114 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  5,  1S03. 
and  elevation  they  have  placed  before  the  Fellows  have  been 
criticised.  They  desire  to  point  out  that  they  have  purposely 
restricted  expenditure  on  external  ornamentation,  in  order  to 
provide  satisfactory  internal  accommodation ;  and  that  the 
architect  has  to  comply  with  the  restrictions  and  limitationi 
necessary  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  ground  landlords,  the 
County  Council,  and  other  authorities.” 
The  cash  account  to  December  31,  1902,  in  connection  with 
the  new  hall  amounts  to  £9,191  los.,  including  £7,971  12s.  3d. 
invested,  and  £6o3  3s.  6d.  at  the  hank. 
The  Society’.s  balance  for  the  year  1902  a.s  per  revenue  and 
expenditure  account  is  £2.488  Os.  3d.,  the  total  investments 
amounting  to  £lo,030  78.  Id. 
- - 
The  London  Dahlia  Union. 
A  Jiistiflcation  of  Its  Action  in  the  Form  of  a  I  lain  Statement. 
The  justification  for  the  holding  of  a  supplemental  exhibition 
of  Dahlias  during  the  third  week  in  September  to  that  held  by 
the  National  Dahlia  Society  in  the  early  days  of  the  month,  is  to 
be  found  in  the  annual  report  of  the  National  Dahlia  Society, 
just  issued.  In  that  report  it  is  .stated,  in  allusion  to  last  year’s 
exhibition,  that  ”  the  exceptional  lateness  of  the  season  caused 
by  the  very  low  temperature  which  jDrevailed  during  the  course  of 
the  summer,”  had  such  a  prejudicial  effect  upon  the'  development 
of  the  blooms  that  some  exhibitors  Avere  unable  to  “  .secure  good 
bloonis  until  the  middle  of  September.”  It  is  then  the  London 
Dahlia  Union  steps  in  and  holds  a  very  helpful  supplementary 
exhibition,  and  so  affords  an  opportunity  for  those  exhibitors  Avho 
had  no  blooms  sufficiently  advanced  on  the  1st  of  the  month  to 
exhibit  in  good  form,  to  do  so  on  or  about  September  10.  The 
re.sult  in  1902  Avas  that  on  the  latter  date  there  was  held  at  the 
Roj'al  Aquarium  one  of  the  fine.st  and  most  attractive  displays  of 
the  floAver  ever  seen,  to  the  great  delight  of  the  Dahlia-groAving 
and  Dahlia-loving  community. 
As  statements  are  being  made  to  the  effect  that  the  London 
Dahlia  Union  is  a  riAnl  and  hostile  organisation  tO'  the  National 
Dahlia  Society,  I  haste  to  giA^e  an  emphatic  negative  to  that  asser¬ 
tion.  Those  Avho  are  found  inaking  that  statement  must  be 
utterly  unaAvare  that  an  exhibition  of  Dahlias  has  been  held  at 
the  Royal  Aquarium  for  years  past,  and  Avas  ncA'er  considered  to 
be  in  any  Avay  ho.stile  to  the  N  D.S.  More  than  that,  the  presi¬ 
dent  and  hon.  secretary  of  the  N.D.S.  are  subscribers  to  the 
London  Dahlia  Union’s  supplemental  exhibitions ;  they  also 
exhibit  and  assist  in  judging,  and  a  A"ei"j"  large  majority  of  the 
member, s  of  the  committee  of  the  N.D.S.  are  also  Avarm  supporters 
of  the  Union. 
The  London  Dahlia  Union  actually  commenced  Avith  the 
N.D.S.  The  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  having  in  1898 
abandoned  the  exhibition  of  Dahlias  hitherto  held  at  the:  Royal 
Aexuarium,  a  .sugge'.stiou  Avas  made  at  a  meeting  of  the  N.D.S. 
that  as  many  of  the  neAver  Cactus  Dahlias  were  not  in  their  best 
condition  until  the  third  Aveek  in  September  a.  meeting  should 
be  arranged  by  the  committee  at  Avhich  such  .should  be  exhibited. 
The  Royal  Aquarium  Avas  named  as  a  suitable  place,  negotiations 
for  the  same  led  to  a  favourable  result,  and  I  AAas  asked  to  carry 
out  the  exhibition.  I  cannot  do  better  than  ciuotei  from  the 
annual  report  of  the  N.D.S.  for  1899; — “The  committee  made 
arrangements  to  hold  a  meeting  at  the  Royal  Aquarium,  West¬ 
minster,  on  September  19  and  20,  for  the  purpose  of  affording  an 
additional  opportunity  for  the  exliibition  of  seedling  Dahlia.s,  and 
for  the  aAvarding  of  the  society’s  First  Class  Certificate  to  such 
of  the  ncAv  varieties  exhibited  as  the  committee  considered 
Avorthy. 
