  once  after  dining,  and  I  cannot 
ask  anyone  at  table  to  take  a  piece  because  it  would  not  be  decent.” 
Certainly  that  is  an  objection  that  forcibly  applies  to  such  samples  as 
Gascoyne’s  Scarlet  presented  at  the  Palace,  and  I  think  it  would  be  wise 
to  have  it  relegated  to  the  kitchen  section.  Let  one  compare  with  it  such 
medium-sized  and  perfectly  formed  samples  as  were  seen  in  Mabbott’s 
Pearmain,  Worcester  Pearmain,  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin,  King  of  the  Pippins, 
Fearn’s  Pippin,  Adam’s  Pearmain,  and  some  other  typical  dessert 
samples,  and  the  incongruity'  of  including  such  a  big-fruited  variety  in  the 
dessert  list  is  apparent.  Mother  Apple,  Scarlet  Nonpareil,  Ribston 
Pippin,  Blenheim  Pippin,  and  Claygate  Pearmain,  were  capital  samples, 
and  all  amply  large  enough  for  the  dessert. 
Exhibition  Quality  in  Grapes. 
Passing  the  tables  on  which  were  staged  the  bunches  in  competition 
in  the  Muscat  of  Alexandria  class  at  the  Crystal  Palace  on  the  first  day 
of  the  recent  fruit  show,  I  was  attracted  by  a  discussion,  in  which  several 
friends  and  good  Grape  growers  took  part,  as  to  the  merits  of  the  judging 
in  the  class,  as  well  as  in  that  of  the  Gros  Maroc  and  Gros  Colman  class. 
The  point  in  dispute  in  each  case  was  whether  high  finish  should  not  obtain 
precedence,  when  associated  with  other  merits,  over  heavier  bunches. 
Those  who  were  members  of  the  R  H.S.  Judging  Committee  remember 
how  thoroughly  this  point  was  threshed  out  when  the  rules  of  judging 
were  drafted,  and  this  was  the  result,  as  found  in  the  code  under  the 
head  of  Grapes  (par.  52),  and  to  which  so  few  judges  seem  to  give 
heed.  “  The  bunches  should  be  of  uniform  size,  of  perfect  shape,  properly 
thinned,  so  that  every  berry  has  had  room  to  develop,  the  bunch  when 
cut  remaining  firm  and  compact.  Large  bunches,  with  berries  of  varying 
sizes,  are  less  meritorious  than  smaller  bunches  with  berries  of  uniform 
size.  The  berries  should  be  large  for  the  variety,  and  carry  a  dense 
bloom.  Loose  bunches,  ill-coloured  berries,  rubbing,  shanking,  spot, 
insect  marks,  and  mildew  are  grave  defects.” 
Now,  the  selected  bunches  of  Muscat  of  Alexandria  were  large  and 
good,  but  they  had  the  demerit  of  having  the  outer  berries  fairly  coloured 
and  the  inner  ones  comparatively  green,  so  that  there  were  in  the  bunches 
two  distinct  shades  of  colour.  One  lot,  if  not  two,  had  smaller  bunches, 
perhaps  1}  lb.  less  in  weight ;  but  not  only  were  they  perfect  in  form,  but 
every  berry  was  of  absolutely  even  size  and  colour,  being  of  perfect  finish 
and  devoid  of  speck  or  stain.  On  the  other  hand,  the  larger  bunches 
had  numerous  berries  stained  or  spotted. 
In  the  Gros  Maroc  class  bunches  of  the  most  perfect  finish  conceivable, 
bladk  beneath  and  carrying  a  rich  bloom,  were  placed  below  larger 
bunches  lacking  finish  and  complete  colour  and  bloom.  Now,  the  point 
to  be  determined  is  which — with  judges  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
their  decisions  being  governed  by  the  Society’s  own  code  of  rules  — should 
have  weight — mere  size  of  bunch,  or  the  superb  finish,  possibly  found  in 
bunches  of  lesser  size  ?  No  doubt  great  weight  is  attached  by  judges  im 
Grape  judging  to  size  of  bunch.  To  produce  such  huge  bunches  are  held 
to  be  great  triumphs  of  culture.  That  may  be  so,  if  the  berries  exhibit  all 
the  highest  attributes  of  the  variety. 
But,  after  all,  mere  size  of  bunch  is  too  much  determined  by  numbers 
of  them  on  a  Vine  or  rod,  and  whilst  bunches  of  4  lbs.  weight  may  be 
few  those  of  half  the  weight  may  be  many.  Then  again,  which  bunches 
are  for  the  table  the  most  useful  ?  In  nine  cases  out  of  ten  big  bunches 
are  cut  up  in  the  pantry  to  three  or  four  ere  sent  to  table,  whilst  smaller, 
because  reasonable,  bunches  go  intact.  Thus  a  big  cluster  hangs  about 
the  sideboard  until  the  Grapes  are  stale,  whilst  smaller  ones  are  cut  fresh 
every  day.  Personally  I  favour  high  finish  over  mere  size  or  weight  of 
bunch. — A.  D. 
Cyphomandra  betacea. — The  fruiting  of  the  “Tree  Tomato, 
as  this  plant  is  popularly  called,  is  almost  an  annual  occurrence  at  Kew  ; 
but  it  has  never  been  seen  to  such  advantage  as  at  the  present  time. 
Until  recently  it  was  either  grown  in  pots  or  planted  in  a  border  in  the 
cool  portion  of  the  winter  garden  ;  in  the  former  case  the  root  run  was 
not  sufficient  to  insure  the  plant  doing  itself  justice,  and  in  the  latter  case 
the  temperature  was  not  high  enough  to  finish  the  fruits  before  winter 
fogs  set  in,  which  cause  the  fruits  to  drop.  When  the  Mexican  house 
was  planted  in  May,  1897,  a  small  plant  2  feet  high  was  planted  in  a 
border  of  loam,  and  that  it  is  enjoying  its  position  and  the  intermediate 
temperature  can  be  seen  at  a  glance.  The  plant  has  now  a  main  stem 
6}  feet  high  with  a  bushy  head,  the  total  height  exceeding  10  feet,  and 
the  width  8  feet.  In  May  it  commenced  flowering,  and  set  its  fruits 
freely  ;  now  there  are  upwards  of  200  fruits  in  various  stages  of  ripeness, 
the  ripe  ones  being  scarlet  in  colour,  and  the  largest  about  the  size  of  a 
hen’s  egg  of  medium  size.  Anyone  who  has  an  intermediate  house  at  his 
disposal  would  do  well  to  give  this  a  trial,  as  he  would  be  sure  to  be- 
pleased  with  it.  It  can  be  fruited  in  a  dwarfer  state  by  using  the  knife- 
treely  in  February. — D. 
