December  13,  190(? 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
539 
New  Grapes. 
In  relation  to  “  A.  D.’s”  note,  page  513,  I  wish  to  express  my  regret 
that  Messrs.  D.  &  W.  Bacbanan  were  unable  to  avail  themselves  of 
Mr.  Crump’s  kindness  in  sending  bunches  of  the  true  Black  Morocco 
Orape  to  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  meeting  on  the  4th  for 
comparison  with  Diamond  Jubilee.  However,  let  us  hope  arrangements 
will  be  made  next  year  to  have  it  thoroughly  settled.  “  A.  D.,”  who 
I  believe  is  a  member  of  the  Frtiit  Committee,  will  then  acknowledge  a 
mistake  was  made — in  fact,  report  says  some  of  the  members  have 
already  said  so  verbally.  “  A.  D.”  says  Black  Morocco  was  exhibited 
from  a  Bedfordshire  garden  as  a  new  Grape.  It  was  well  set,  in 
broad  clusters  rather  than  tapering.  Were  not  the  Diamond  Jubilee 
bunches  exhibited  models,  the  equals  of  which  are  rarely  if  ever  seen  in 
Black  Morocco  ?  If  the  Bedfordshire  grower  thought  he  had  a  new 
Grape  this  does  not  constitute  Messrs.  U.  &  W.  Buchanan’s  an  old  variety, 
and  if  it  is  right  for  the  Fruit  Committee  to  give  Pear  Doyenne  du  Comice 
a  F.C.C.,  whv  not  old  Grapes  when  exhibited  in  fine  form  ?  As  to  the 
R.H.8.  Fruit  Committee  not  existing  for  the  trade  pecuniarily,  I  should 
like  to  ask  “A.  D.”  where  the  R.H.S.  would  be  if  the  trade  withdrew 
their  support. — J.  Hamilton,  Manderston,  Duns. 
- - 
Mr.  Pljilip  Crowley. 
It  was  a  graceful  act  on  the  part  of  the  Fruit  Committee  of  the 
R.H.S.  to  pass  with  unanimity  the  resolution  cited  on  page  517,  last 
week,  so  admirably  introduced  by  Messrs.  A.  Dean  and  H.  Balderson. 
Had  an  opportunity  been  afforded  it  is  almost  certain  that  at  least  one 
of  the  reasons  why  Mr.  Crowley  was  so  much  admired  by  his  colleagues 
would  have  been  stated.  It  was  that  he  so  thoroughly  understood,  and 
acted  in  accordance  with,  the  duties  of  a  chairman. 
Trusting  in  the  judgment  of  his  friends  around  him,  Mr.  Crowley 
never  attempted  to  lead  them  by  the  expression  of  his  opinion  on  any 
objects  or  matters  which  it  was  his  duty  to  place  before  the  meeting. 
Be  took  no  active  part  in  the  discussions,  and  was  most  judicious  in 
his  hints  of  guidance  for  the  effective  transaction  of  business.  Rarely, 
indeed,  did  the  late  chairman  express  any  opinion,  except  when  directly 
appealed  to,  on  the  merits  of  any  objects  that  were  placed  on  the 
table,  but  he  listened  attentively,  gave  a  suggestive  hint  occasionally, 
and  registered  the  decisions  without  any  indication  as  to  whether  they 
were  in  accordance  with  his  own  views  or  not. 
Hopes  have  been  freely  expressed  that  when  a  chairman  is  authori¬ 
tatively  installed  he  will  not  be  chosen  from  the  more  actively 
critical  members  of  the  committee.  If  this  should  be  so  the  person  thus 
elected  would  be  thereby  practically  muzzled,  for  no  chairman  can 
with  any  seemliness  take  a  leading  part  in  the  discussions,  and  thrust 
his  opinions  on  the  colleagues  over  whom  he  is  called  upon  to  preside. 
— A  Countky  Fellow. 
Spade  Y.  Fork. 
