November  2,  1£99. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
379 
the  year  following,  when  at  the  next  competition  it  should  pass  to  the 
Society  responsible  for  that  competition. 
Then  comes  the  question  of  cash  prizes.  Whatever  may  he  the 
amounts,  these,  the  first  one  especially,  should  be  fixed  in  amount  just 
as  though  no  trophy  were  added,  as  that  could  not  become  permanent 
property.  But  the  money  values  ought  not  to  be  inordinately  high, 
and  for  twelve  bunches,  in  not  less  than  six  varieties,  a  first  prize  of 
£10  is,  I  think,  ample,  the  others  being  £9,  £8,  £7,  £6,  or  £40  in  all, 
not  an  excessive  sum  for  any  society  to  find  to  secure  so  great  a 
competition.  The  competition  should  be  open  to  all  the  United 
Kingdom. 
When  I  suggest  that  it  may  not  be  so  easy  to  raise  the  needful 
sum  for  the  trophy,  especially  if  it  costs  £100,  I  would  point  out  that 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  seeks  to  raise  that  sum  yearly  to 
enable  it  to  hold  its  great  Crystal  Palace  Fruit  Show,  and  rarely,  I 
believe,  gets  the  entire  amount.  That  shows  even  with  a  much 
greater  constituency  than  Grape  growers  are,  that  the  obtaining  of 
considerable  sums  for  such  prize  purposes  is  no  light  task.  For  the 
present  it  seems  enough  to  limit  the  competition  to  England  and  Scot¬ 
land  by  turns.  When  Ireland  can  win  the  trophy  then  the  compe¬ 
tition  may  well  be  taken  to  Dublin  or  Belfast. — A.  D. 
The  suggestion  is  a  very  good  one,  but  I  fear  will  bring  out  but 
poor  competition,  especially  when  held  in  Edinburgh,  from  English 
competitors.  Employers  in  England  give,  as  a  rule,  but  small 
encouragement  to  their  gardeners  to  compete  in  such  classes,  believing 
that  growing  Grapes  for  competition  is  not  conducive  to  a  good  supply 
of  useful  sized  bunches  of  Grapes  for  the  table.  The  class  at  Shrews¬ 
bury,  although  not  a  large  one,  brought  only  six  exhibitors.  This  is 
a  little  disappointing  to  the  public,  but  not  to  me,  for  few  gardeners 
are  able  to  present  twelve  bunches  of  six  varieties  of  Grapes  all  in 
good  condition  at  one  date  without  growing  specially  for  it. 
I  am  of  the  opinion  had  Shrewsbury  added  the  £100  to  the  prizes 
they  now  give  in  the  open  classes  and  provided,  say,  six  good  prizes 
for  three  bunches  each  of  all  the  leading  varieties  of  Grapes  separate, 
we  should  have  had  a  much  finer  show  and  a  greater  number  of  com¬ 
petitors.  This  would  give  all  growers  a  chance,  and  the  long  lines  of 
stands  might  be  made  quite  as  attractive  by  introducing  a  better 
arrangement  for  staging  and  decorating. — Jno.  Lambert,  Powis 
Castle. 
In  common  with  many  whom  I  have  conversed  with  on  this 
subject,  I  fail  to  see  the  aim  and  scope  in  the  object  of  the  chal¬ 
lenge.  Is  it  meant  to  be  betwixt  English  and  Scottish  gardeners, 
or  between  England  and  Scotland  ? 
Let  us  have  a  national  Grape  trophy  by  all  means,  but  let  it  be 
national,  and  open  to  all  comers,  irrespective  of  place  of  birth  or 
breeding.  The  winning  of  such  a  trophy  would  shed  lustre  on  any 
locality,  as  well  as  on  the  individual  who  secured  it.  It  is  only 
natural  that  they  should  make  the  most  of  the  prize  whilst  in  their 
possession. 
Leaving  the  discussion  of  time  and  place  to  those  likely  to 
engage  in  the  contest,  1  will  conclude  by  saying  that  if  the  trophy 
is  to  be  contributed  by  the  horticultural  world  I  shall  willingly  add 
my  mite. — Vox. 
