132 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[August 4. 1888. 



course a system that will be applicable to the 

 future, will be more than ample for present pur- 

 poses, therefore all that is put forth with a view 

 to remedy existing defects must necessarily 

 apply to future requirements also. In regard to 

 the present state of things it has always occured 

 to us that large growers of fruit might with 

 advantage take a lesson from a custom that has 

 long prevailed in the milk trade, i.e., sale by con- 

 tract. Selling by contrast may prove a difficult 

 and hazardous question in regard to fraud, though 

 it is adopted in some parts of Kent, indeed, as a 

 matter of fact it might with some kinds, and 

 under certain contingencies, prove altogether un- 

 workable. Notwithstanding that, however, there 

 are other kinds of fruit that might be sold under 

 the contract system just as easily as milk is. 

 Let us take for example a crop of Grapes or 

 Peaches, grown under glass : any man who has 

 the growing of these under his charge, and who 

 thoroughly understands his work, will be 

 able to estimate to a nicety some weeks be- 

 fore the crops are ripe what his probable 

 yield will be, and the same may also be said 

 of Apples, Pears, Plums, and one or two 

 other kinds of fruit. Under such circumstances as 

 these what could be better than to make arrange- 

 ments with the retailer or shopkeeper some time 

 beforehand to supply by contract at per pound, 

 dozen, or bushel, to be delivered on, or between 

 specified dates ? If a grower cannot agree with his 

 customary buyer — be it in London or any provin- 

 cial town — upon a certain price, he will have time, 

 under this plan, to write elsewhere, and it stands 

 to reason that he will be more likely to derive 

 benefit by knowing what his returns would be 

 than he would if he sent his produce to be sold 

 on commission simply for what it would fetch. 



In the distribution of home-grown fruit the 

 commission salesman must be regarded as a 

 necessary evil, to be avoided as much as possible, 

 in order to benefit both producer and consumer ; the 

 latter certainly would thus be a gainer to the extent 

 of having fruit of a better quality, for it cannot 

 be denied that the less " knocking about " there 

 is with this kind of food the better. It is not at 

 all an uncommon occurrence to see fruit sold in 

 London and other large centres, on stalls and 

 costermonger's barrows, at infinitely cheaper 

 prices than would have to be paid for the same 

 article in rural districts. Any system of distri- 

 bution that will tend to remove such inequalities 

 — be it by contract or some other plan — will be a 

 step in the right direction. 



Having touched briefly on the present state of 

 things, let us take a cursory glance at the future. 

 Within the past few years hundreds of acres of 

 land have been planted with fruit trees, and, so 

 far as it can be judged from present circum- 

 stances, this will be added to yearly to an inde- 

 finite extent, supplanting, in a great measure, 

 the growing of corn crops, which with our 

 large importations is becoming less remunerative 

 year by year. Now the question arises. In 

 what way is this promised increased supply of 

 fruit to be treated so as to avoid unnecessary 

 waste, loss of capital, and loss of food to our 

 fellow creatures ? When looked at from a broad 

 and comprehensive point of view, it will be ad- 

 mitted by most persons that our present system 

 of distribution will require to be greatly ex- 

 tended and improved upon. To meet the diffi- 

 culty the only remedies that present themselves 

 are increased market-accommodation and the esta- 

 blishment of fruit factories. In all large towns the 

 present number of markets might very well be 

 doubled, and, in some instances, a larger number 

 than this even might prove advantageous. In many 

 of the smaller towns also greater facilities for whole- 



sale trade purposes are urgently needed, and in all 

 cases the nearer to the railway station these markets 

 are the better. Railway companies themselves 

 in the majority of towns could doubtless supply 

 this want, and there can be no doubt that they 

 would greatly benefit thereby, as they would add 

 largely to their income from increased traffic 

 receipts and market-tolls. With regard to fruit- 

 factories, here again we think may take a lesson 

 from dairy farming, and build them at the source 

 of supply, as is done in Kent and elsewhere, 

 instead of in the large towns, as they mostly 

 are at present. In all large fruit growing dis- 

 tricts there ought to be one or more of these 

 factories where fruit could be taken in any time 

 between Monday and Saturday to be made into 

 jam, and some, kinds to be converted into 

 articles of food by a process of drying. 

 There appears to be a great f nture in store for 

 home-grown dried fruit, and probably we shall 

 hear more about this part of the subject at no 

 distant time. The two Fruit Conferences to be 

 held in the coming autumn we are pleased to see 

 are likely to take up these and similar questions, 

 and we sincerely hope that practical benefit from 

 them may accrue to all concerned. 



Royal Horticultural Society : The 



Apple and Peae Confeeence at Chiswick. — The 

 joint executive committee of the former Apple and 

 Pear Conferences met at Chiswick on Tuesday last, 

 under the Presidency of Colonel Beddome, represent- 

 ing the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 the Rev. W. Wilks, Hon. Secretary of the Society, 

 being also present, Mr. A. P. Barron acting as Secre- 

 tary. The following members attended : — Messrs. 

