30 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
July  9,  1888. 
SPECIAL  PRIZES  FOR  DESSERT  APPLES  AND  PEARS. 
Foe  Amateubs  and  Gentlemen’s  Gardenees  Only. 
With  a  view  to  the  formation  of  a  definite  list  of  the  best  flavoured 
varieties  of  British  grown  Apples  and  Pears  for  dessert  at  all  seasons, 
Messrs.  James  Veitch  &  Sons  of  Chelsea  have  very  kindly  placed  a  sum 
of  £30  at  the  disposal  of  the  Council  of  the  Eoyal  Horticultural  Society, 
who,  in  conjunction  with  the  donors,  have  drawn  up  and  sanctioned 
the  following  scheme,  commencing  with  the  Society’s  meeting  next 
Tuesday,  July  14th,  and  continuing  till  the  last  meeting  in  June,  1897, 
the  Temple  Show  meeting  only  being  excepted. 
The  four  following  prizes  are  offered  at  the  respective  meetings, 
subject  to  the  undermentioned  rules  and  conditions  : — 
Ist  Prize  2ncl  Prize 
Class  AA.  For  the  Best  Flavoured  Apple  ...  10s.  53, 
Class  BB.  For  the  Best  Flavoured  Pear  ...  103.  .53. 
Rules  and  Conditions. 
1.  Entry  for  either  of  these  classes  must  be  made  at  the  Fruit  and 
Vegetable  Committee  table  before  11  A  .M.  on  the  morning  of  the  meeting 
(for  the  Crystal  Palace  see  special  schedule). 
2.  No  exhibitor  may  enter  more  than  three  distinct  varieties  in  each 
or  either  class  at  each  meeting. 
3.  Six  fruits  (neither  more  nor  less)  of  each  variety  must  be  shown, 
the  judges  being  at  liberty  to  cut  any  three  of  them  they  please. 
4.  Every  exhibitor  must  guarantee  that  the  fruit  he  exhibits  in  these 
classes  has  been  grown  entirely  out  of  doors.  He  should  also  state  on 
the  name  card  “  wall  tree,”  “  bush,”  or  “standard,”  together  with  the 
aspect — north,  east,  south,  or  west;  the  nature  of  the  soil;  the  county; 
and,  when  known  certainly,  the  stock  on  which  the  tree  is  grafted. 
5.  The  judges  are  requested  to  allot  twelve  points  to  a  perfect  dish  of 
fruit — perfect  in  flavour,  in  quality,  in  appearance,  and  in  size — dis¬ 
tributing  the  points  in  the  following  proportions  : — 
For  flavour  . 6  points. 
For  quality  . 3  ,, 
For  appearance  .  2  ,, 
For  size . 1  ,, 
By  “  quality  ”  is  intended  the  meltingness  and  smoothness  (absence 
of  grittiness)  of  the  flesh,  or  (as,  for  example,  in  the  case  of  early  Apples) 
its  crispness  and  juiciness. 
By  “  appearance  ”  is  intended  colour  and  beauty  of  outline  and 
shape. 
By  “  size  ”  is  intended  such  as  invests  the  fruit  “  with  the  greatest 
value  for  table  use.”  “  Enormous  specimens  should  not  be  preferred,  as, 
beyond  a  certain  point,  size  becomes  a  defect  in  dessert  fruits.”  Vide 
R.H.S.  Rules  for  Judging,  &c.,  1896  Code. 
C.  When  several  exhibits  of  the  same  variety  are  shown  by  several 
exhibitors,  and  the  flavour  and  quality  of  two  or  more  of  them  are 
found  to  be  equal,  the  judges  are  directed  in  such  case  to  award  the 
prizes  according  to  the  demands  of  “appearance”  and  suitable  “size.” 
7.  The  first  and  second  prizes  are  not  to  be  awarded  to  the  same 
variety  at  the  same  meeting. 
8.  An  exhibitor  having  won  the  first  prize  may  not  compete  again 
during  the  year  loUI  the  same  variety,  but  the  same  variety  exhibited 
by  different  exhibitors  may  take  the  first  prize  at  any  or  all  the  meet¬ 
ings,  and  similarly  with  the  second  prize ;  nor  may  an  exhibitor 
who  has  won  a  second  prize  take  another  second  prize  with  the  same 
variety  ;  but  an  exhibitor  having  taken  a  second  prize  may  take  a  first 
prize  with  the  same  variety  at  any  subsequent  meeting. 
9.  The  prizes  will  be  withheld  if  the  fruits  shown  are  considered 
wanting  in  sufficient  flavour  for  dessert,  or  not  fair  specimens  fit  for 
table. 
10.  In  all  other  respects  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  General 
Rules  (p.  44  Schedule  of  Arrangements,  1896)  will  apply. 
