Clvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a wonderful testimony to the valuable fruit resources of British Columbia, 

 the quality, colour, and packing each competing in attractiveness. 



Apples from Nova Scotia were also to be seen in (1) a Government 

 exhibit and (2) a composite exhibit from fifteen growers. This colony 

 was thus more largely represented than it has formerly been at the 

 Society's Shows. It must be very gratifying to Nova Scotians that their 

 apple crop has been so exceptionally good this year, as proved by the 

 150 cases and thirty barrels sent for exhibition. It is estimated that 

 three-quarters of a million barrels have been produced in the colony, and 

 the estimated return is £400,000. 



A late arrival was that of sixty cases of apples and pears from 

 Ontario, sent by and at the cost of the Fruit Growers' Association of 

 Ontario, and previously exhibited at the recent Ontario Horticultural 

 Exhibition, from which the fruits were immediately transported to 

 London, and arrived only on the morning of the Show. Unfortunately 

 the fruit had suffered severely in transit, and the award secured was, 

 consequently, not so high as it would have been had they arrived in 

 better condition ; but they showed evidence of having at one time been 

 of great excellence. 



The West Indies were very strongly represented. Their interesting 

 and attractive fruits had been magnificently staged by the West Indian 

 Committee on behalf of the Exhibition Committee of Trinidad, Jamaica, 

 and Grenada ; also by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and the 

 West India Produce Association. These exhibits included Avocado pears, 

 mangos, claret bananas, citrus fruits of many varieties, sapodillas, 

 golden apples, good specimens of soursop, and a particularly good 

 collection of vegetables — such as eddoes, yams, red sweet potatos, and 

 white sweet potatos. Arrowroot, from St. Vincent, and sugar-canes were 

 also shown. 



Nor should the colonial preserves — jellies, syrups, and bottled fruits — 

 pass entirely unmentioned ; for though at present they cannot truthfully 

 be said to compare very favourably with the home produce, yet at the 

 same time they evidence what the Colonies can do, and hold out the 

 promise of a far better production in the near future. Amongst them 

 was a small impromptu exhibit sent by the St. Helena Committee, which 

 was most interesting as being probably the first time this little colony 

 has been thus represented at a great London Fruit Show, and from the 

 fact that his Excellency the Governor requested that an unbiassed report 

 might be made upon them for the information and instruction of the 

 islanders. This report was as follows : — 



Report on a Small Parcel of Jams from St. Helena. 



It would not be kind to speak of these jams in such a way as to 

 encourage the islanders to embark on their manufacture on a large scale, 

 only to meet with subsequent disappointment. True kindness consists in 

 pointing out faults and suggesting how they may be corrected in future, 

 and a really saleable article produced. 



First of all, however, let me say that I know nothing whatever of the 

 cost of carriage or of materials, so that I leave that entirely out of my 

 consideration. But if these be insignificant, then I am sure the islanders 



