592 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  23,  1897. 
with  both  the  practical  and  scientific  part  of  gardening.  If  these  are 
carefully  read,  and  their  teachings  acted  upon  by  all  who  read  them, 
the  sum  total  of  improved  results  must  be  incalculable.  We  have 
in  addition,  however,  a  splendid  reserve  of  literature  to  draw  upon,  as 
numerous  works  dealing  with  every  phase  of  gardening — as  well  as 
the  sciences  which  bear  upon  it — can  be  obtained  at  a  marvellously 
cheap  rate.  Towns,  both  large  and  small,  and  even  villages,  have 
their  institutes,  in  which  popular  lectures  are  given  during  the 
winter  evenings  by  scientists  of  varying  degrees  of  eminence,  who  are 
each  striving,  in  their  owm  sphere,  to  help  forward  the  grand  progress 
of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race.  Although  we  may  have  allowed  continental 
nations  to  obtain  a  good  start  in  the  matter  of  technical  education, 
there  are  signs  on  every  hand  which  show  the  “  British  Lion  ”  is  at 
last  aroused,  and  is  working  in  earnest.  A  knowdedge  that  such  is 
the  case — that  we  are  on  |the  right  road — ought  to  enable  us  all  to 
enter  with  zest  into  the  “  joys  of  Cliristmastide.” 
Young  men  who  are  on  the  threshold  of  a  life  which  may  become 
prosperous  or  otherwise,  in  proportion  as  they  utilise  or  neglect  their 
opportunities,  should  sometimes  ask  themselves  the  significant  question. 
Are  we  doing  our  very  best  under  present  circumstances  ?  It  is 
necessary  for  us  all  to  sometimes  bestir  ourselves  to  renewed  action, 
for  at  times  there  comes  to  all  human  beings  a  great  inclination  to 
“  take  things  easy,”  though  fortunately  this  is  combated  in  the 
average  Briton 'by  a  spirit  of  restless  energy.  Gardeners  as  a  body 
can,  I  think,  lay  claim  to  possessing  this  latter  element  in  a  large 
degree,  and  the  amount  of  work  the  “  smart  young  men  ’’  will 
accomplish  in  a  single  day  during  the  busiest  seasons  is  sometimes 
quite  as  marvellous  in  its  way  as  some  of  the  much-vaunted  athletic 
feats.  I  doubt  not  that  many  young  gardeners  who  read  these  lines 
will  remember  instances  of  rivalry  in  which  the  “bothyites”  have 
each  been  doing  their  utmost  to  surpass  the  others  in  the  accomplish¬ 
ment  of  some  great  task,  and  when  this  spirit  of  rivalry  is  conducted 
in  the  right  way  it  expedites  the  progress  of  work  and  makes  it  a 
real  pleasure. 
Gardeners,  both  old  and  young — especially  the  young — will, 
however,  at  this  festive  season  be  looking  forward  to  pleasures  of 
other  kinds,  those  which  sjDring  from  the  meetings  of  friends  and 
relatives  as  they  meet  in  the  social  circle.  Holidays  cannot  be 
showered  very  plentifully  among  the  workers  in  gardens,  because 
of  the  nature  of  their  w’ork ;  but  Christmas  is  perhaps  one  season, 
when  by  combined  effort  and  management  some  may  receive  short 
holidays  to  visit  the  homes  and  join  in  the  general  reunion,  which  is 
looked  forward  to  with  so  much  zest  by  friends  and  relatives  who 
throughout  the  year  are  scattered  abroad  in  the  land.  In  many 
places,  again,  Christmas  is  one  of  the  busiest  seasons  of  the  year,  as 
house  parties,  with  their  attendant  gaieties,  are  the  order  of  the  day. 
There  is  little  chance  in  such  for  the  young  gardeners  to  pack  up 
their  traps  and  “  hie  ”  for  home ;  they  must  instead  be  content  to 
work  both  early  and  late  in  attending  to  the  duties  connected  with 
large  establishments,  so  as  to  have  the  houses  and  gardens  in  good 
condition  for  the  visitors  to  admire,  and  in  carrying  out  the  necessary 
plant  and  floral  decorations. 
Notwithstanding  these  drawbacks,  young  gardeners  have  a  very 
happy  knack  of  catching  as  much  enjoyment  as  circumstances 
permit;  they  can  adapt  themselves  to  varying  conditions.  I  retain 
a  vivid  recollection  of  many  joyous  Christmas  days  spent  far  from 
home,  when  the  “  bothyites  ”  w^ere  not  allowed  to  wear  out  the  time 
in  lonely  solitude,  but,  according  to  a  good  old  custom,  invited  to 
spend  their  evening  at  the  “  Castle.”  The  unfortunate  one  “  on  duty  ” 
in  such  cases  often  received  a  visit  from  one  or  other  of  his  comrades 
during  the  course  of  the  evening,  to  prevent  him  from  feeling 
unbearably  lonely  ;  but  the  turn  of  duty  on  Christmas  Day  Avas 
usually  borne  with  philosophical  fortitude,  and  I  actually  knew  one 
who  quite  gloried  in  having  the  place  “all  to  himself”  for  once. 
To  gardeners  old  and  young,  at  home  or  abroad,  let  the  cheery 
words  be  recorded  in  the  Journal  once  more — 
A  Happy  Christmas. 
— Onward. 
SHOWING  AND  JUDGING  GRAPES. 