 Shirley Hibberd, P. Q. Lane, Haycock, G. Bunyard, 

 A. Turner, Cheal, Herbst, Roberts, Hudson, A. 

 Dean, Wildsmith, and J. Wright. A prospectus of 

 the proposed Conference, with schedule of classes for 

 the respective frnits, issued by the Council, was sub- 

 mitted and discussed freely, several very important 

 amendments being made, foremost amongst which 

 was one fixing the date of the Conference for 

 October 16 to 20, so that it should not clash with the 

 hardy fruit show at the Crystal Palace of the preceding 

 week. Papers on subjects arising from or connected 

 with the Conference are invited from capable persons, 

 which, it is hoped, arrangements will be made en- 

 abling them to be read, and as far as possible, pub- 

 lished. As the schedule of classes as amended, and 

 which will shortly be issued, shows, the Conference 

 will partake chiefly of an horticultural character, but 

 the invitation of " orchard-grown fruit " shows that 

 an even wider cultivation of Apples and Pears has 

 not been lost sight of. It is specially worthy of note 

 that whilst collections of diverse characters are in- 

 vited in each case, not only the number of varieties 

 but the number of fruits of each variety is limited, 

 as were competitive efforts to exhibit allowed the 

 greater bulk would be intolerable. To exhibit five large 

 fruits, or up to nine small ones of any variety will 

 distress no one. The collection specially represen- 

 tative of districts should prove particularly interest- 

 ing, whilst remembering that this year both Apples 

 and Pears are but partial crops, still it is hoped that a 

 general response to the invite to exhibit at the Con- 

 ference will be made. 



The Gardeners' Orphan Fund. — The 



monthly meeting of the committee, and the first 

 meeting of the new elected body, took place at the 

 " Caledonian " Hotel, Adelphi, on the 27th ult., there 

 being a good attendance. Mr. Geoee Deal was 

 unanimously elected Chairman of the Executive 

 Committee for the ensuing year. The minutes of 

 the previous meeting having been read and signed, 

 the Hon. Secretary reported that the sum of 

 £736 14s. 4d. stood to the credit of the Fund at the 

 bankers. It was unanimously resolved that a further 

 sum of £500 be invested in " Goschens," making 

 £1500 in all. The accounts of the recent dinner 



were laid before the meeting, and were con- 

 sidered highly satisfactory. Hearty votes of 

 thanks were passed to the President, Sir Julian 

 Goldsmid, Bart., MP. ; to the donors of plants, 

 flowers, and fruits ; and to the vocalists, for their 

 assistance and support at the recent dinner ; also to 

 the local secretaries for their valuable services 

 during the year. The Chairman announced that he 

 had recently had an interview with Mr. N. Shee- 

 wood, of Messrs. Huest & Son, Houndsditch, B.C., 

 and that gentleman had generously promised the 

 sum of £100 towards placing another child upon the 

 Pund in accordance with the provisions of Rule XII. 

 The committee unanimously resolved that Mr. Shee- 

 wood's generous offer be accepted with hearty thanks, 

 and that a child four years of age be placed upon the 

 Pund for the period of ten years. Mr. Sheewood 

 having waived his right to nominate a child, 

 it was unanimously resolved to nominate and 

 recommend to Mr. Sheewood as the recipient 

 of his bounty Kate Haeeiet Beooks, of Holms- 

 worthy, Devon, one of a family of ten father- 

 less children, two only of the number being able to 

 earn anything towards their support. This case is 

 strongly recommended by the Rector of Holms- 

 worthy. It was resolved that the allowances to the 

 ten recently elected children should date from 

 July 1. Porms of contract and receipts were 

 approved, and the Chairman and Hon. Secretary 

 appointed as a sub-committee to carry out all the fore- 

 going arrangements. It was stated that in the 

 case of the recently elected children the grand- 

 mother would have the custody of the child in one 

 instance, uncles in two others, and mothers in the 

 remainder. It was resolved that 3000 copies of the 

 annual report, balance-sheet, and list of subscribers 

 be printed for circulation, and 500 collecting cards 

 be obtained, as many persons appear to be willing to 

 give small sums. Various accounts were ordered to 

 be paid, and the committee then adjourned until the 

 last Priday in September, the Chairman and Secre- 

 tary being empowered to convene a special meeting 

 if necessary. 



The Bath Floral Fete.— The committee of 

 the above have issued a special prize schedule for 

 the exhibition in the Sydney Gardens on September 

 5 and 6, and several classes of botanical interest are 

 contained therein in honour of the visit of the 

 British Association. Prizes are offered for a hybrid 

 Orchid, and hybrid or cross-fertilized plants, also- 

 for Perns of several species. In all cases of hybrid 

 plants it is requested that illustrations of the 

 parents from which they were obtained be also sub- 

 mitted. 



LORD JUSTICE LindleY.— The autumn gradua- 

 tion ceremonial of the University of Edinburgh took 

 place on Tuesday, August 1. Professor Kiekpatbick 

 proposed for the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws 

 Sir Nathaniel Lindlet, Lord Justice of Appeal. 

 He said, as the honoured name of Dr. John Lindley 

 was a household word among botanists and men of 

 science, so that of his son (Lord Justice Lindley) 

 was a household word among lawyers, not only in 

 England, but in Scotland also, and indeed wherever 

 the English language was spoken. 



The "Tropical Agriculturist." — The 



seventh volume of this publication is now completed, 

 and like its predecessors contains a perfect mine of 

 information on subjects connected with tropical 

 agriculture and economic botany, The information 

 is gleaned from many sources, but the editors are 

 careful to cite date and chapter, if not verse, for all 

 their extracts, and they are most honourable in citing 

 their authorities. A full index renders the volume 

 comparatively easy to consult. The publication, 

 though issued at Colombo, Ceylon, is adopted for all 

 tropical countries. 



Tropical Products. — We have received from 



M. P. W. van Eeden, the Director of the 

 Colonial Museum at Haarlem, a series of handbooks 

 illustrative of that notable collection. The subjects 