“  In  order  to  giA’e  additional  interest  to  this  meeting,  it  was 
thought  desirable  to  offer  prizes  in  a  feAV  competiti\"e  classes,  and 
£26  Avas  promised  toAvards  a  special  prize  fund  for  this  purpose. 
“The  primary  object  of  this,  the  first  late  exhibition  of  the 
society,  AAas  so  Avell  attained,  that  more  than  seventy  seedlings 
Avere  brought  before  the  committee,  and  certificates  aAvarded  to 
ten  of  them.  The  competition  in  the  various  classe'S  Avas  very 
good,  in  a  fcAv  seAmre,  and  such  a  large  number  of  mi.scellaneous 
collections  Avas  got  together  that  the  Avhole  formed  a.  large  show, 
the  success  of  Avhich  Avas  the  subject  of  universal  comment.  The 
committee  desires  to  thank  Mr.  R.  Dean  for  the  invaluable  ser¬ 
vices  rendered  by  him  in  connection  Avith  this  shoAv.”  One  grati¬ 
fying  result  of  this  supplemental  meeting  Avas  that  I  Avas  able  to 
hand  over  to  the  N.D.S.  a  balance  of  a  feAv  pounds. 
Alas!  following  close  upon  this  gathering  came  the  death  of 
Mr.  T.  AV.  Girdlestone,  the  president  of  the  society — an  irrepar¬ 
able  loss,  indeed!  At  the  folloAving  annual  meeting  the  proposal 
to  continue  this  supplemental  meeting  at  the  Aquarium  was 
rejected;  then  it  Avas  that  the  ncAv  president,  Mr.  E.  MaAvley, 
and  several  of  the  most  influential  members  of  the  committee 
approached  me,  and  .said  that  if  I  Avould  be  prepared  to  carry  out 
a  supplemental  show  on  the  same  lines  as  the  first  at  the  Royal 
Aquarium,  they  would  continue  their  donations  to  a  prize  fund. 
This  I  consenteel  to  do.  and  from  that  time  a  second  exhibition 
has  been  held  at  the  Royal  Aquarium  during  the  third  week  in 
September,  growing  in  extent  and  importance  each  succeeding 
year.  I  Avish  to  emphasise  the  undeniable  fact  that  the  com¬ 
mittee  of  the  N.D.S.  had  the  option  of  continiAing  the  supple¬ 
mental  shoAv,  but  declined  to  do  so.  Then  it  Avas  that  indepen¬ 
dent  action  became  necessary  in  order  to  maintain  it. 
I  have  ahvays  firmly  opposed  any  attempt  to  form  a  society 
distinct  from  the  N.D.S.  I  Avould  liaA’e  no-  committee,  or  rules, 
or  members’  .subscriptions.  There  Avere  donations  to  a  prize 
fund.  The  Avhole  of  the  prize  money  awarded  Avas  paid,  with  the 
addition  of  extra  prizes,  and  I  ahvays  had  a  sufficient  margin  of 
receipts  CA'er  expenditure  to  enable  me  to  entertain  some  tAventy- 
five  or  thirty  of  the  leading  supporters  and  exhibitors  at  luncheon 
— a  social  gathering  of  so  pleasant  a  nature  that  it  has  proved  a 
poAverful  factor  in  ensuring  success  for  the  supplemental  exhi¬ 
bitions. 
With  great  reluctance  I  Avas  led  to  adopt  the  title  of  London 
Dahlia  Union.  It  Avas  forced  upon  me  by  the  action  of  the 
Editor  of  “  The  Gardeners’  Magazine,”  Avho  refused  to  recognise 
the  Uertificates  of  Merit  awarded  to  iieAv  A^arieties  of  Dahlias  at 
the  Aquarium  on  the  ground  that  there  was  no  organisation  to 
give  them  authority  ;  and  yet  they  were  aAvarded  by  the  very 
men  Avho  make  .simiiar  aAvards  to  neAV  varieties  in  the  name  of  the 
N.D.S.!  .  .  .■ 
This  is  a  simple  record  of  facts,  and  I  trust  their  publication 
may  tend  to  remoA'e  the  impression  that  any  rivalry  exists 
betAveen  the  L.D.U.  and  the  N.D.S.  Unfortunately,  one  or  tAAm 
imprudent  members  of  the  committee  of  the  N.D.S.  dO'  their 
best  to  make  it  appear  such  opposition  exists.  On  the  part  of  the 
London  Dahlia  Union  it  is  fraternal  and  cheerful  helpfulness. — 
Rich.aed  Deax.  A'.M.H. 
