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Imperial Fruit Show, 1922. 



[Mar., 



At this period of the year Fruit Show Committees are 

 generally meeting to make arrangements for the holding of 

 Im erial Fruit ^ ru ** ^ nows throughout the country. All fruit 

 «i! * shows where the best of fruit is exhibited 



Show, 1922. . , , 



packed m an approved manner, are 



naturally of an educative kind, but the education can be directed 

 to appeal to different classes of people. It may be directed 

 towards affording stimulation and information for the producers 

 or it may be intended to arouse the interest of the consumers. 



There is certainly a need for both types of show, for no one 

 would say that the systems adopted by the producers of fruit 

 in this country are of a sufficiently high standard to admit of no 

 improvement, while the arguments for the education of the con- 

 sumer are possibly even greater, since at the present time large 

 numbers of people in this country know but little of fruit and 

 are unaware of its dietetic value. Wider knowledge of the facts 

 would increase their interest and stimulate the demand for good 

 varieties of fruit. Shows held m the producing areas are of 

 great interest to the local growers, and certainly meet the tint 

 point. In past years the fruit shows organised by The West 

 Midland Counties Commercial Fruit Show Association, The 

 F astern Counties Commercial Fruit Show Association, and The 

 Kent Commercial Fruit Show Association have had a very 

 beneficial effect amongst the fruit growers in the respective areas, 

 and there is a distinct need for the growers in other areas, such 

 as the West of England to follow their example in this direction. 

 These local shows are organised by the growers themselves, and 

 the cost involved is but small. 



The growers, however, cannot afford to leave matters "at that 

 point, because they depend on the sale of their commodities, 

 and it is to their financial interest to stimulate a demand for 

 these commodities amongst the consuming population of the 

 country. For this reason they should follow the example of the 

 motor and other industries, and arrange for shows in the large 

 centres of population such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, 

 Leeds, Liverpool. In order to attract the public these shows 

 must be organised on an extensive scale and be backed by exten- 

 sive advertising and propaganda. The cost involved in organis- 

 ing shows of this kind is out of all proportion to the cost of the 

 local shows, but they are vitally necessary, and the financial 

 support might be forthcoming by the friendly co-operation of all 

 the Federations of the Associations within the horticultural 

 industry. Co-operation at all times is difficult, and at present the 

 Federations are not prepared to bear the financial responsibility. 



