16 
:OURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  2,  1896 
same  time  he  expresses  himself  as  long  having  had  a  faint  suspicion  that 
flower  shows  as  exhibitions  for  the  promotion  of  higher  gardening  are 
fast  becoming  a  failure.  Whilst  I  as  strongly  condemn  dishonourable 
exhibiting  as  he  does,  I  hold  quite  a  different  opinion  as  to  the  utility  of 
flower  shows.  After  twenty  years’  experience  in  the  management  of 
shows,  I  am  sure  I  shall  be  excused  if  I  venture  to  first  give  my  opinion 
as  to  their  value  as  educational  institutions,  then  point  out  the  surest 
way  of  getting  together  an  exhibition  worthy  of  the  name  and  a  credit 
to  the  neighbourhood  in  which  it  is  held. 
In  the  first  place,  then,  I  must  say  that  if  the  Committee  of  any 
Horticultural  Society  wish  to  bring  about  an  exhibition  failure  they 
have  only  to  do  away  with  their  money  prizes,  and  they  can  have  it 
to  their  heart’s  content ;  on  the  other  hand,  if  they  wish  for  increased 
success,  they  have  only  to  increase  their  prizes  as  much  as  their  funds 
will  allow  and  they  will  find  the  greater  their  prizes  the  greater  their 
success  ;  at  least  this  has  been  mv  experience,  which  extends  over  a  long 
time  in  connection  with  one  of  the  most  successful  shows  in  the 
Midlands.  Liberal  money  prizes  form,  in  my  opinion,  the  only  safe 
and  sure  foundation  on  which  to  build  a  successful  exhibition,  for 
whilst  they  are  a  source  of  revenue  and  of  honour  to  the  successful 
competitor,  the  grand  exhibits  these  prizes  bring  together  are  a  source 
of  stimulation  and  education  to  the  non-competing  gardener  and 
amateur,  who,  having  the  opportunity,  are  sensible  enough  to  visit  these 
exhibitions. 
Many  there  are,  both  amateur  and  gardeners,  who  are  indebted  to  the 
influence  of  these  exhibitions  for  the  position  they  hold  as  growers  of  the 
various  products  of  horticulture.  Take,  as  an  example,  the  cultivation  of 
the  Chrysanthemum.  I  have  known  cases  where  young  men  have  come 
fresh  into  this  neighbourhood,  having  previously  been  in  places  where 
the  Chrysanthemum  was  very  poorly  grown,  or  where  perhaps  you 
could  scarcely  say  it  was  grown  at  all ;  and  yet  after  a  short  stay  in  a 
district,  “  which  has  become  the  home  of  the  ‘  mums,’  ”  they  have 
come  well  to  the  front  as  growers  of  this  noble  flower,  although  they 
may  not  have  patronised  the  exhibition  board.  And  what  has  brought 
about  this  change — this  new  development  of  horticultural  skill — but 
the  fact  that  they  have  been  attending  these  grand  exbioitions  of  ours. 
They  have  seen  flowers  which  have  been  a  source  of  wonder  and 
admiration,  and,  like  true  Englishmen,  have  gone  home  with  a  determina¬ 
tion  to  equal  if  not  excel  anything  they  may  have  seen  on  the  exhibition 
board. 
We  have  only  to  show  a  gardener  something  good,  and,  if  he  belongs 
to  the  best  type,  he  will  be  sure  to  try  to  produce  something  better  ;  nor 
does  this  remark  aloue  apply  to  the  rank  and  file  of  exhibitors,  as  we 
know  that  good  things  are  to  be  found  amongst  the  non-competing 
gardeners,  and  it  is  here  where  we  find  the  beneficial  influence  of  flower 
shows.  If  their  influence  for  good  were  confined  to  the  exhibitor  alone 
I  should  6ay  the  sooner  flower  shows  are  abolished  the  better.  This 
would  be  a  most  unfortunate  thing  both  for  gardeners  and  employers  of 
gardeners  in  this  country,  for  it  is  these  great  shows  and  wonderful 
exhibits  that  stimulate  and  bring  into  action  abilities  possessed  by 
individuals  which  otherwise  would  remain  dormant  or  undeveloped. 
How  often  do  we  see  men  of  mature  age  in  possession  of  natural  abilities 
who,  if  they  in  paBt  times  had  the  opportunities  our  young  men  have 
now  for  early  education  and  cultivation,  they  would  now  have  been 
scientific  masters  of  their  profession  and  invaluable  members  of  society. 
But  the  value  of  flower  shows  to  gardeners  is  not  to  be  considered  from 
an  educational  point  alone,  there  is  the  higher  position  he  occupies  in 
the  estimation  of  his  employer  in  proportion  as  he  exhibits  the  improve¬ 
ment  in  his  education  as  a  gardener,  in  consequence  of  which  he  has  a 
better  chance  of  getting  an  increase  of  wage,  as  many  have  done,  and  a 
better  prospect  of  a  good  situation  when  he  should  feel  disposed  to 
make  a  change. 
