138 



GREAT APPLE AND PEAR EXHIBITION AT 

 HEREFORD— 18 S3. 



"The finest show ever held in the provinces." That is the verdict of the expe- 

 rienced judges who awarded the prizes at the Hereford apple and pear exhibition 

 held in the ShirehaH, on Wednesday and Thursday, October 24th and 25th. And 

 in the quality of some of the exhibits it was considered that the show surpassed 

 even the immense exhiliition of fruit which is now being held at Chiswiek. This 

 year's crop of fruit, the best in development and colour during the last seven or 

 eight years, has of course depended on the climate, but much of the improvement 

 is very probably due to the more careful and scientific attention which has of late 

 years, and during the last two years particularly, been paid to the cultivation of 

 fruit. Not a little of this advancement in the art of fruit culture may be attri- 

 buted with justice to the efforts of the Pomona Committee of the Woolhope Club, 

 foremost among whom stands Dr. Bull, whose interesting researches in apple lore 

 are well known. It is under the auspices of the above-mentioned committee that 

 this annual show at Hereford is held, the objects of the exhibition being — 



1 To encourage the growth of valuable fruits in place of worthless varieties ; 



2 To name fruits unknown to the exhibitors ; 



3 To afford information to the committee ; and 



4 To provide characteristic specimens for illustration in the Herefordshire 

 Pomona. 



These objects need no explanation, and they will be more appreciated as time 

 goes on. With regard to the Herefordshire Pomona, it may be mentioned that the 

 last part of this beautiful work is to be published next year after the Congress and 

 Exhibition of the Pomological Society of France, to he held at Rouen in October, 

 1884, where the so-called "Norman " apples of Herefordshire will be placed upon 

 the Normandy tables for comparison. Seventy-five varieties of vintage fruit were 

 sent from Normandy for exhibition at the Hereford show on Wednesday and 

 Thursday, but were delayed in transit. It was afterwards exhibited at the Free 

 Library, in the Woolhope Club Room. 



Numerous plates of apples were sent to be named, and this task occupied the 

 attention of the judges a considerable time. The three judges who were origi- 

 nally appointed were Dr. Hogg, Mr. Barron (of Chiswiek Gardens), and Mr. 

 Rivers (of Sawbridgeworth). Dr. Hogg and Mr. Barron were unable to atend in 

 consequence of being engaged at Chiswiek, and Mr. Rivers was unfortunately 

 taken ill. The gentlemen who did act as judges were Mr. George Bunyard 

 (Maidstone), and Mr. Carrington (Worcester), for the dessert and culinary fruit ; 

 and the Rev. C. H. Bulmer and Mr. G. H. Piper for the cider fruit. Mr. H. 

 Cecil Moore was the acting honorary secretary, and Mr. D. R. Chapman was the 

 fruit secretary, his task being the arrangement of the fruit. 



