28 SO-CALLED NORMAN APPLES. 



from English villages, as Cummy Nbrmati, Didley Norman, Marden 

 Norman, qt'c. ; and equally self evident is the anomaly, when 

 such names as " American Duke" Duke of Normans, Pride of 

 Normans, dr^c, are given to them. 



There are nearly twenty of these so-called Norman apples in 

 our Orchards, and several of them have become well-known 

 through the county, and are highly esteemed. It was resolved 

 to compare them with the real apples of Normandy. In the year 

 1883, through the great kindness of Monsieur Felix Dennis, a 

 merchant at Havre, a very fine collection of cider apples was 

 obtained direct from Normandy, and sent to Hereford. Eighty-five 

 of the best Norman varieties were exhibited in the Woolhope 

 Room, at the Free Library ; but not a single one of them was 

 similar to any of the Herefordshire fruits. In order to complete 

 the experiment, it was necessary to take the first opportunity of 

 placing these so-called " Norman " apples of this county upon 

 the tables in Normandy. 



Last year, 1884, a grand Congress of the Pomological 

 Societies of France was announced to be held at Rouen. The 

 SociETE pomologique de France, in conjunction with the 

 Association pomologique de l'ouest decided to hold its 

 Session at Rouen, from October 2nd to the 12th; with the co- 

 operation of the SociETE Centrale d'Horticulture de la 

 Seine-Inf^rieure and other kindred Societies from the Depart- 

 ments of La Manche, Ille et Vilaine, &c. Exhibitions of 

 Table Fruits and Vintage Fruits were also held, including Cider, 

 and all other Orchard products and Orchard Machinery. An 

 invitation was sent to the Woolhope Club to attend the Congress, 

 and a Committee consisting of Dr. Hogg, of London ; Mr. Geo. 

 H. Piper, of Ledbury ; and Dr. Bull, of Hereford, was ap- 

 pointed to represent the Club at Rouen and to compare the Fruits 

 of Herefordshire with those of Normandy. 



The ability and energy with which these gentlemen carried 

 out their duties may be almost said to have added an international 

 feature to the Congress. The Report of the Committee is attached 

 to this paper. Its success was most gratifying, and, as will be seen, 