- - 
Packing  Grapes, 
The  packing  of  Grapes  to  be  .sent  long  distances  by  rail  and 
other  conveyances  requires  to  be  carefully  managed.  There  are 
many  Avays  of  packing  them.  I  have  seen  each  bunch  laid 
on  a  thick  stiff  sheet  of  paper,  and  folded  up  sufficiently  tight 
to  preA'cnt  tlie  bunch  from  moAung  about  in  the  paper.  They 
are  then  packed  closely  in  boxes  sufficiently  deep  to  admit  s, 
layer  of  paper  shavings  under  and  over  them,  so  that  Avhen  the 
lid  of  the  box  is  fastened  doAvn  each  parcel  Avas  held  securely 
in  its  place.  The  .stiffness  of  the  paper  is  supposed  to  come  in 
contact  Avith  the  bunch  at  feAver  points  than  Avhen  Avrapped  up 
in  more  flexible  jraper,  and  on  that  account  to  better  preserve  the 
bloom.  There  is,  hoAveAmr,  at  the  same  time  room  left  for  the 
oscillation  of  those  berries  not  in  immediate  contact  Avith  the 
paper,  and  this  is  objectionable.  In  sending  Grapes  to  a  distance 
I  have  never  adopted  this  mode  of  packing,  but  haA^e  either 
Avrapped  each  bunch  in  a  sheet  of  fine  tissue  paper,  and  packed 
them  on  a  firm  bed*of  paiAer  shavings  as  close  as  they  AAould 
lie,  Avith  just  sufficient  Avadding  betAveen  each  to  fill  up  tho 
irregularities  of  the  outline  of  the  bunches.  W'hen  the  box  is 
thus  filled  a  sheet  of  Avadding  is  spread  regularly  over  the  bunches, 
and  over  all  a  layer  of  paper  shavings,  so  that  AAhen  the  lid  is 
shut  doAvn  they  are  subject  to  as  much  pressure  as  prevents  their 
moving.  At  other  times,  Avhen  only  sending  a  feAv  bunches  in 
one  compartment  of  a  box,  I  liaA^e  .spread  a  sheet  of  paper  over 
the  shavings  in  the  bottom  of  the  box,  and  laid  all  the  bunches 
as  nicely  fitted  into  each  other  as  pos.sible  on  it,  then  put  another 
.sheet  of  tissue  paper  oA'er  them,  then  some  cotton  Avadding, 
finishing  off  Avith  a  layer  of  paper  .shaA-ings.  In  this  Avay  Lhave 
alAA'ays  found  them  go  quite  safely.  When  a  quantity  has  to 
be  sent  in  one  box  it  .should  be  divided  into  compartments,  so 
that  Avhen  the  box  happens  to  be  set  doAvn  standing  on  end  or 
side,  the  Grapes  at  the  lower  part  of  it  cannot  possibly  be  subject 
to  much  pressure  from  the  top  end  of  the  box.  I  do  not  knoAv 
of  any  Avay  of  sending  tliem  to  preserve  their  bloom,  for  unless 
some  person  is  sent  Avith  the  box  there  must  be  packing  materia! 
on  the  upper  .side  of  the  Grapes. 
Those  Avho  groAv  Grapes  extensively  for  the  fruit  market,  and 
haA'e  to  send  them  in  large  quantities  by  rail,  pack  differently 
from  many  of  the  methods  described  aboA'e.  Indeed,  they  xise 
next  to  no  packing  materia'l  Avhatever.  They  place  a  feAv  flexible 
paper  shavings  in  the  bottom  of  a  nearly  oval-shaped  Avicker 
basket  Avith  sloping  sides.  The  Grapes  are  cut  and  laid  in  layers 
round  the  .sloping  side  of  the  basket,  and  layer  after  layer  of 
Grai^es  are  laid  on  AA’ithout  any  packing  material  until  the  ba.sket 
is  finished  Avith  a  bunch  in  the  centre.  In  this  way  they  are 
packed  firmly  to  prevent  oscillation,  and  it  is  astonishing  Iioaa^ 
little  the  bloom  is  tarnished.  The  baskets  arc  then  put  into' 
Avoqden  boxes,  generally  tAvo  storeys  deep,  and  sent  by  passenger 
train.  The  fruiterer  or  salesman  meets  them  at  the  terminus. 
Tons  of  Grapes  are  thus  sent  hundreds  of  miles  to  market  Avith 
the  greatest  safety.  The  only  danger  of  damage  is  from  the 
upsetting  of  the  boxes  or  any  .severe  concussion. — D.  T. 