A.  HARDY  PLANTSMAN  IN  IRELAND. 
To  all  appearance  the  fates  were  unpropitious  as  I  looked  out  upon 
a  heavy  rain  at  the  early  hour  of  3  A  M.,  one  day  in  the  middle  of  June. 
A  few  days’  run  to  see  some  Irish  gardens,  and  incidentally  some  Irish 
scenery,  had  been  decided  upon,  and  it  was  hardly  cheering  to  think  of 
what  might  await  me.  A  stormy  sea  might  discomfort  us  in  the  short 
passage  to  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  the  gardens  we  wished  to  see  might 
have  to  be  viewed  from  under  umbrellas,  with  all  the  discomforts  rain 
brings  with  it.  Ytt  the  die  was  cast,  our  mind  made  up,  and  the  ticket 
taken,  so  the  train  was  entered  at  the  untimely  hour  of  4.19  a.m.  A 
good  run  through  the  Southern  Highlands,  of  which  Mr.  S.  R.  Crockett 
has  so  much  to  say,  and  which  were  shrouded  with  mist  and  rain, 
landed  us  in  good  time  at  Stranraer  Pier,  where  the  “Princess  May,” 
a  fine  steamer,  as  is  only  proper  for  cne  so  named,  awaited  us. 
A  roughish  voyage  of  about  two  hours,  in  which  some  of  the  fair 
passengers  succumbed  to  the  unkindly  treatment  of  Neptune,  landed  us 
at  Larne,  and  in  a  few  minutes  we  were  once  more  on  the  rail  on  the 
way  to  Belfast.  The  weather  showed  signs  of  improving,  and  our  spirits 
were  raised  accordingly,  though  the  mist  which  still  hung  about  prevented 
a  full  view  of  our  noble  Channel  Fleet,  then  lying  in  Belfast  Lough. 
The  scenery  was  pleasing  in  parts,  though  the  long  drought  had  told 
on  the  pastures,  and  had  retarded  other  vegetation.  Rain  was  still 
falling  as  busy  Belfast  was  entered,  and  as  this  was  the  case,  and  time 
was  limited,  a  tramway  car  was  taken  to  the  Great  Northern  station. 
A  brief  wait  ensued,  and  then  we  were  off  once  more. 
Belfast  seems  thriving,  and  several  blocks  of  workmen’s  houses  weie 
in  course  of  erection  in  the  outskirts.  It  was  with  regret  that  I  saw  that 
the  only  piece  of  ground  attached  to  most  of  these  was  the  little  back 
yard  encumbered  by  various  erections.  Some  of  the  dwellers  in  the 
occupied  houses  were  making  a  brave  attempt  to  give  a  little  bright¬ 
ness  to  their  homes  by  growing  a  few  flowers,  and  one  could  not  help 
wishing  them  all  the  possible  enjoyment  which  could  be  obtained  from 
such  apologies  for  gardens,  and  that  they  might  soon  have  more  scope 
for  their  taste  for  flowers. 
As  we  ran  along  the  line  the  small  size  of  the  holdings  and  the 
number  of  houses  to  be  seen  was  very  marked  compared  with  those  in 
southern  Scotland.  It  made  the  landscape  cheery  looking  even  amid 
the  rain  to  see  so  many  whitewashed  houses — the  sign  of  human 
habitation.  The  land  seemed  upon  the  whole  well  cultivated,  but  the 
pastures  appeared  to  be  hardly  stocked  enough.  Attractive,  too,  were 
some  of  the  boggy  places  with  their  marsh-loving  flowers  and  the  bright 
verdure  about  them.  Changing  carriages  at  Goraghwood,  Newry  was 
soon  reached,  and  I  had  hardly  emerged  from  the  station  when  the  rain 
ceased,  to  trouble  me  no  more  for  the  day.  I  had  little  difficulty  in 
finding  my  way  to 
Daisy  Hill  Nursery. 
This  is  only  four  or  five  minutes'  walk  from  the  Edward  Street 
Station.  I  had  often  heatd  of  it,  but  did  not  quite  expect  to  find  that 
Mr.  Thomas  Smith,  the  owner,  had  so  large  a  collection  of  hardy  flowers. 
The  nursery  is  situated'  on  the  slope  of  a  rather  steep  hill,  and  the 
situation  does  not  look  a  favourable  one  for  the  growth  of  such  plants. 
The  soil  is,  however,  a  very  deep  and  good  one,  and  plants  appear  to  do 
well  in  it.  There  is  very  little  glass,  as  the  trade  cultivated  is  principally 
in  hardy  flowers,  trees,  and  shrubs,  and  hardy  treatment  from  the  first  is 
more  likely  to  give  satisfactory  results  in  the  end. 