The  proposal  that  a  challenge  cup  for  Grapes  should  be  established 
and  offered  for  competition  at  our  great  autumn  shows  in  England, 
Scotland,  and,  1  hope,  Ireland  also,  is  in  itself  an  excellent  one,  and 
deserves  the  earnest  consideration  and  the  active  support  of  all  those 
who  have  the  welfare  of  high  class  British  gardening  at  heart,  and  I 
have  little  doubt  that  when  the  pros  and  cons  of  the  scheme  have  been 
well  thought  out  and  elaborated  the  proposal  will  be  carried  with 
acclamation  to  a  successful  issue. 
As  helping  to  elucidate  the  many  side  issues  which  naturally 
surround  a  question  of  this  importance,  I  would  suggest  that  the  scope 
of  the  object  aimed  at  be  eularged  in  order  to  make  it  more  repre¬ 
sentative  of  other  high  arts  (than  Grape  growing)  in  practical  horti¬ 
culture  ;  say,  for  instance,  that  the  cup  should  be  offered  the  first  year 
for  a  collection  of  Grapes,  the  second  year  for  a  collection  of  fruit 
grown  under  glass,  the  third  year  for  a  collection  of  out-of-door  grown 
fruit,  and  the  fourth  year  for  a  collection  of  vegetables. 
Thus  would  the  movement  draw  within  its  influence  all  those 
aspects  of  gardening  which  may,  I  think,  be  termed  the  most 
important — I  mean  the  economic,  skilful,  and  industrial.  By  this 
suggested  arrangement  I  know  it  will  be  objected  by  many  that  the 
cup  would  be  a  wanderer  and  a  fugitive,  and  would  scarcely  ever  find 
a  permanent  home.  This  I  grant,  and  when  the  value  of  the  cup,  say 
£100,  is  taken  into  consideration,  your  readers,  I  think,  will  agree  with 
me,  that  we  must  not  make  the  absolute  winning  of  the  cup  an 
easy  matter  for  anyone.  But  as  this  would  be  a  sort  of  blue  ribbon 
among  practical  gardeners,  the  winning  and  the  holding  of  the  cup 
for  one  year  would  be  considered  a  reward  and  prize  enough  by  most 
gardeners  with  perhaps  the  remote  chance  of  claiming  it  right  out  by 
winning  it  three  times,  not  necessarily  in  three  consecutive  years. 
I  would  further  suggest  that  the  winning  of  this  cup  should  carry 
with  it  a  gold  medal  for  the  winner,  to  be  given  by  the  executive  of 
the  show  at  which  the  cup  had  been  won,  on  which  would  be  engraved 
a  fac-simile  of  the  cup  with  suitable  inscription.  It  would  be  an  open 
question  whether  a  money  prize  ought  also  to  be  given.  I  am  inclined 
to  think  that  the  cup  and  medal  would  be  honour  enough,  but  would 
suggest  that  a  second  and  third  prize,  say  of  £10  and  £5,  should  be 
offered. 
As  regards  initiating  a  start  in  the  movement,  a  representative 
committee  should  be  formed  and  a  meeting  held  in  London  (where 
Scotland  and  Ireland  could  be  represented),  where  questions  of  detail 
could  be  considered  and  a  plan  for  carrying  out  the  project  adopted, 
including  an  appeal  for  subscriptions,  which,  when  received,  could,  if 
thought  well,  be  invested  in  the  hands  of  trustees,  on  the  same  lines 
as  the  Veitch  Memorial  medals. — Owen  Thomas,  Boyal  Cardens, 
Windsor. 
NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
Geranium  Wallichianum. 
While  some  few  of  the  Geraniums  are  adapted  for  the  rockery, 
many  are  more  suitable  for  the  flower  border.  Among  the  former  is 
this  Himalayan  species,  which  is  quite  neat  in  its  habit,  and  will  be 
found  serviceable  in  some  rock  gardens  not  too  large  in  size.  There 
are  two  or  three  plants  passing  under  the  name  of  Wallichianum. 
These  resemble  each  other  in  general  appearance,  the  chief  difference 
consisting  in  the  size  of  the  plant.  It  is  probable  that  they  are  only 
what  may  be  termed  geographical  varieties,  and  that  they  are  rightly 
named,  although  not  quite  the  same. 