Now  let  me  say  a  few  words  as  to  dishonest  exhibiting,  and  in  doing 
so  I  would  like  to  warn  young  gardeners  against  a  temptation  which 
often  presents  itself,  “  supported  by  a  great  desire  for  fame,”  to  exhibit 
other  than  produce  of  their  own  growing.  If  there  are  any  young  men 
who  are  looking  forward  to  the  time  when  they  may  have  the  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  entering  the  field  of  competition,  let  me  beg  of  them,  “if  they 
wish  to  maintain  the  honour  of  their  profession  and  the  respect  of  their 
opponents  and  fellow  gardeners,”  never  to  attempt  to  gain  honours 
except  by  their  own  skill  and  industry.  To  gain  “  honours  ”  by  exhibiting 
the  product  of  others  is  only  worthy  of  men  of  the  meanest  kind — men 
whose  ambition  is  greater  than  their  abilities,  and  whose  greed  for 
money  blinds  them  to  all  sense  of  honour  and  justice  to  their  opponents. 
Such  men  are  a  disgrace  to  the  craft  to  which  they  belong.  They  are  as 
lepers  in  the  ranks  of  horticulture,  whose  presence  ought  not  to  be 
tolerated  at  an  exhibition,  while  they  should  be  avoided  by  all  respectable 
members  of  the  gardening  community.  They  are  specimens  (happily 
rare)  of  a  class  who  would  not  only  deceive  the  general  public,  but 
deceive  themselves,  rob  honest  exhibitors  of  their  rights,  and  thereby 
damage  the  cause  for  which  exhibitions  were  established.  Therefore  I 
would  say  to  all  young  men  whose  ambition  may  lead  them  to  become 
exhibitors  in  the  future — see  that  all  prizes  are  honourably  won  ;  you 
will  then  be  worthy  of  the  craft  you  adorn,  and  your  action  will 
demonstrate  in  the  most  forcible  manner  the  immense  utility  of  flower 
shows. 
As  a  specific  illustration  of  the  good  influence  of  flower  shows  I  may 
mention  the  June  show  that  used  to  be  held  at  the  Botanical  Gardens, 
Birmingham,  twenty-five  years  ago.  Pelargoniums  used  to  be  grown 
and  exhibited  in  great  perfection,  specimens  5  to  6  feet  across,  and 
wonderful  examples  of  high  culture.  There  was  scarcely  a  gentleman’s 
place  in  the  neighbourhood  where' the  gardener  did  not  make  some 
effort  at  Pelargonium  growing  ;  but  immediately  the  June  show  was 
discontinued  the  interest  in  the  cultivation  of  the  Pelargonium  subsided. 
Again,  I  may  mention  the  best  influence  our  November  shows  has  had 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  Chrysanthemum,  not  only  in  this  district,  but 
throughout  the  Midland  counties ;  would  anyone  for  one  moment  think 
that  the  “  Mums  ”  would  have  been  grown  to  such  perfection  to-day 
without  these  exhibitions  ?  “  Certainly  not  ;  ”  only  do  away  with  the 
prizes  that  stimulate  the  exhibitor  and  you  will  soon  lose  the  shows  that 
stimulates  the  non-exhibitor,  and  owners  of  gardens  generally  will  suffer 
in  the  loss  of  those  superior  flowers,  fruits,  and  vegetables,  which 
now  so  satisfactorily  supply  their  wants  and  adorn  their  homes  and 
conservatories. 
Then  there  is  the  indispensable  nurseryman  or  seedsman  whose 
advantages  are  even  greater  than  either  the  employer  or  his  gardeners, 
inasmuch  as  these  shows  give  splendid  opportunities  for  bringing  before 
the  public  specimens  of  anything  new  and  meritorious  they  may  possess 
in  the  way  of  plants,  flowers,  fruit,  or  vegetables  ;  and  if  they  deserve 
it  they  get  noticed  by  the  judges  and  reported  in  the  press,  which  add 
materially  to  their  commercial  value.  Flower  shows  keep  alive  that 
intense  love  of  everything  horticultural  among  the  masses  and  the 
classes  which  alone  brings  work  for  tie  gardener,  pleasure  to  the 
employer,  and  consequently  trade  for  the  nurserymen  and  seedsmen. 
In  conclusion,  I  may  say  that  I,  for  one,  shall  like  to  see  flower  shows 
continued,  large  prizes  maintained,  and  honest  exhibiting  enforced,  in 
which  case  the  utility  of  flower  shows  will,  I  feel  sure,  be  demon¬ 
strated  to  the  satisfaction  of  even  a  “  Scottish  Gardener.”— -J.  Hughes, 
Birmingham. 
GRAPE  GROWING  AT  BYFLEET. 
