1870.] ON JUDGING FRUITS. 415 



colour, for I conceive that in such circumstances there is a greater exhibition of 

 horticultural skill in producing the highly-coloured fruit than in producing the 

 larger, because it betokens attention to the maintenance of the just equilibrium 

 between the action of the roots and that of the leaves, and a knowledge as to 

 the crop the plant is capable of producing, without which I conceive no fruit 

 can be well and perfectly coloured. One may feed and force a plant so as to 

 induce it to produce large and showy fruit ; but unless the treatment is so regu- 

 lated as to preserve the just equilibrium between the root, which serves as the 

 mouth, and the leaves, which perform the functions of digestive organs, there is 

 no guarantee either for high colour or perfect flavour, which generally go 

 together. Still, I say, when fruit has not an objectionally bad colour, and is 

 not deficient in flavour, but has size and symmetry much in advance of another 

 which possesses higher colour and better flavour, but is much inferior in size 

 and symmetry, I would certainly give the award in favour of the larger fruit. 



The next point on which I have to touch is flavour ; and here I know there is 

 a great diversity of opinion. Some hold that the beginning and the end of all 

 fruit-culture is flavour; no matter how large or how small, or however badly 

 coloured, the fruit may be, if flavour is obtained the grower has got all he has 

 ever striven for. Now that is very well when fruit is grown merely for private 

 use — and so long as the palate is satisfied there is no other desire to be gratified ; 

 but we are now discussing the merits of exhibition fruit, into which the whole 

 energy of the cultivator is thrown to develop, not one, but every feature of h'.s 

 production, and the greatest display of cultural skill is to succeed in gratifying 

 the mind as much through the eye as through the palate. It is not to be 

 supposed that I depreciate flavour. On the contrary, I consider it an important 

 point in making awards to exhibition fruit ; but it ought only to come in 

 when the competition is otherwise so close that another point is required to 

 turn the scale. 



There is only one exception I would make on the question of flavour, and that 

 is in judging Melons, which, if they have not flavour, have nothing whatever to 

 recommend them. They may be Vegetable Marrows or Pumpkins, or any other 

 vegetable production, if flavour is absent ; and I think experience will testify 

 that if the flavour of a Melon is even but indifferent, then the fruit is not worth 

 eating ; and hence I think all Melons ought to be cut, and' judged by flavour 

 only. 



In the discussion which ensued on the reading of Dr Hogg's paper, Mr Marshall 

 said that flowers were grown to please the eye, and therefore were judged by the 

 eye ; but fruit being grown to please the palate, he thought that flavour should 

 stand first, as being more requisite, say to the Grape, than either size or colour. 



Mr Ayres remarked that it should be the duty of the Society to say that all 

 fruit should be grown for use, and not merely for exhibition ; he would certainly 

 consider flavour as the first requirement. 



Major Clarke thought that fruit was produced commonly on two distinct 

 principles, one to obtain fruit for exhibition, and the other to obtain it for 

 dessert. The man who could combine these two principles he should certainly 

 choose for his gardener. 



