482 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  6,  1901. 
own  mistakes.  Personally,  in  this  matter,  I  am  simply  acting  on  the 
defensive,  and  still  maintain  that  I  fail  to  see  that  any  schedule  blunder 
has  been  committed  by  the  framers  of  the  Shrewsbury  sohedule  in 
class  73.  In  order  to  prove  and  clear  up  this  imaginary  error  and 
original  dispute — viz.,  the  exclusion  of  Canon  Hall  only  from  this 
competition,  let  ns  examine  seriatim  the  disputed  clauses  referring  to 
class  73,  and  as  printed  in  the  schedule  of  1901.  There  are  onlv  three 
clauses  really  affecting  this  argument — viz.,  firstly,  class  73,  “  Twelve 
bunches  of  Grapes,  in  four  or  more  distinct  varieties,  but  not  more 
than  four  bunches  of  any  one  variety.”  Secondly,  “  Each  bunch  will 
be  judged  on  its  individual  merits,  and  points  awarded  as  per  R.H.S. 
code.”  Thirdly,  “  For  the  purpose  of  this  competition,  Bowood  Muscat, 
Charlesworth  Tokay,  Tyninghame  Muscat,  and  Canon  Hall  cannot  be 
shown  as  distinot  varieties  with  Muscat  of  Alexandria.”  Now  here  we 
have  all  the  information  we  need  as  regards  the  dispute  and  the  erroneous 
and  assumed  idea  as  to  the  exclusion  of  Canon  Hall  from  the  compe¬ 
tition.  These  clearly  expressed  conditions  can  only  convey  one  common 
sense  interpretation — viz.,  twelve  bunches  must  be  staged,  not  less  than 
four  distinct  varieties  must  be  staged,  or  in  any  number  beyond  four 
varieties  may  be  staged,  or 
in  any  proportion  of  bunches 
the  exhibitor  wills,  providing 
he  does  not  stage  more  that  -Jiff 
four  bunches  of  any  one 
variety ;  consequently,  not 
more  than  four  bunches 
altogether  of  the  bracketed 
white  Muscat  varieties, which, 
as  stated  for  the  purpose  of 
this  competition,  cannot  be 
counted  as  distinot  varieties. 
Therefore,  in  such  case  the 
remaining  eight  bunches  may 
be  taken  from  the  whole  field 
of  Grapes  on  similar  con¬ 
ditions,  so  as  to  make  up  the 
necessary  three  or  more  other 
varieties  required.  For  in¬ 
stance,  supposing  one  bunch 
of  Muscat  of  Alexandria, 
one  of  Canon  Hall,  one  of 
Bowood  Muscat,  and  one  of 
any  other  variety  of  white 
Muscat.  These  four  bunches 
would,  for  this  competition, 
only  count  as  one  variety 
when  staged,  neither  conld  a 
bunch  of  any  other  white 
Muscat  variety  be  added  or 
permitted,  neither  could  aDy 
more  points  be  obtained  by 
this  competitor  over  another 
competitor  who  staged  four 
bunches  of  all  one  variety  of 
Muscat,  each  bunch  being 
judged  on  its  individual 
merits.  Note. — The  schedule 
does  not  say  any  of  the 
above  are  synonymous  or 
prohibited. 
Doubtless  the  schedule  «  » 
authorities,  from  their  past 
wide  experience  in  these 
matters,  thought  it  prudent, 
in  the  best  interests  of  all 
concerned,  to  place  some 
restrictions,  so  as  to  prevent 
after  disputes  or  objectionable  disqualifications  about  distinct  varieties, 
and  of  confining  the  white  Muscat  varieties  to  their  fair  proportion  of 
the  collections  of  Grapes — viz.,  to  one-third  of  the  whole  (four  bunches 
only),  thereby  preventing  any  smart  competitor  from  obtaining  undue 
advantage  by  staging  a  preponderance  of  Musoats,  which,  according  to 
the  R.H.S.  code,  would  each  bunch  count  a  maximum  of  ten  poinls, 
whilst  all  other  Grapes  count  nine  points  only  per  bunch;  a  further 
object  being  to  make  the  competition  as  fair  and  as  easy  to  enter  as 
possible  to  all  Grape  growers,  and  at  the  same  time  to  bring  before  the 
Society’s  patrons — the  great  British  public — as  wide  and  as  representative 
collections  of  skilful  British  Grape  growing,  thereby  showing  samples  of 
the  very  highest  possible  quality  to  be  found  in  the  whole  world. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  apparent  waste  of  printer’s  ink,  in 
fighting  so  fiery  but  yet  so  bloodless  a  controversy,  will  bring  about 
the  desired  result  of  bringing  “good  out  of  supposed  evil,”  by  drawing 
the  opinions  of  the  original  framers  of  sohedule  and  others,  so  as  to 
ultimately  bring  all  the  competitors  into  line  and  unison  in  the  fierce 
struggle  for  supremacy,  for  honour,  and  for  the  substantial  prizes  of 
►  uch  a  popular  class,  offered  again  by  this  highly  successful  and 
enterprising  Shrewsbury  Society,  a  society  whose  well-wishers  regret 
to  find  has  been  falsely  accused  of  blundering  and  muddling  their 
schedule. — W.  Crump,  Madresjield  Court. 