The  Petersham  Vineries,  where  a  notable  exhibitor  of  Grapes  in 
other  days,  Mr.  J.  Bury,  formerly  of  Forest  Hill,  is  now  engaged  in 
Grape  production  for  market,  consist  of  two  very  long  span  houses,  each 
360  feet  in  length,  and  situated  close  to  Byfleet  village,  lying  about  a 
mile  from  the  South-Western  Railway,  and  nearly  midway  between 
Weybridge  and  Woking.  The  houses  were  erected  on  private  ground, 
all  around  which,  though  at  some  distance,  tuds  a  broad  belt  of  trees 
and  shrubs,  so  that  useful  shelter  is  afforded. 
The  soil  is  of  a  very  fine  Bandy  nature,  though  fairly  deep.  Conifer® 
do  splendidly  on  it,  and  so  do  trees  and  shrubs  generally ;  yet  it  is 
probable  that  bad  any  experienced  Grape  grower  been  invited  to  give  an 
opinion  as  to  its  merits  for  Grape  culture  he  would  have  condemned  it 
as  far  too  light.  However,  the  result  shows  that  even  the  opinion  of 
experts  may  sometimes  be  discounted  by  experience.  The  houses  are 
each  spans,  and  25  feet  wide.  They  are  each  heated  by  two  double  rows 
of  4|-inch  pipes,  placed  on  each  side,  but  as  the  boilers  are  fixed  at  one 
end  of  these  very  long  houses  it  is  obvious  that  no  great  amount  of  heat 
can  be  supplied  at  300  feet  and  more  off,  though  partially  divided  into 
three  divisions,  yet  not  effectively  so,  and  practically  each  range  has  to 
be  treated  as  one  house. 
The  earlier  range  is  planted  for  about  one-third  its  length  with  Black 
Hamburgh  Grapes.  Those  being  nearest  the  boiler  get  most  warmth, 
and  can  thus  be  got  ready  for  cutting  fairly  early.  All  the  remainder  of  the 
house  is  planted  with  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  which  does  not  get  any 
great  amount  of  heat,  but  still  evidently  enough  for  the  variety.  The 
Vines  are  planted  some  4  to  6  feet  apart  along  on  each  side,  and  reach 
the  top  throughout,  having  been  established  several  years.  Mr.  Bury 
took  possession  only  last  winter,  and  found  mildew  very  prevalent.  That 
trouble  he  has  had  to  combat,  and  he  is  still  doing  so,  so  far  as  he  can, 
in  the  hope  of  destroying  resting  spores  of  this  pest.  Still  his  crop  for 
the  past  year  has  been  wonderfully  good,  and  the  appearance  of  several 
hundreds  of  bunches,  standing  in  bottles,  and  in  the  house,  shows  that 
this  Muscat  delights  in  a  sandy  soil.  There  is  colour,  of  rich  amber, 
high  flavour,  solid  flesh,  and  a  stout  skin. 
There  is  no  sign  of  shrivelling,  due,  Mr.  Bury  asserts,  to  the  giving 
of  ample  light  to  the  Grapes,  as  that  is  a  great  essential  to  the 
production  of  stout  skins  and  solid  flesh,  so  that  no  shrivelling  results. 
With  reference  to  Madresfield  Court  Grape,  of  which  he  has  had  wide 
experience  as  a  grower.  Mr.  Bury  asserts  that  the  beBt  preventive  of  skin 
cracking  is  found  in  tying  back  the  foliage  and  exposing  the  berries  to 
all  the  light  possible,  so  as  to  make  the  flesh  firmer  and  the  skins 
stouter,  whilst  too  much  shade  serves  to  create  watery  berries  that  have 
thin  skins.  Muscat  Grapes,  as  times  go,  seem  to  sell  well,  and  the 
lament  here  is  that,  because  of  the  present  great  demand  for  them,  the 
grower  has  not  tons  at  disposal.  In  the  other  house  those  well-known 
market  Grapes,  Alicante  and  Gros  Colman,  are  alone  grown.  It  need 
hardly  be  said  that  Alicantes  colour  splendidly  here,  and  the  crop  is  a 
very  heavy  one.  Bunches  are  of  good  market  size,  1^  lb.  to  3  lbs., 
the  berries  fine,  and,  for  this  Grape,  quite  highly-flavoured. 
The  Gros  Colman  are,  too,  a  great  crop,  generally  colouring  well. 
The  berries  are  large  and  the  bunches  of  most  useful  size  for  market  pur¬ 
poses.  In  this  house  the  Vines  are  5  feet  apart,  but  here  and  there  rods 
are  being  carried  up  to  occupy  some  of  the  spare  space.  The  ranges  have 
this  year  given  a  crop  exceeding  3  tons — not  a  bad  turn  out.  Apart 
from  top-dressings  of  animal  manure,  which  is  hard  to  get,  the  borders, 
both  inside  and  outside,  have  occasional  dressings  of  muriate  of  potash, 
whilst  Thomson’s  manure  was  freely  employed  when  the  Vines  were 
planted.  Mr.  Bury  has  been  a  very  successful  exhibitor  of  Grapes  at 
shows  this  year. — A.  D. 
