536 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  ANT)  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  3,  1896. 
There  is  ho  recognised  line  between  dessert  and  cooking  Apples;  If 
we  were  compelled  to  place  Emperor  Alexander  in  either  one  section  or 
the  other  we  should  do  the  same  with  it  as  with  Cox’s  Pomona — namely, 
place  both  in  the  cooking  list,  though  we  know  very  well  that  both  have 
been  used  for  dessert  purposes  for  years.  When  there  is  a  conflict  of 
“  authorities,”  who  simply  express  their  individual  opinions,  we  are  apt 
to  appeal  to  facts. 
Mr.  Lawton,  on  the  weight  of  his  authority,  has  no  hesitation  in 
implying  that  the  “good  Editor  ”  has  not  yet  tasted  a  fruit  of  Emperor 
Alexander  Apple.  It  is  not  difficult  to  test  the  weight  of  this  particular 
authority  in  this  particular  reference.  The  “  good  ”  Editor,  if  he  does 
not  turn  to  a  “  bad  ”  one  in  a  week,  gathered  the  first  crop  off  a  tree  of 
this  variety  just  thirty-five  years  ago  this  autumn,  and  nine  subsequent 
crops  in  consecutive  years.  He  happens  to  know,  too,  that  the  variety 
was  true  to  name,  and  also  that  the  fruits  were  regularly  used  for  dessert 
every  year  and  appreciated.  Nor  is  that  all ;  for  this  good  or  bad  man, 
as  the  case  may  be,  has  seen  fine  dishes  of  this  fine-looking  Apple  form¬ 
ing  part  of  the  dessert  at  the  Lord  Mayor’s  banquets  in  the  London 
Mansion  House ;  he  has  seen  them,  and  seen  them  eaten,  at  the  banquets 
of  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Fruiterers  ;  he  has  seen  them  in  the 
dessert  in  the  Whitehall  Rooms  of  the  Hotel  M4tropole,  also  at  the 
Crystal  Palace.  He  is  beginning  to  feel  “  bad.”  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
many  persons  prefer  a  sub-acid  Apple  to  a  sweet  one  after  a  good  dinner, 
and  some  persons  of  very  high  rank  enjoy  Apples  then  which  are  much 
more  acid  than  the  variety  in  question.  It  is  on  such  evidence  of  facts 
that  this  particular  Editor  would  not  have  disqualified  the  collection  at 
York,  but  have  pointed  the  dish  lower  than  a  dish  of  good  fruits  of  a 
richly  flavoured  variety. 
What  is  the  definition  of  “  dessert  1  ”  Let  our  friend  turn  to  a 
dictionary  and  he  will  find  something  like  this,  “  That  which  is  served 
when  the  substantial  part  of  a  meal  is  removed,  or  ^^-served,  consisting 
of  pastry,  fruits,  &c.”  It  does  not  say  sweet  fruits  or  sour  fruits.  They 
may  be  either  sweet  or  sour,  or  a  mixture  of  both,  and  if  used  at  dessert 
they  will  be  dessert  fruits.  But  perhaps  after  all  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  may  decide  that  the  York  Judges  were  right,  and  thus  over¬ 
turn  the  dictionary.  Then  will  our  friend  and  excellent  judge,  for  such 
he  is,  be  happy ;  but  he  really  must  not  declare  by  implication  that  the 
Editor  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  presumes  to  express  an  opinion 
founded  on  ignorance  or  nothing.] 
Peemit  me  to  revert  to  Mr,  J.  Riddell’s  complaint  with  respect 
to  the  disqualification  of  Emperor  Alexander  as  a  dessert  Apple  at  York. 
Here  we  have  a  complaint  which  is  the  exact  obverse  of  the  Aquarium 
case  referred  to  elsewhere.  It  is  certainly  rare  that  Emperor  Alexander  is 
placed  with  dessert  fruits,  but  that  is  probably  because  the  fruits  usually 
run  large.  Were  the  fruits  of  moderate  size  no  doubt  from  the  first  it 
would  have  been  classed  as  a  dessert  variety.  A  more  beautiful  or  soft- 
fleshed  Apple  hardly  exists . 
Apart  from  Dr.  Hogg’s  classification  of  the  variety,  I  turn  to  Messrs. 
J.  Veitch  &  Sons’  admirable  fruit  catalogue,  one  regarded  as  a  standard 
guide  by  most  gardeners,  and  find  Alexander  is  there  described  in  almost 
the  same  terms  ;  and  Mr.  George  Bunyard,  another  standard  authority, 
classes  it  as  both  kitchen  and  dessert.  To  have  disqualified  the  exhibitor, 
therefore,  for  exhibiting  the  variety  at  York  shows  that  the  Judges  com¬ 
mitted  a  mistake. — A.  D,  _ 
No  one  could  blame  Mr,  Riddell  for  drawing  attention  to  the  case  of 
a  collection  of  dessert  fruits  being  disqualified  at  York  show  for  having 
a  dish  of  Emperor  Alexander  Apple  in  it.  The  editorial  remarks 
elicited  are  clear  and  obvious,  but  judging  from  the  diversity  of  opinion 
expressed  for  and  against  this  decision  at  the  show  by  practical  men  it 
would  appear  that  there  is  ample  room  for  discussion,  and  to  have  the 
matter  thoroughly  thrashed  out.  If  we  are  to  have  classes  for  dessert 
and  culinary  Apples  inserted  in  schedules,  the  line  to  be  drawn  should 
be  more  clear  and  defined  than  it  seems  to  be  at  present.  The  same 
variety  in  both  classes  seems  an  absurdity,  and  not  very  satisfactory  for 
exhibition  purposes;  A  solution  that  could  be  adopted  by  all  on 
authoritative  grounds,  and  not  left  merely  to  trade  catalogues,  is  desirable 
to  avoid  complications. 