Relative  to  the  adaptability  of  the  spade  and  the  fork  for  digging, 
much  I  think  depends  upon  the  texture  of  the  soil — whether  of  a  sandy 
or  clayey  nature.  Some  years  ago  I  had  to  deal  with  an  adhesive  soil, 
which  was  not  readily  amenable  to  either  the  ordinary  spade  or  three 
and  four-tined  forks.  The  soil  consisted  of  very  stiff  white  lias  clay  in 
South  Warwickshire,  and  even  after  many  years’  annual  cultivation  it 
proved  diflBcult  to  work.  It  was  in  a  reserve  garden  for  strong  growing 
vegetables,  and  though  with  a  sloping  incline  towards  the  south,  and 
generally  with  a  fair  amount  of  stable  manure  and  coal  ashes  dug  into 
it  annually,  it  ever  remained  comparatively  obdurate  in  texture,  and 
especially  during  very  wet  winters. 
Bastard  trenching  was  the  method  adopted  when  it  was  considered 
necessary  to  deepen  the  tilth,  as  to  turn  up  the  bottom  spit  at 
once  to  the  surface  would  have  meant  years  to  render  the  surface 
readily  workable  ;  burning  the  virgin  clay  was  invaluable.  To  meet  the 
diflSculty  of  the  more  readily  digging  the  ground  I  found  that  what 
were  called  “  open  ”  spades  had  been  specially  made  by  the  estate 
blacksmith,  being  the  first  of  the  kind  that  had  come  under  my  notice. 
They  were  well  adapted  for  the  purpose.  The  tool  was  a  sort  of  com¬ 
bination  of  a  spade  and  a  two-tined  fork,  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary 
spade,  stout,  and  with  a  blade  about  3  inches  in  width  and  8  inches 
long,  welded  at  each  end  on  to  the  right  angle  headed  framework.  It 
was  remarkable  to  note  the  number  of  years  one  of  these  well  made 
spades  would  wear,  and  when  worn  out  a  new  blade  could  be  easily 
attached  to  the  two  prong-like  sides.  I  never  knew  who  was  the 
inventor  or  whether  the  idea  originated  on  the  estate,  and  also  have 
yet  to  learn  if  the  tool  is  kept  in  stock  by  manufacturers.  It  would 
also  be  interesting  to  learn  if  the  tool  in  question  is  in  use  elsewhere. — 
W,  Gardinee,  Birmingham. 
Perpetual  Strawberries. 
There  really  must  be  something  in  the  soil  of  “  W.  R.  Raillem’s  ” 
garden  that  improves  the  fiavour  of  St.  Joseph  Strawberry,  for  I  cannot 
imagine  so  experienced  a  cultivator  not  being  a  judge  of  it ;  and  besides 
this,  he  has  given  every  facility  for  other  folks  to  judge  if  they  were  so 
minded.  But  facts  speak  for  themselves,  and  in  this  garden  as  in 
others,  as  I  said  in  my  note,  it  has  been  found  wanting.  I  have  had  it 
as  your  correspondent  describes  in  the  open  air,  and  also  in  pots  in 
frames  ;  and  although  there  has  been  a  fair  quantity  of  fruit,  I  can 
honestly  say  that  not  one  I  have  tried  has  been  good  enough  to  send  to 
table ;  and  this,  too,  at  a  season  when  good  fruit  of  most  kinds  has  been 
abundant.  “  W.  R.  Raillem  ”  is  quite  right  in  upholding  it  (page  443) 
as  he  has  found  it  so  satisfactory,  but  my  stock  of  it  next  season  will 
be  a  very  small  one. — H.  R.  Richards,  The  Gardens,  Charley  Wood 
House,  Rickmanstvorth. 
late  Dessert  Fruits. 
This  year  has  been  a  record  one  here  with  respect  to  late  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  Plums,  and  Strawberries.  To-day  (November  25th)  we 
have  gathered  the  last  two  dishes  of  Peaches  from  the  open  wall, 
having  been  able  to  gather  daily  throughout  October  and  November. 
We  have  also  to-day  sent  in  for  dessert  the  last  dish  of  Plums,  also  a 
fair,  but  by  no  means  the  last,  dish  of  Strawberries.  This  somewhat 
peculiar  season  has,  doubtless,  been  the  chief  factor  in  causing  this  long- 
continued  supply  of  late  fruits  ;  but  we  have  also  to  thank  those  clever 
pomologists  who,  by  careful  hybridising  and  selection,  have  given  us 
the  good  late  varieties  we  now  possess.  I  suppose  it  would  not  be  rash 
to  predict  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  these  fruits  wdl  be 
plentiful  on  the  dessert  table  at  Christmas.  It  may  be  objected  that 
the  flavour  of  these  late  fruits  is  inferior  to  the  midsummer  fruits;  and 
yet  they  are  beautiful  and  give  a  pleasing  variety,  and  when  the  flavour 
is  sufficiently  good  to  cause  them  to  be  not  only  eaten,  but  highly 
appreciated,  it  should  be  a  sufficient  incentive  to  us  to  endeavour  to 
still  further  prolong  their  season. — T.  Challis,  Wilton  House,  Salishury. 
