6 BROOKE-HUNT on the National Fruit and 



" That there should be one central Institute." 



It was further resolved, " That if a suitable site and build- 

 ings in the neighbourhood of Bristol be available, the Committee 

 consider that place would be the best for the establishment of 

 a central Institute ; but if subsidiary Institutes were eventually 

 to be established, the Committee consider that Hereford should 

 be the place at which one such Institute should be established." 



The Committee subsequently considered the objects which 

 should be had in view in establishing an Institute, and unani- 

 mously agreed, 



" That the first object of the Institute should be the conduct 

 of research, with the special view of the solution of difficulties 

 expeienced by farmers in their ordinary practice of cider- and 

 perry-making ; and, in the second place, the training of experts 

 competent to give them advice upon the spot of their own farms, 

 and to act as staff instructors in the contributing counties." 



It was then decided to seek for premises on an apple-pro- 

 ducing farm, capable of adaptation to the purpose named, within 

 a reasonable distance of Bristol, and the matter was placed in 

 the hands of a small Sub-Committee. A considerable number 

 of places were inspected, and their suitability considered, but 

 eventually the Sub-Committee reported in favour of one at 

 Long Ashton, near Bristol, which the owner, Lady Smyth, was 

 kind enough to place at their disposal. The reasons which 

 influenced them were, on the [one hand, that buildings already 

 existed there which only needed alteration and addition to make 

 them all that could be required ; and, on the other, that the neigh- 

 bourhood seemed to present exceptionally favourable features 

 as regards fruit-growing, so that the Institute, if established there, 

 might not be solely dependent on cider-making for its success. 



At a meeting of the provisional Committee, on 2nd April, 

 1903, the Eeport of the Sub- Committee was approved, and the 

 site at Long Ashton agreed upon, subject to suitable terms 

 being arranged with respect to it. The Committee then, in 

 accordance with their original instructions, reported fully to the 

 Board of Agriculture as to what it was proposed to do, what the 

 annual cost would be likely to amount to, and how this might 

 be met. They further suggested that, if the Board approved of 

 their proposals, a copy should be sent by the Board to the 

 County Councils and other bodies interested in the matter, 

 asking them to consider the scheme, and notify what grants 

 they would be prepared to make towards it. 



This suggestion the Board readily acquiesced in, and on 16th 

 April a letter was addressed to the various bodies concerned, 

 enclosing a copy of the Eeport referred to, and asking whether 

 they would be prepared to make the grants which it was esti- 



