526 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  29,  1899. 
b  enorics  or  ligeneiic  hybrids.  Thus  there  are  a  thousand  times 
m  )re  cross-breds  than  hybrids  or  bigeners,  or  both.  5Ye  insert  a 
le  ter  on  the  subject  of  whit  is  “  new  in  the  sense  required  for 
iviaiiog  the  Veitchian  medal's. 
What  is  a  New  Fruit  or  Vegetable? 
I  ask  this  que.stioti  because  of  the  list  of  Veitch  Memorial  medals 
<  ffered  for  distribution  at  the  Hybridisation  Conference  just  published, 
ami  which  should  be  eagerly  sought  for  by  hybridists  and  cross- 
bi-eeders.  But  it  will  doubtless  occur  to  others  beside  myself,  that 
it  such  awards  to  h}  biidisation  could  have  been  made  public  a  year 
or  two  since,  a  great  incentive  would  have  been  given  to  labour  in  the 
field  of  cross-breeding.  There  was,  however,  nothing  to  call  forth  the 
encouraging  offer  till  now.  Now,  in  asking  what  in  the  case  of  four  of 
these  medals  constitutes  a  new  fruit  or  vegetable,  I  feel  difficulty  in 
understanding.  Whether  it  is  enough  that  two  Apples  or  Pears,  or 
•other  fruits,  or  of  Peas,  Potatoes,  Onions,  or  other  vegetables  may  be 
intercrossed,  to  call  or  bring  such  operation  within  the  meaning  of  the 
term  cross-breeding.  Of  course,  I  do  not  assume  that  such  is  the 
case;  but  the  question  is,  what  do  the  donors  of  the  medals  assume  ? 
But  if  it  is  intended  to  invite  the  products  of  such  crosses  as  Grapes 
and  Currants,  Apples  and  Pears,  Peaches  and  Plums,  Cherries  and 
Crabs,  and  so  on  ;  or  of  Peas  and  Beans,  Potatoes  and  Artichokes, 
Kidney  Beans  and  Broad  Beans,  and  so  on,  then  is  the  definition  of 
new  as  applied  to  either  products  severely  restricted.  The  Rubus 
family  in  fruits  have  given  us  the  most  recent  of  hybrid  productions, 
if  really  such ;  but  not  one  is  worth  a  medal.  Of  vegetables,  none  of 
really  hybrid  breed  has  been  heard  of.  The  nearest  approach  to  such 
is  probably  Mr.  W.  Smythe’s  cross-bred  Dwarf  Beans,  from  the  Dwarf 
Kidney  and  climbing  Scarlet  Runner  sections.  But  one  wonders 
'whether  snrfi  nrortiicts  can  be  classed  as  “  new.”  It  would  seem 
ns  if  tne  uonors  of  the  medals  wanted  new  ldnd&  as  the  product  of 
hybridisation,  and  not  mere  new  varieties  as  the  product  of  inter¬ 
crossing  varieties. — A.  D. 
We  think  that  plants  resulting  from  the  crossing  of  “varieties’’ 
•with  the  studied  intention  of  raising  others  distinct  from  and  improve¬ 
ments  on,  both  pollen-yielding  and  seed-producing  parents  are 
eligible,  though  not  chance  seedlings  from  unknown  parentage  ;  but 
we  are  open  to  correction.  A  plant  raised  by  intercrossing  a  variety 
of  the  Dwarf  or  French  Bean  (Phaseolus  vulgaris),  an  annual  a  foot 
high  with  white  flowers — with  a  variety  of  the  Scarlet  Runner 
<^P.  multiflorus),  a  perennial  of  tall  twining  growth  with  scarlet 
flowers,  would  presumably  be  a  hybrid ;  but  the  result  of  a  cross 
between  either  of  these  and  a  Broad  Bean  (Vicia  Faba)  would  be  a 
bigener. 