I  have  what  I  consider  the  best  form  for  the  rock  garden  of 
moderate  size.  It  was  bought  as  G.  A\  allichianum  “  true.”  As 
already  indicated,  the  writer  is  not  prepared  to  say  that  this  is  the 
only  true  form.  One  will  only  go  the  length  of  saying  that  it  is  the 
best  for  the  rock  garden.  It  grows  about  6  inches  high,  and  has 
flowers  called  blue.  It  is  the  colour  of  the  blooms  which  is  the  weak 
point  of  this  plant.  The  blue  is  not  a  good  one,  having  an  appearance 
of  the  colour  being  past  its  best.  1  find  that  this  Geranium  likes  a 
place  which  is  a  little  on  the  dry  side.  Some  say  that  it  is  not  quite 
hardy,  but  the  experience  of  the  writer,  and  his  comparison  of  notes 
from  friends,  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  with  ordinary  care  this 
plant  is  hardy  on  well-drained  rockwork. 
Tiarella  cordifolia. 
Tiarella  cordifolia  is  known  to  some  better  by  its  popular  name  of 
Foam  Flower,  than  by  its  botanical  one ;  yet  the  latter  is  simple 
enough  to  be  easily  remembered,  and  the  use  of  botanical  names  has 
considerable  advantages.  Although  a  plant  known  to  many  interested 
in  alpines,  it  is  yet  unknown  to  a  great  many  who  ought  to  grow  it, 
so  that  a  few  brief  remarks  upon  it  will  not  be  superfluous.  It  is  a 
pretty  little  plant,  growing  from  6  to  12  inches  high,  when  in  bloom. 
The  flowers  are  small,  white,  and  arranged  in  a  simple  raceme  on 
neat  scapes.  The  leaves  are  heart-shaped,  lobed,  and  rather  hairy 
above,  with  the  under  surface  pubescent.  There  seem  to  be  two 
forms  in  existence — the  one  sending  out  stolons,  and  the  other  not 
possessing  this  habit. 
The  Foam  Flower,  which  comes  from  North  America,  bears  also 
the  name  of  False  Mitrewort.  It  was  originally  introduced  in  17ol. 
Tiarella  cordifolia  likes  a  half  shady  position,  in  moist  but  not  heavy 
soil.  In  such  a  place  it  thrives  admirably,  and  forms  a  pretty  picture 
when  in  bloom,  with  its  nice  racemes  of  white  feathery-looking  flowers. 
It  may  also  be  mentioned  that  T.  cordifolia  belongs  to  the  Saxifrage 
family,  and  that  it  may  be  increased  by  division.  It  is  quite  hardy, 
but  is  sometimes  lost  through  drought. 
Chionodoxa  Tmolusi. 
The  beauty  of  the  Glory  of  the  Snow  entitles  it  to  a  place  in  every 
rock  garden.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  many  have  not  sufficient  ly 
realised  the  value  of  the  bulbous  plants  of  spring  and  autumn  for 
alpine  gardening.  When  they  once  take  their  true  place  in  alpine 
gardens  the  Chionodoxas  will  not  be  out  of  sight.  ^  bile,  botanical ly 
speaking,  the  difference  between  C.  Tmolusi  and  the  well-known 
C.  Lucifise  does  not  exist,  there  is  a  difference  for  garden  purposes. 
The  flowers  of  some  plants  of  C.  Lucilise  may  much  resemble  in  colour 
those  of  the  one  under  notice;  but,  as  a  rule,  those  of  C.  Imolusi  are 
darker  and  more  effective.  It  also  comes  rather  later  into  flower,  and 
well-established  bulbs  yield  more  blooms  on  a  stem.  Those  who  have 
not  grown  C.  Tmolusi  will,  if  they  can  obtain  the  true  flower,  not 
regret  making  its  acquaintance.  One  thing  which  may  be  mentioned 
is 'that  in  its  native  habitats  it  grows  on  the  banks  of  streams,  where 
in  spring  it  gets  plenty  of  moisture  from  the  melting  snow,  while 
C.  Lucilise  is  found  in  a  drier  place.  No  time  should  now  be  lost  in 
purchasing  bulbs. — Alpinus. 