Notes  on  Aquatics. 
Narcissus  incomparabilis  Lucifer 
( See  note  on  page  480.) 
The  spring  of  1901  will  long  be  remembered  for  its  wintry  and 
unseasonable  weather.  At  a  time  when  it  is  not  unusual  to  have  many 
spring  flowers,  and  trees  and  shrubs  putting  forth  the  tender  leaves 
and  blossoms,  we  were  enveloped  in  snow  wreaths  and  the  cutting, 
harsh  winds  of  a  real  winter  blizzard.  Muoh  work  on  the  line  of 
planting  and  renewing  has,  of  necessity,  been  delayed,  and  will  be 
crowded  in  with  the  detail  of  seasonable  work  that  lately  presented 
itself.  Preparation  for  early  summer  work,  taking  time  by  the 
forelock,  having  soil  composted  and  other  materials  ready  for  operation 
when  the  opportune  season  arrives,  will  enable  us  to  make  the  most  of 
the  fleeting  season. 
It  will  yet  be  in  good  time,  writes  Mr.  W.  Tricker,  in  “  The  American 
Florist,”  to  replant  hardy  Nympbaeas  where  they  are  overgrown  and 
crowded,  and  intending  purchasers  should  not  defer  planting  till  next 
season,  because  it  is  now  getting  late.  There  is  much  to  be  gained  by 
planting  hardy  Nympbaeas 
even  if  the  operation  is  de¬ 
layed  until  after  midsummer. 
I  hope  to  demonstrate  this 
fact  by  the  condition  of 
affairs  at  Buffalo  this  season. 
The  present  is  a  good  time 
to  plant  hardy  Nympbaeas. 
It  is  yet  in  good  time  to 
plant  Lotuses,  but  advantage 
may  be  taken  of  starting 
these  indoors,  and  good  pot- 
grown  plants  may  be  had  for 
June  planting.  Yet  with  the 
caution  given  from  time  to 
time  through  the  Press,  many 
persons  insist  on  ordering 
these  plants,  or  rather 
tubers,  at  an  early  date,  and 
doubtless  many  will  find  that 
early  purchased  tubers,  in¬ 
stead  of  making  new  growth, 
have  turned  black  and  show 
no  signs  of  life,  and  are 
not  likely  to.  Lotus  tubers 
should  not  be  transplanted 
until  the  weather  is  settled 
warm.  If  these  conditions 
do  not  exist  naturally,  arti¬ 
ficial  means  should  be 
resorted  to.  Where  planting 
is  deferred  till  June  it  is 
better  to  secure  pot-grown 
plants ;  these  may  be  planted 
during  June  and  early  in 
July  with  good  results. 
It  is  now  safe  to  risk 
tender  Nympbaeas  out  of 
doors.  The  end  of  May 
or  early  in  June  is  best. 
Those  who  have  accommo¬ 
dation  under  glass,  where  the 
plants  may  be  grown  on  until 
a  suitable  time  for  planting 
arrives,  should  secure  plants 
at  once.  The  same  remarks 
will  apply  to  Victorias  unless 
ponds  are  artificially  heated, 
but  more  of  this  later.  Do  not  overlook  the  planting  of  margins  of 
ponds.  The  hardy  Bamboos  are  increasing  annually  in  demand,  and 
deservedly  so.  After  the  severe  winter  experienced  in  this  region,  and 
the  lack  of  snow  or  any  protection  whatever,  they  are  now  pushing 
forth  new  growth  from  the  old  canes,  in  spite  of  the  faot  that  on  many 
of  these  the  foliage  is  sere  and  dead.  In  planting  margins  a  very 
ornamental  bush  for  this  purpose  should  not  be  overlooked,  and  that  is 
Tamarix  africana.  It  is  of  irregular  growth,  inclined  to  be  tall, 
especially  in  wet  ground,  but  its  graceful,  feathery  foliage  and  branches 
are  most  attractive  and  striking  all  the  season,  and  in  spring  they  are 
literally  smothered  with  delicate  pink  flowers.  The  bushes  should  be 
pruned  hard  after  flowering.  Other  marginal  plants  by  far  too  seldom 
met  with  are  Acorus  japonicus  variegatus,  Sagittaria  japonica  fl.-pl., 
S.  montevidiensis,  Typhas,  Ly thrum,  Ac. — Wm.  Tricker. 
Macrotamla  echloldes. — This  is  a  yellow  flowered  BoraginaceouB 
member,  very  suitable  for  an  open  sunny  pocket  of  a  rockery.  It 
grows  laxly,  but  is  robust  and  furnishes  quite  a  profusion  of  cymes. 
The  tubular  flowers  are  deep  yellow,  intermediate  between  the 
golden  and  oanary  shades.  It  strikes  from  cuttings  and  can  be  planted 
successfully  at  any  time. 