Reverting  to  the  pirizes  :  if  cross-breds  or  strictly  new  “  varieties,” 
are,  as  we  apprehend,  eligible,  there  ought  to  be  a  great  display  com¬ 
posed  of  such  flowers  as  Begonias,  Pelargoniums,  Carnations, 
Pyrethrums,  Delphiniums,  Sweet  Peas,  Orchids,  and  others  in  season  ; 
also  Peas,  Beans,  Cucumbers,  early  Potatoes,  and  Tomatoes,  though 
the  date  may  be  too  late  for  many  Strawberries  and  too  early  for  most 
other  hardy  fruits,  yet  Melons,  Grapes,  and  some  other  kinds  grown 
under  glass  may  be  forthcoming.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  only  true 
hybrids  are  to  be  regarded  as  “newq”  there  must  be  a  great  limi¬ 
tation  of  exhibits  that  can  be  open  to  receive  the  medals  in  question. 
The  Williams’  Memorial  medal  ought  to  bring  forth  interesting  and 
diversified  collections  of  “  hybrid  and  cross-bred  plants,”  as  newness  is 
not  a  stipulated  condition.^ 
Under  any  circumstance  the  coming  Conference  will  give  a  great 
stimulus  to  further  effort  in  systematic  endeavour  to  raise  new  and 
improved  products  of  various  kinds  in  the  domain  of  gardening,  and 
Triennial  Conferences  (quinquennials  may  be  too  slow  in  these 
go-ahead  days)  might  be  expected  to  bring  together  surprising  results, 
•also  helpful  and  interested  visitors  from  various  parts  of  the  kingdom 
and  other  lands. 
Chiswick  will  be  highly  worthy  of  a  visit  on  the  11th  of  next 
month  by  all  who  are  interested  in  the  important  subjects  to  be 
discussed  there,  and  continued  in  the  Town  Hall,  Westminster,  on  the 
following  day,  while  the  banquet  in  the  evening,  there  can  be  no 
doubt,  will  be  a  brilliant  success. 
Examinations  in  Horticulture. 
We  have  received  the  list  of  successful  candidates,  together  with 
the  merit  marks  accorded  them  by  Rev.  Prof.  Henslow  and  Mr. 
James  Douglas,  the  Examiners  appointed  by  the  R.H.S.  With  the 
half-yearly  index  of  necessity  taking  up  much  space  we  regret  the 
impossibility  of  publishing  the  list,  and  especially  as  we  have  been 
requested  to  insert  the  questions  propounded,  and  which  will  possess 
■wider  interest,  as  well  as  stimulate  the  faculties,  especially  of  young 
gardeners,  in  the  direction  of  answering  them  for  themselves,  by  vay 
of  practice  for  an  orthodox  attempt  another  year.  They  must  choose 
four  of  the  questions  in  each  section,  striking  the  others  out,  and 
write  answers  to  the  eight  questions  in  two  and  a  half  hours,  without 
consulting  a  book  or  notes  of  any  kind.  This  would  be  good  practice. 
Those  who  have  not  hitherto  been  candidates  may,  if  they  wish,  send 
their  papers  to  the  Editor,  who  will  inform  them  of  their  chances  of 
success  in  a  serious  attempt  in  the  future.  This  was  done  in  the 
case  of  some  of  those  who  passed  in  the  recent  “  exam,”  and  who  sent 
stamped  directed  envelopes  for  return.  The  questions  are  as 
follow : — 
Division  A. — Elementary  Principles. 
1,  Compare  the  structure  of  a  Bean  with  that  of  an  Onion  seed.  How- 
do  they  ditier  in  germination  1  Describe  the  peculiar  movements  which 
germinating  seeds  exhibit. 
2,  What  differences  exist  between  the  manner  and  places  where 
rootlets  arise  from  roots,  and  branches  from  stems  1  Of  what  use  are 
branches,  and  what  trees  have  none  ? 
3,  What  hinders  the  proper  functions  of  leaves,  and  what  should  a 
cultivator  attend  to,  in  order  to  enable  them  to  exercise  their  complete 
action  ? 