- - - 
Cliairmansl|ip  of  tl|e  H.H.S.  Committees. 
I  FEAR  some  members  of  the  Fruit  Committee  are  growing  rather 
bold.  They  are  now  invited  just  prior  to  the  close  of  each  year  to 
submit  names  of  persons  who  may  be,  as  also  Fellows,  fitted  to  occupy 
seats  at  that  committee’s  table.  The  privilege  has,  I  believe,  been 
most  satisfactorily  exercised,  the  primary  object  being  to  secure  the 
membership  of  those  who  have  undoubted  qualifications,  who  can 
attend  with  fair  frequency,  and  who  seek  to  do  their  best  as  members 
in  a  spirit  of  entire  impartiality.  But  I  do  not  think  that  at  any  time 
it  has  previously  been  suggested  that  in  relation  to  those  happily  rare 
events,  the  resignation  of  a  chairman,  there  has  been  till  now  the 
slightest  suggestion  that  the  members  of  the  committee  who  bear  the 
burthen  of  their  duties  so  willingly  and  so  unselfishly,  also  all  the 
blame,  what  blame  is  given,  should  have  placed  in  their  hands  the 
right  to  nominate  their  own  chairman,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
Council.  But  as  the  one  practice  has  worked  so  well  there  seems  to 
be  excellent  reason  to  assume  that  its  extension  as  suggested  would 
work  well  also. 
The  suggestion  is  not  my  own,  indeed  till  the  recent  Drill  H  dl 
meeting  it  had  never  occurred  to  me.  It  was  then  I  first  heard  of  it. 
But  the  suggestion  went  further,  and  even  advised  that  the  occupation  of 
the  chair  should  be  for  one  year  only,  the  occupant  retiring  yet  be 
subject  to  re-election.  That  is  no  doubt  a  very  drastic  proposal,  yet 
one  which  will  not,  I  trust,  alarm  the  council.  Certainly  it  will  not  alarm 
those  members  of  it  who  may  have  no  special  desire  to  become  chairmen. 
B  ut  it  may  be  safely  assumed,  were  the  original  occupant  of  the  chair 
an  acceptable  gentleman,  his  re-election  to  the  office  annually,  so  long 
as  he  desired,  would  be  assured. 
It  cannot  be  overlooked  that  the  members  of  the  committee 
generally  have  the  strongest  desire  to  maintain  for  the  body  a  high 
reputation,  not  only  for  knowledge  and  fitness,  but  also  for  impartiality. 
It  is  one  of  the  unfortunate  products  of  the  committee’s  awards,  that 
when  made  they  enhance  the  pecuniary  value  of  all  new  things 
materially.  That  is  no  fault  of  the  committee,  but  it  is  an  accident ; 
still  it  has  the  effect  of  causiner  awards  to  be  somewhat  eagerly  sought 
for,  and  the  enhanced  value  thus  given  chiefly  benefits  those  who  are 
engaged  in  the  horticultural  trade.  It  is  no  matter  for  surprise,  there¬ 
fore,  if  the  private  members  of  the  committee  are  most  anxious  that  no 
stigma,  such  as  may  attach  to  special  interests,  should  attach  to  the 
committee  or  its  awards.  That  fact  was, very  largely  evidenced  in 
conversation  at  the  recent  meeting,  and  it  is  to  be  earnestly  hoped  that 
the  council  will  give  to  it  the  fullest  consideration. 
The  council  is  no  doubt  most  anxious  to  stand  well  in  the  provinces 
as  with  the  home  public.  Trade  appointments  are  apt,  even  without 
any  valid  reason,  to  engender  distrust  and  jealousy,  and  were  such  the 
case  in  connection  with  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  it  would  indeed 
be  a  misfortune.  Ctesar’s  wife  has  been  of  late  freely  referred  to. 
Her’s  is  a  pattern  for  horticulturists  as  for  others,  for  it  is  indeed 
well  in  all  our  doings  that  these  shall  be,  as  far  as  possible,  above 
suspicion. — A.  D. 