Here  I  made  some  extensive  notes,  but  it  is  impossible  at  present  to 
make  full  use  of  them.  A  few  notes  on  some  of  the  plants  may,  however, 
be  not  unacceptable,  Among  the  comparatively  new  things  to  which  my 
attention  was  drawn  was  a  pretty  little  Polygonum  named  cilinode,  with 
small  white  flowers,  and  forming  a  low  climber  with  very  pretty  foliage 
and  slender  habit.  A  large  number  of  plants  of  the  new  Hypericum 
Moserianum  tricolor  are  also  grown,  but  Mr,  Smith  thinks  this  may  be 
tender,  a  belief  only  too  likely  to  prove  true,  A  conspicuous  and  noble¬ 
looking  plant  for  some  purposes  is  that  grown  as  Rhaponticum  pulchrum 
major,  which  is  very  suitable  for  the  wild  garden  or  the  margin  of  water. 
In  this  nursery,  where  plants  grow  so  luxuriantly  and  where  a  large 
number  ie  grown  in  a  natural  way,  there  are  many  pretty  effects,  and 
one  of  these  was  a  mass  of  the  Woolly  Thyme  (Thymus  aerpyllum 
lanuginosHs)  through  which  grew  and  flowered  the  pretty  deep  blue 
variety  of  Ajuga  genevensis,  known  as  Brockbanki. 
Of  great  value  for  planting  in  moist  places  and  by  the  banks  of  ponds 
and  streams  was  a  white  variety  of  the  common  Iris  Pseud-acorus. 
For  similar  purposes  a  splendid  variety  of  the  native  Ranunculus  lingua 
n.amed  grandiflora  is  well  adapted. 
A  nice  lot  of  the  pretty  little  Rhod  idendron  chamsecistus  attracted 
my  attention,  and  a  bed  of  seedling  single  Pinks  showed  several  exceed¬ 
ingly  pretty  flowers,  which  I  hope  Mr.  Smith  will  propagate  from. 
Genista  aetnensis,  the  Etna  Broom,  is  a  good  rockery  shrub  with  its  silky 
foliage  and  yellow  flowers.  Very  fine,  too,  was  Lobelia  Tupa  and  the 
noble  Acanthus  latifolius  and  Hedysarum  multijugum,  and  good  plants 
of  Genista  tinctoria  were  very  attractive,  Shortia  galacifolia  and  Galax 
aphylla  macrophylla  were  very  well  grown  in  quantity,  and  Xerophyllum 
asphodeloides,  which  is  sometimes  considered  rather  tender,  is  thriving 
admirably.  Parnassia  californica  and  asarifolia  were  doing  well,  and 
Arnica  montana,  a  difficult  plant  in  some  gardens,  was  in  perfect 
condition. 
I  was  pleased  to  see  one  of  the  variegated  leaved  Phloxes,  at  one 
time  very  popular,  but  now  almost  extinct.  This  was  P.  suaveolens 
variegata,  with  well  marked  colouration  of  green  and  white,  and  white 
flowers.  What  has  come  of  all  the  others  ?  Lathyrus  ochroleucus 
has  its  colour  fairly  well  described  by  the  specific  name,  although  I 
cannot  at  present  verify  it.  Very  pleasing,  too,  was  Amianthium 
Muscmtoxicum,  known  also  as  Zygadenus  and  as  Helonias  Imta.  A  very 
attractive  Trillium  was  T.  stylosum,  with  rose  and  crimson  flowers,  and 
possessing  the  great  merit  of  retaining  its  leaves  throughout  the  summer. 
I  fear  my  notes  here  were  too  extensive  to  go  into  further  detail,  but 
among  other  plants  observed  were  Oxytropis  strobilacea,  Achillea 
ageratifolia,  Asperulas  athoea  and  capitata,  Anemonopsis  macrophylla, 
Mertensia  sibirica  alba,  Plagius  grandiflorus,  Aplopappus  pulchellus, 
Pentstemon  pubescens,  and  many  others. 
Large  numbers  of  the  best  Pceonies,  both  single  and  double,  Poten- 
tillas,  and  Irises  are  also  grown ;  a  remarkable  feature  of  the  garden 
being  the  great  masses  of  Iris  cristata,  which  seems  to  do  more  than 
luxuriate  in  the  soil.  Water  plants  are  extensively  grown,  a  small 
house  fitted  up  with  tanks  being  devoted  to  the  new  Nymphaeas  and 
other  good  aquatics.  Hardy  shrubs  and  ornamental  trees  are  very 
largely  grown,  and  Roses  are  very  fine,  the  China  Roses  and  old  and  rare 
species  and  varieties  being  extensively  represented.  It  is  impossible  to 
do  justice  to  them  now,  and  I  can  only  conclude  by  expressing  my 
obligations  to  Mr.  Smith  for  his  courtesy  in  showing  me  through  the 
nursery,  and  also  for  acting  as  my  conductor  to  the  next  place  I  visited. 
