FRUIT COMMITTEE, JUNE 9. 



CV11 



(gardener, Mr. A. Miller), for some well-filled pods of Windsor 

 Castle Pea. 



Other Exhibits. 



The Right Hon. Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher (gardener, 

 Mr. J. Miller), sent some fine samples of Grand Admiral 

 Cabbage and Hicks's Hardy Green Cos Lettuce ; also three 

 fruits of Melon Ruxley Lodge Favourite, and a dish of Peaches. 



Lord Suffield, Gunton Park, Norwich (gardener, Mr. W. 

 Allan), sent fruits of four seedling Strawberries. Two of the 

 varieties (Nos. 3 and 4) were considered to promise well, and 

 the Committee desired to have them sent to Chiswick for trial. 



The Earl of Rosebery, Mentmore, Leighton Buzzard (gardener, 

 Mr. J. Smith), sent several dishes of fine Strawberries, viz. : 

 Noble, Auguste Nicaise, Keen's Seedling, Sir Joseph Paxton, 

 and Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury. 



Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent, by request of previous 

 meeting, fruits of Apple North End Pippin, which was considered 

 by the Committee to be identical with Gooseberry Pippin. 



SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 



D. Morris, Esq., F.L.S., in the Chair, and eight members 

 present. 



Vine Branch Grown in Darkness. — With reference to the 

 specimen exhibited at a previous meeting, Mr. Rivers contributed 

 the following additional information, accompanied by sketches : — 

 " The situation is absolutely dark ; first, there is a covering of 

 slates overlapping each other, above which is a bed of tan 

 6 inches deep ; the front wall and the back is of brick ; the 

 temperature must be very high, as the hot-water pipes pass 

 through the place, that of the house being seldom below 70° Fahr. 

 The house was cleared of Grapes and plants by the middle of 

 July, and the heat taken off. It was then undisturbed until 

 March, when the slates and beds were cleared preparatory to a 

 new crop. The branch was then discovered, its length being 

 about 12 feet. It had, therefore, been about nine months with- 

 out heat ; during part of the time a severe frost had lasted. The 

 leaves and bunch of Grapes were of the colour of a well-blanched 

 Lettuce. It is impossible to say how long the branch was 

 forming. I did not see any seeds in the fruit." 