Perhaps  I  may  be  alloAved  to  contribute  a  short  letter  on  the 
subject  of  fruit  showing  and  judging,  particularly  Grapes.  Of  all 
garden  produce  I  think  these  at  autumn  shows  are  the  most  unsatis 
factory  fruits  to  deal  with  according  to  present  schedule  arrangements, 
both  for  exhibitors  and  judges.  Take,  for  instance,  the  usual 
wording  of  the  smaller  classes — “  Four  bunches  of  Grapes,  two  white 
and  two  black  allowed  ” — what  is  there  here  in  this  assertion  to  guide 
the  exhibitor  ?  He  does  not  know  whether  to  enter  for  flavour  or 
appearance.  Neither  can  the  judges  obtain  any  assistance  from  the 
words  above  cited  to  guide  them  in  their  action,  and  very  often 
their  decisions  are  unsatisfactory  to  the  public  and  to  ibenrselves.  If 
handsome  bunches,  irrespective  of  flavour,  are  awarded  first  honours, 
uncomplimentary  words  have  to  be  heard  by  the  judges  from  some 
Grape  connoisseur  who  may  be  criticising  their  awards. 
If  perchance  the  awards  are  given  in  favour  of  flaAmur,  Avhat  an 
outcry  is  sometimes  heard  from  the  public,  and  general  disatisfaction 
seems  to  permeate  the  whole  place.  Very  few  judges  dare  ignore 
size  and  appearance  in  a  bunch  of  Grapes.  I  think  all  this  perplexity 
and  discontent  might  be  avoided  if  schedule  makers  Avould  be  more 
explicit  in  the  Avording  of  the  classes. 
For  example  and  argument’s  sake  we  Avill  say  a  class  reads  thus: — 
“  A  collection  of  ripe  dessert  fruit,  eight  distinct  kinds,  two  varieties  of 
Grapes  allowed,  three  black  and  three  white.”  This  is  explicit  as  far 
as  it  goes,  but  Avould  it  not  be  infinitely  more  satisfactory  and  more  to 
the  point  if  some  qualifying  sentence  Avere  added  ?  something  like  the 
following : — “  The  judges,  in  making  their  aAvards,  are  to  be  guided  by 
the  most  perfect  examples  of  well  finished  fruits.”  By  some  such 
Avording  the  exhibitor  would  know  he  must  produce  his  best  looking 
bunches  of  Grapes  and  the  finest  of  his  other  kinds,  irrespective  of 
flavour,  and  the  judges  would  know  they  had  to  give  their  decisions 
from  appearances  only.  And  might  not  all  collections  of  fruit  be 
similarly  dealt  Avith  ? 
We  will  now  take  another  class  exclusively  for  Grapes.  It  reads 
thus : — “  Six  bunches  of  Grapes,  tAAm  bunches  each  of  three  varieties. 
To  be  judged  by  flavour,  combined  with  perfect  examples  of  their 
respjective  varieties.”  By  “  perfect  ”  examples  I  mean  that  the  bunches 
should  be  of  average,  or  rather  above  average,  size,  also  of  good  shape, 
well  set  with  full  sized  evenly  thinned  berries,  good  colour,  and  a  dense 
bloom,  according  to  the  A^ariety.  By  some  such  Avording  as  the  above 
it  would  be  shown  that  flavour  must  have  the  first  consideration. 
Similar  wording  could  be  applied  to  a  four-bunch  and  a  two  bunch 
class. 
No  Grapes  equal  the  Frontignans  in  flavour,  and  one  of  my  reasons 
for  advocating  flavour  classes  is  to  give  those  varieaes  a  chance  in 
competition,  as  this  might  perhaps  be  the  means  of  bringing  them  into 
prominence,  so  that  they  might  again  find  their  rightful  place  on  the 
tables  of  the  wealthy.  I  am  fully  persuaded  there  are  many  OAvners 
of  gardens  who  are  wholly  unacquainted  Avith  those  varieties,  and  it  is 
to  be  regretted  that  those  gardeners  who  are  allowed  to  select  the 
varieties  of  fruit  for  their  employers’  tables  do  not  introduce  a  few  of 
those  high-class  Grapes  where  suitable  stractures  exist  for  their 
groAvth.  I  know  that  some  of  the  best  flavoured  Grapes  are  not  easy 
to  produce  in  high-class  condition,  but  I  believe  the  difficulties  are  not 
insurmountable,  as  witness  Madresfield  Court. 
I  have  not  one  word  to  say  against  those  noble  looking  Grapes  we 
are  so  familiar  with  at  autumn  shows ;  they  are  indispensable  for  late 
supplies,  and  after  the  turn  of  the  year  their  flavour  becomes  quite 
first-class,  also  their  good  keeping  qualities  so  ])rolong  the  supply  that 
very  early  forcing  is  not  now  so  necessary  as  formerlj’':  but  my  con¬ 
tention  is  that  “  flavour”  should  be  the  first  consideration  in  dess'^rt 
fruits,  and  for  autumn  supplies  highly  flavoured  Grapes  should  be 
more  extensively  g’rown.  1  would  like  to  hear  Avhat  others  have  to 
say  on  this  subject. — J.  Easter,  Nosiell  Gardens. 
[We  have  seen  many  classes  in  which  Grapes  AA’ere  judged  by 
“flavour”  alone, “culture”  not  being  mentioned  as  a  point  of  merit. 
Generally  the  prizewinning  exhibits  have  been  so  poor  in  appearance 
as  to  impress  those  visitors  who  might  be  unacquainted  with  the 
varieties  with  the  idea  that  such  miserable  looking  Grapes  had  better 
be  left  severely  alone.  Mr.  Easter  is  aAvare  of  this,  and  wishes  to 
provide  against  it.  His  suggested  class  might  perhaps  read  better  in 
some  such  form  as  this  : — “  To  be  judged  by  flavour  combined  with 
distinct  cultural  merit  of  the  respective  varieties.”  There  are  no 
degrees  in  perfection.  It  Avi  11  be  advantageous  to  hear  “  what  others 
say”  on  the  whole  question.] 