I  regret,  however,  to  see  the  spirit  and  tone  of  Mr.  Riddell’s  remarks, 
and  protest  strongly  against  his  denunciations  in  respect  to  what  he 
terms  the  “erratic  action  of  the  Judges”  throughout  the  fruit  classes 
— an  implication  of  their  incompetence,  and  an  allusion  to  the  responsi¬ 
bilities  and  liabilities  of  the  Society.  Mr.  Lawton  of  Welton  House,  and 
Mr.  Clayton  of  Grimston  Park,  the  J udges  in  question,  require  no  assist¬ 
ance  from  me.  They  are  well  known  as  practical  men  of  common 
sense  and  broad  views,  and  not  mere  tyros  in  the  art  of  judging.  The 
Society  has  employed  them  on  several  occasions,  and  they  always  gave 
general  satisfaction,  so  much  so  that  contrary  to  the  Committee’s  usual 
custom  of  changing  the  judges  every  year,  they  appointed  them  two 
years  in  succession. 
Having  been  on  the  Committee  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century,  I 
know  that  no  pains  or  any  reasonable  expenses  are  spared  in  order  to 
secure  the  best  men  available.  As  one  who  exhibited  in  some  of  the 
fruit  classes,  and  not  the  most  (successful,  I  am  bound  to  say  that  I  saw 
no  such  discrepancies  as  alleged,  nor  did  I  hear  severe  criticism  although 
present  for  most  of  the  three  days.  Here  and  there,  perhaps,  could  be 
detected  the  wail  of  a  disappointed  exhibitor,  unhappily  prevalent, 
more  or  less  loud,  as  at  most  flower  shows. 
It  is  right  to  say  that  the  judges  awarded  an  extra  prize  to  the 
exhibit  in  question,  as  it  was  of  exceptional  merit,  and  recommended 
that  it  should  be  of  equal  value  to  the  second  prize,  as  there  they  would 
have  placed  it  had  they  not  felt  compelled  to  disqualify  it.  This  the 
Committee  at  once  agreed  to,  as  their  whole  desire  is  that  all  exhibitors 
who  come  to  York  shall  have  justice  and  generous  treatment. — 
R.  M'Intosh,  Clifton,  Torh,  _ 
As  your  paper  has  a  big  circulation  amongst  the  exhibitors  and 
others  who  visit  fruit  shows,  I  should  like,  as  one  of  the  Judges  at 
the  York  show,  to  make  a  few  remarks  as  to  what  Mr.  Riddell  says, 
p.  623.  It  may  here  be  stated  that  in  doing  this  I  am  breaking 
a  thirty  years’  rule — viz.,  never  to  attempt  to  bolster  up  my  judgment 
when  once  given,  Show  committees  have  future  arrangements  in 
their  hands.  For  my  part,  it  is  quite  immaterial  whether  I  ever 
again  act  in  the  capacity  of  a  judge  or  not.  The  class  Mr.  Riddell 
complains  of  was  one  for  six  dishes  of  dessert  fruits.  I  learn  the 
disqualified  lot  was  his  own.  We  did  this  on  the  simple  ground  that 
Emperor  Alexander  Apple  was  not  a  dessert  fruit.  At  the  same  time  the 
remaining  five  dishes  being  good  ones,  we  drew  the  Committee’s  atten¬ 
tion  to  them  for  their  favourable  consideration.  We  did  so  on  the 
ground  that  the  exhibitor  might  have  put  in  Emperor  Alexander  Apple 
in  ignorance.  Mr.  Riddell  quotes  from  Dr.  Hogg’s  “  Fruit  Manual.”  If 
he  had  wished  to  be  fair  and  honest  he  would  also  have  quoted  as 
follows  :  “  It  is  more  adapted  for  culinary  than  dessert  use.”  I  may  add 
that  my  colleague  was  Mr.  Lawton  of  Welton  Gardens,  Brough,  East 
Yorks.  Those  who  know  us  personally  will  at  least  admit  this — that 
neither  of  us  lays  claim  to  infallibility  in  these  matters.  I  daresay, 
though,  that  our  reputations  as  fairly  competent,  honest  judges  will  out¬ 
live  even  Mr.  Riddell’s  attempt  to  disparage  them. — Henby  J,  Clayton, 
Grimston  Gardens,  Tadcaster, 
[Mr.  Clayton’s  letter  is  readily  inserted.  Our  estimate  of  him  is 
embodied  in  another  note.  The  best  of  judges  are  not,  as  he  suggests, 
infallible.  As  neither  Mr.  Riddell  nor  Mr.  Clayton  has  given  Dr.- Hogg’s 
description  and  observations  fully,  as  they  apply  to  the  present  case, 
they  may  appropriately  be  given  here  from  the  last  edition  of  the  “  Fruit 
Manual”: — “  Emperor  Alexander  .  .  .  Fruit  sometimes  very  large  ; 
flesh  yellowish  white,  tender,  crisp,  juicy  and  sugary,  with  a  pleasant 
and  slightly  aromatic  flavour.  More  adapted  for  culinary  than  dessert 
use,  but  is  also  desirable  for  the  latter  were  it  only  on  account  of  its 
noble  appearance  at  the  table.”  We  can  say,  in  Dr.  Hogg’s  absence, 
that  no  higher  authority  can  be  cited,  and  no  better  description  of  and 
truer  reference  to  the  uses  of  the  Apple  be  found  than  this.  At  the 
same  time  the  Judges  committed  no  professional  sin.  They  decided 
for  themselves  honestly  in  a  case  in  which  “authorities”  notoriously 
differ.  Mr.  RiddeU  asked  us  a  definite  question,  and  we  gave  him  a 
definite  reply  on  page  523,  and  to  that  reply  we  adhere  for  the  reasons 
elsewhere  stated.  ] 
BELLADONNA  LILY. 
