JOUENAL 



OF THE 



# 



EOYAL HORTIOULTUML SOCIETY. 



Vol. XXVI. 1901-2. 

 Part IV. 



EIGHTH ANNUAL EXQIBITION OF BEITISH-GROWN FRUIT. 

 Held at the Crystal Palace, October 10, 11, 12, 1901. 



By the holding of the Society's eighth Exhibition of British-grown Fruit 

 at so late a date as the second week in October it was hoped that the late 

 varieties of Apples and Pears would be shown in better condition than is 

 possible three weeks or a month earlier, and that growers from the Midlands 

 and the North would appear in greater force than they had hitherto done. 

 That it had a little effect in these directions was evident, but not nearly to 

 such an extent as had been hoped, and influential exhibitors were not 

 backward in urging that the earlier dates of former years should be re- 

 turned to. It is difficult to say whether the season of 1901 should be 

 considered a good all-round season or not, as opinions from different parts 

 of the country indicated that the weather must have been unusually local 

 and variable. It may, however, be roughly assumed that the Apple crop 

 was below the average, and the Pear and Plum crops distinctly above. 

 Nor had the quantity of fruit exhibited fallen off to any extent, as had been 

 freely prophesied by opponents of the later date of the meeting ; in fact, 

 except in 1900, the year of the wonderful crop of all fruits, there have 

 never been so many dishes shown as in 1901, which was only some 150 

 dishes less than in 1900. The correctness of the naming of the varieties 

 was considered remarkable when contrasted with the state of things that 

 existed when the Society first established this Show. 



We regret very much that the Crystal Palace Company are again 

 obliged to reduce down to £50 their contribution to the expenses of the 

 Show. This will make it all the more necessary for those who desire the 

 Society to continue to hold it to do their utmost to promote the special 

 fund for the prizes. For it should be borne in mind that as one of the 

 oldest of the scientific societies of this country it has always been an 



B 



