68 REPORTS OF THE FRUIT COMMITTEE. 



It was intimated to the Committee that C. W. Dilke, Esq., 

 V.P.H.S., proposed to place at their disposal for 1860, Two 

 prizes of Five Guineas each, for the best specimens of such 

 New Fkdits as the Committee may select. 



MELON.— Mr. W. P. Atres, C.M.H.S., sent from Orchard 

 Leigh Park, Frome, a fruit of his Improved Cashmere, the usual 

 weight of which, he stated to be from 4 lbs. to 7 lbs. ; it was very 

 handsome, of an oval form, ten inches in length and five and a 

 half inches in diameter, obscurely ribbed, and slightly netted ; 

 yellow, mottled with green : rind exceedingly thin. The flesh 

 was white, crisp, tender, melting, and very good ; but the Com- 

 mittee were of opinion that it was shown too late in the season, 

 for the full development of the excellence in flavour, which it 

 appeared likely to have possessed at an earlier period. 



PEACHES.— Mr. James Veitch, F.H.S., of Exeter, ex- 

 hibited a collection of Syriaa Peaches and Nectarines, ripened 

 on an open south wall, without glass. With one exception, they 

 were all sweet-kernelled. This class of fruits was originally 

 sent to this country from Syria, by John Barker, Esq., of Suedia, 

 formerly her Majesty's consul at Alexandria ; and they were 

 grown in the garden of bis relative, Mr. Warmington, at 

 Kensington, until wholly removed to the Exeter nursery. — 

 Peach, No. 9 ; fruit large, roundish oblong, with very deep suture ; 

 skin, pale greenish-yellow where shaded, marbled and dotted 

 witii red next the sun ; flesh melting, parting from the stone, 

 at wbich it is slightly rayed with red, rich and sugary ; kernel 

 bitter ; leaves crenated, with globose glands. This proved a deli- 

 cious fruit.— Peach, No. 12 ; fruit middle sized, round, greenish- 

 yellow on the shaded side, and mottled with dull red next the 

 sun ; flesh parting from the stone ; kernel sweet ; leaves crenated, 

 with reniform glands. Probably a good peach, but it was not in 

 condition, being over-ripe.— Peach, No. 13 ; fruit like a large 

 Noblesse, pale yellowish-green, except next the sun, where it is 

 mottled with dull red ; flesh adhering firmly to the stone, sweet 

 but not rich, and considered not superior to the old Catherine ; 



Nectarine, 22 A ; externally this resembles the Stanwick, but 

 "3 stone, nevertheless it is half melting. 



ricti, sugary and rtehcious, with a i 

 exceflent fruit. Nectarine, 22 ] 



coding no decided diflerence cou 



