14S 



of scions or grafts. There is room among U3 for successors of Loril Souda- 

 more, and of Thomas Andrew Knight in improved pomology, and, though 

 for myself all that I know of selection of scions, of increase to the size of 

 fruit by approach grafting, and of like matters, is mere book-learning gotten 

 from the cheap Manual of "Charles Baltet," the French Pomologist, I 

 have no doubt that a Pomological Subcommittee would set the wheel in 

 motion for us, and report pro.gress— at any rate during the ensuing year. 

 That there is room for immediate improvement everywhere in this country 

 I cannot doubt after a letter which I very lately received from a practical 

 market-gardener near Town, who is besides the best translator I know of 

 Virgil's Georgics [and a novelist in whom you all take delight, or I am 

 very much mistaken]. "As to things pomological," he writes, "there can 

 be little doubt that the great advances of the last twenty years is little 

 known in the provinces. Many know nothing of the various new pears now 

 weU at home in England. Their beau ideal was Marie Louise, or 

 Gansel's Bergamot, or even Jargonelle, good pears all, but quite outdone 

 by Beurrfe Superfine, Beurre Hardy, and above all, by Dozenne du 

 Comice. And for late pears, Josephine de Malines, beats the old 

 Winter Nelis, Easter Beurre, Beurrfe Ranee, &c., out of all comparison. 

 Knight's Monarch is first-rate : nothing can beat it when at its best ; but in 

 some years it does not come to perfection, whereas Dozenne de Comia has 

 never failed. No pearls without a fault. Marie Louise is a delicious pear, 

 but too sweet, too apt to bear at the tips of the branches, or, worse still, most 

 tender in the blossom. The only defect I have yet discovered in the Dozenne 

 du Comia is, that it inclines to fruit less freely every other year. It is 

 better from a standard than a wall ; as nearly all peara are, but very late 

 ones. The violent changes of temperature (to which the face of a wall is 

 subject far more than the fuU wind) are apt to impair the fine blossom of the 

 fruit." So far my correspondent. I will but add that at the meeting where 

 this topic was first broached, our now High Sheriff, Colonel Symonds, 

 volunteered his co-operation ; and I think we might count on that of Mr. 

 Tweed of Bridstow— both of whom are experienced amateur fruit-growers. 

 We owe it to those who come after us to maintain and strengthen our title 

 to the garden of England. As to park and forest trees, we shaU assert our 

 claim to consideration in respect of them, in a number of iUustrations to the 

 forthcoming volume. It remains only for me, gentlemen, as you have willed 

 that I should retain office for another year, to ask you of your kindness to co- 

 operate with me in making the coming twelve months as practical as the last 

 has been pleasant. If personal presence and interest in your meetings can 

 counterbalance slender acquaintance with the branches of science which cm- 

 Club most affects, you may freely count upon this much from me. And I 

 will add this also, that, under my presidency, there shaU be no encourage- 

 ment to exalt Nature to a pedestal above Nature's God ; for if there is one 

 paramount gain in the scrutiny of Nature's marvels, I hold that it consists 



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