REPOKTS OP THE FllUIT COMMITTE 



On the present occasion the fruit, as regards flavour, had passed 

 its best ; probably owing to the unusually hot dry season. 



TJvedale's St Germain. — Some very large specimens of this 

 baking or stewing pear were exhibited. Sir Geokge Hodson, 

 Bart., Hollybrooke, Bray, Wicklow, sent three which weighed 

 respectively 3 lb. 1 oz. ; 2 lb. oz. ; 2 lb. 4 oz. ; and when newly 

 gathe]-ed they were lieavier. Another specimen from the garden 

 of Sir Abchibald Dunbab, Bart., Duffus House, near Elgin, 

 weighed 21b. 8 oz., and when first gathered 21b. lloz. For ^ 

 these exhibitions prizes of 10s. each were awarded to Mr. James 

 Gabnxek, gardener to Sir George Hodson ; and to Mr. Thomas 

 RoBEBTSON, gardener to Sir Archibald Dunbar. 



The fruit sent by Sir George Hodson, were grown at Holly- 

 Dublin, and two miles from the sea, above the level of which it 

 is elevated about 150 feet. The surface of the ground slopes 

 gently towards the east. The soil is a strong adhesive loam 

 about 12 or 15 inches deep, resting on a subsoil of sandy clay. 

 The tree is on the quince stocl^, and has been grafted about 

 twelve years. It was planted in 1850 against a wall with a 

 south-west aspect, and is about 8 feet high, perfectly healthy, and 

 abundantly furnished with blossom buds. Although a strong 

 grower, it is almost free from breast-wood and requires very little 

 pruning. Being worked on the quince, it very soon overgrew the 

 stock, and formed a large knob where it was grafted, 8 inches 

 above the ground-surface. To assist the stock in supplying the 

 wants of the tree, advantage was taken of very hot weather in 

 June, to score the bark upwards from a little under the ground 

 surface till the cut entered the knob, going quite through to the 

 wood ; it was left so for about ten days. With the hot weather 

 the cut soon opened, and when cicatrised, but before woody 

 matter had formed, the tree was well watered, and a mixture of 

 light mountain loam and leaf mould was placed over the roots 

 quite covering up the stock, and e:^tending about a yard all round. 

 The result was that a mass of fibres issued from every cut. The 

 produce, of the tree in weight of fruit in the present season 

 was 4 1 f lb. It may be observed, that the protuberance at the point 

 of union, caused by the unequal expansion or growth of the pear 

 and quince, otfers an obstruction to the returning sap, analogous to 

 that occasioned by ringing, or employingSligatures ; and the size of 

 the fruit, whilst the tree continues vigorous, is consequently 

 increased. The means employed in the case in question to produce 



