us EEPORTS OF THE FKUIT COMMITTEE, 



a healthy tree, about 12 years old, trained as an espalier. The 

 fruit was gathered about the middle of October, and kept in a 

 dry room, heated in cold weather by a small stove. This cir- ' 

 cumstance had doubtless accelerated the ripening of the fruit, so 

 as to render it fit for use when exhibited. 



Mr. Mooeman's specimens were from his garden in the Clap- 

 ham Road, about 3 miles south of London, the soil of which 

 consists of good garden mould about 2^ feet deep ; the subsoil 

 gravel. The fruit, which was well grown, had been produced on 

 an espalier tree, about 15 years old, trained horizontally, and 

 pruned in the usual way. 



Mr. Sage stated, that Gopsall Hall occupies an elevated situa- 

 tion, and that the air of the locality is dry and pure. The 

 garden slopes due south ; the soil is strong ; the subsoil A strong 

 blue clay, on the coal formation. The specimens, which were of 

 a good size, were from a tree about 15 years old, on the pear 

 stock, and trained against a south wall. 



The pears exhibited by Vincent Fenn, Esq., appeared to 

 have been gathered too early ; to have rendered them melting 

 they would have required to have been kept closely packed in 

 well dried straw in a dry warm place. 



Josephine de Malines.— Mr. A. Parsons, gardener at Danes- 

 bury, Welwyn, Herts., was the only exhibitor of this rather new 

 sort, and as the fruit proved excellent, the First Prize was 

 awarded to him. The specimens were scarcely middle-sized, 

 obovate, thickly covered with cinnamon-coloured russet; flesh 

 melting, very f-ich, sugary, and delicious. They were produced 

 on a dwarf bush, which is stalad to bear very well, but the fruit 

 has been seldom larger than those exhibited : it has been planted 

 about 12 years in old garden soil, the subsoil gravel resting on 

 chalk. 



Open Cj^\ss.— The competitors in this class were : Mr. Hill, 

 gardener to Ralph Snetd, Esq., F.H.S. : Beurre Eance, Glou 

 Morceau, from a south wall, and from an east wall ; Mr. William 

 Merrick, gardener to R. ELLicE,Esq.,Brickendonbury, Hertford: 

 Glou Morceau, Winter Kelis; Mr. A. Ingram, gardener to J. J. 

 BLANDY.Esq., V.P.H.S.: Winter NeUs; Mr. Peter Stoddaut, 

 gardener, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester: Glou Morceau; Josiah 

 Moorman, Esq. : Winter Nells, Glou Morceau; Mr. J. Shep- 

 part, Wolverston Park, near Ipswich : Beurre d'Aremberg; Mr. 

 Samuel Evans, Arbury, Nuneaton, Warwickshire : Easter Beurre; 

 Mr. Samdel Ralphs, gardener to Russell Stxjrges, Esq., Mount 