4,  Give  any  instances  of  failures,  and  state  your  opinion  as  to  their 
causes,  in  crossing  distinct  species.  What  are  the  general  characteristics 
of  hybrids. 
5,  What  is  meant  by  “fixing”  a  new  race,  and  how  is  it  to  be  effected, 
if  possible  ? 
6,  Describe  the  flower  of  the  Pea,  of  a  Primrose,  of  a  Salvia,  and  of 
any  Orchid  ;  and  explain  how  they  are  adapted  to  insect  pollination. 
7,  What  are  the  injurious  effects  of  (i)  too  much  water  ;  of  (ii)  too 
great  a  heat ;  and  of  (iii)  excessive  drought  upon  plants  ? 
8,  To  what  natural  orders  do  the  following  plants  belong,  and  why — 
Ciematis,  Malope,  Geum,  Gunnera,  Fuchsia,  Scabiosa,  Cobcea,  Ama- 
ranthus,  Ixia,  and  Ruscus. 
Division  B. — Horticultural  Practice. 
9,  What  is  generally  understood  in  this  country  bj'  an  “  American 
Garden  ?  ”  Give  the  names  of  the  most  suitable  plants  for  it,  and  the  best 
kind  of  soil. 
10,  What  is  meant  by  a  “sub-tropical  garden?”  Describe  the  best 
position  for  such  a  garden  ;  also  the  most  suitable  plants,  and  how  to 
cultivate  them. 
11,  What  is  the  right  width  for  garden  paths  and  carriage  drives? 
Describe  their  formation,  and  the  best  materials  to  use. 
12,  Is  it  possible  to  obtain  a  supply  of  Roses  all  the  year  round  from 
an  English  garden  ?  Describe  their  propagation  and  culture  under  glass 
and  in  the  open  ground. 
13,  What  are  the  most  useful  fruit  trees*  to  grow  under  glass  ? 
Describe  the  best  form  of  glass  structure  for  the  purpose,  and  the  method 
of  culture. 
14,  How  would  you  proceed  to  obtain  a  succession  of  Garden  Peas 
and  Dwarf  Kidney  Beans  ?  Can  they  be  obtained  all  the  year  round  ? 
If  so,  how  ? 
15,  IVhat  plants  are  generally  grown  for  salads  in  British  gardens? 
How  may  a  supply  be  obtained  all  the  year  round  ? 
16,  What  is  the  best  aspect  for  a  flower  garden  ?  How  would  you 
proceed  to  lay  it  out  and  stock  it  ? 
For  answering  their  own  choice  of  eight  of  those  questions 
we  find  that  eighty  candidates  obtained  200  marks  and  upwards, 
Mr.  Harrington  H.  Eaton  of  the  County  Technical  School,  Stafford, 
leading  with  285.  Fifty  candidates  received  between  150  and  200  marks, 
bringing  them  into  the  second  class.  Thirty  students  who  obtained 
over  100  marks  were  placed  in  the  third  class.  It  is  apparent  that 
such  questions  are  only  intended  for  professional  gardeners  and 
intelligent,  well  educated,  and  persevering  amateurs.  To  attempt 
to  cram  the  minds  of  ordinary  uneducated  workers  with  the  requisite 
knowledge  for  answering  questions  of  the  above  nature  would  be 
time  and  energy  wasted.  We  were  preparing  a  further  digest  of 
results  when  the  following  communication  was  received. 
Comments  on  the  R.H.S.  “Exam.” 
I  have  been  favoured  with  a  copy  of  the  questions  set  at,  and  the 
results  of,  the  recent  R.H.S.  examination  of  candidates  for  honours  in 
horticulture.  It  is  interesting  to  note  at  the  outset  that  there  is  a 
material  falling  off  in  the  number  of  candidates,  as  only  165  were 
presented,  as  against  190  last  year.  That  is  indeed  a  considerable 
decrease,  and  may  be  said  to  indicate  grave  doubts  on  the  part  of  those 
*  The  word  is  intended  to  exclude  Vines, 
