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position on one of the central tables was set aside for the Woolhope exhibition. 

 It was no easy task to unpack and unwrap above 1,600 different fruits, and arrange 

 them all on the tables, Viut the same energy which got them there accomplished 

 the work in some five or six hours. The number of plate.s exhibited is stated to 

 be about 6,000. 



The morning after the arrival of the members of the deputation, M. Heron, 

 the President of the SocitJte d' Horticulture de Rouen, with M. Lechartier, the 

 Vice-President, most politely called upon them and invited them to the opening 

 meeting of the Congress, and to all the successive meetings held daily. They also 

 invited the members to the grand opening banquet to be given the next day at the 

 Hotel d' Albion. This banquet was attended by all the Presidents and Vice-Pre- 

 sidents of their several Societies. In the speaking afterwards many compliments 

 amongst themselves passed as a matter of course — we have only to relate what 

 concerns the Hereford deputation. Very high places were fixed for them at the 

 table, and the President, M. H^ron, was so complimentary to them, that in his 

 turn L)r. Bull had to rise and answer him. This he did in a speech which created 

 quite a sensation and great applause. He had no sooner finished than there was 

 a great shaking of hands, from the President downwards, and a successive clink- 

 ing of champagne glasses. It was of course highly complimentary, and he was 

 pressed on all sides to supply a copy for the Transactions of the Congress. To 

 return to the Exhibition, — a good place on a centre table, as we have said, had 

 been reserved for the Woolhope Club's exhibition, and after the great labour of 

 putting out the fruit, it was very evident how fine the collection was. The apples 

 and pears from Stoke Edith, Holme Lacy, Thing-hill, and other places, were 

 really magnificent. They had travelled well, and though there were many other 

 plates of very fine fruit, it was quite clear that for general beauty, for form, size, 

 and colour, there was no other collection amongst the 6,000 plates that equalled 

 the Herefordshire fruit. The plates were not large enough to hold the required 

 number of six, one had to be taken from each, and then the table was covered 

 with them. The Herefordshire grapes (Black Alicante), from Mr. Coleman, 

 of Eastnor Castle, were also very fine. This exhibition of the Soci^t^ Centrale 

 d'Horticulture de France is not strictly competitive. Like our own Royal Society 

 in London, they only award prizes for special merit. The Council had been round 

 before the banquet, and afterwards Dr. Bull was informed that a gold medal had 

 been awarded to the Herefordshire fruit ; that a large silver medal had been 

 given to the Herefordshire grapes ; and that although it was unusual for the 

 Society to notice publications, it was impossible to pass over the magnificent 

 work, The Herefordshire Pomona, without awarding to it the highest honour in 

 their power, and they had therefore awarded to Dr. Bull, on behalf of the Wool- 

 hope Club, a Dipldme d' Honncur. Again and again the President requested Dr. 

 Bull to give a copy of his address for publication, and it was impossible any longer 

 to decline it. The Exhibition of the Association Pomologique de I'Ouest, which 

 takes in the orchard fruits and cider and perry, did not open until Monday, 

 the 6th. The Hereford collection of cider apples, except as regards the so-called 

 Norman fruits, is not large, for some of those who had promised cider apples did 



