47S EDIXBURGH APPLE AXD PEAR COSGRESS. [Dec. 



THE EDIXBUEGH APPLE AXD PEAR COXGRESS AXD 

 COXFEREXCE. 



THIS important sliow of the Eoyal Caledonian Horticultural 

 Society was formally opened on the 25th Xovember by the 

 Marquis of Lotliian, assisted by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and 

 a number of bailies and councillors. The Marquis of Lotliian, in 

 his opening address, alluded in general terms to the object wliich 

 induced the Council of the Eoyal Caledonian Society to engage in 

 this new departure in the development of their shows. The 

 Society has not for many years held a show in winter. But on 

 account of the generally good crops of apples and pears throughout 

 the country, it was decided at a meeting of the Council of the 

 Society, held on the 14th August last, that it was a favourable 

 opportunity to hold a special exhibition of apples and pears, and 

 tiierewith also a conference of leading authorities on the subject of 

 Pomology — with the view of comparing and correcting nomenclature, 

 and testing the qualities of the almost innumerable varieties of 

 apples and pears grown in the various districts throughout the 

 country. Collections have been solicited from all quarters, and the 

 response has been amply gratifying. Samples have been sent in 

 in abundance from the most favoured counties of England, from 

 Wales and Ireland, and from nearly every county of Scotland, and 

 even from so far north as Orkney. 



The result is an unparalleled exhibition comprising something 

 close on 12,000 dishes of apples and pears, or about 50,000 samples 

 in all. These are arranged in the "Waverley Market on four tables 

 extending the entire length of the hall on the north side, with three 

 tables at the west end, and being in all about 600 yards by 4 feet wide. 



The exhibition is thoroughly representative of pomological interests 

 of all parts of Great Britain and Ireland, and there are also samples 

 from Xova Scotia and Germany. 



The leading fruit-growers in the country have sent in samples 

 from their various districts, along with information furnished by the 

 exhibitor bearing on the name or names by which each sort is 

 known in the district in whicli it is grown, the stock on which 

 it is grafted, the use whether culinary or dessert, the season or 

 period of use, the bearing qualities, and other information of a 

 practical kind, all written on cards specially designed and sent 

 out to each exhibitor by the Society. There is thus brought 

 together a mass of information relating to the two important 

 fruits exhibited, which, in the hands of the Council of the Society, 

 cannot fail to be of immense practical advantage to aU interested in 

 fruit-growing in every part of the country. Xo doubt it is their 