In  a  rectory  garden  in  East  Norfolk  some  weeks  ago  I  saw  a  very 
beautiful  display  of  these  charming  Lilies,  which  are  far  too  rarely  met 
with  in  English  gardens. 
The  bulbs  occupied  and  seemed  to  well  fill  a  narrow  border  looking 
south-west  at  the  base  of  a  conservatory  wall.  I  was  told  they  had  been 
planted  there  some  ten  or  twelve  years  back,  and  had  been  left  in 
undisturbed  possession  of  the  border,  affording  a  little  protection  in 
winter  by  a  covering  of  leaves  over  the  surface  soil.  They  have  flowered 
more  or  less  each  season,  but  never  before  so  profusely  as  this  year.  It 
seemed  to  me  that  there  were  scores  of  strong  spikes,  each  about  2  feet 
high,  carrying  four  or  five  flowers  much  resembling  strong  spikes  of  the 
Scarborough  Lily  (Vallota  purpurea),  save  in  the  colour  of  the  flowers, 
which  in  the  Vallota  is  a  bright  crimson,  but  in  the  Amaryllis  bella¬ 
donna  the  ground  colour  is  white,  heavily  striped,  and  overlaid  with 
pink. 
In  the  same  garden,  which  by  the  way  is  most  interesting  and  well 
cared  for,  are  many  rare  hardy  herbaceous  plants  ;  also  a  fine  collection 
of  Narcissi.  I  noticed  occupying  the  most  of  a  central  bed  on  the  lawn 
a  fine  large  bush  or  tree  of  Brugmansia  arbprea,  growing  in  a  large  pot, 
which  was  plunged  in  the  soil,  so  as  to  be  hidden.  The  tree  was  in  most 
robust  health,  the  foliage  ample,  stout,  and  of  a  very  healthy  dark  green 
colour.  The  large  trumpet-shaped  pendent  flowers  were  also  very 
numerous  and  fine,  and  as  seen  by  me  during  the  third  week  in  October, 
after  nearly  two  months  of  almost  incessant  wet  stormy  weather  and 
two  frosty  nights,  which  had  destroyed  Dahlias  and  such-like  tender 
plants,  were  entirely  uninjured  and  strikingly  effective. 
The  rector,  whose  property  it  was,  told  me  that  shortly  it  would  be 
given  the  shelter  and  protection  of  a  coachhouse  for  the  winter,  as  in 
numerous  past  seasons.  In  the  spring  it  is  placed  in  the  greenhouse  to 
start  it  into  growth,  prior  to  its  ^ing  again  placed  outside  in  its  usual 
position  on  the  lawn  in  June,  where,  given  ample  supplies  of  water  with 
weak  liquid  manure  frequently,  it  grows  luxuriantly  and  flowers 
profusely,  untroubled  by  red  spider  or  other  insect  enemies. — W,  K.  W. 
The  Floea  of  Alabama. — For  all  his  advancing  years  the 
well-known  and  highly  esteemed  botanist.  Dr.  Charles  H.  Mohr  of 
Mobile,  is  as  youthfully  active  as  ever.  In  August  he  returned  from  an 
extensive  botanical  trip  through  the  south-western  extremities  of  the 
Appalachian  chain  of  mountains,  and  has  added  another  interesting 
plant  to  the  catalogue  of  the  plants  of  Alabama  in  the  form  of  a  Grape 
Vine,  Vitis  palmata,  originally  discovered  in  Missouri  by  the  lynx-eyed 
Michaux,  but  still  comparatively  unknown, — (“  Meehan’s  Monthly.”) 
