FRUIT CULTURE DURING QUEEN VICTORIA'S REIGN. 351 



Chiswick, where so many unknown fruits have been grown, tried, 

 and reported on. 



The old Chiswick collections were brought together by the 

 energy and knowledge of our late father in pomology, Dr. 

 Robert Hogg, and were with great labour classified and reported 

 on by Robert Thompson, the Superintendent of the Society's 

 Gardens, whose " Catalogue of Fruits " (1842) and the " Supple- 

 ment " (1853) remained the text-books on the subject until Dr. 

 Hogg brought out his " Fruit Manual " in 186G. 



Among the most valuable of the Royal Horticultural Society's 

 many-sided work is the awarding of certificates to fruits, thus 

 stamping them with its authority, and helping to bring to notice 

 many unknown and valuable varieties. On referring to the 

 published list of awards to fruits it will be found that (excluding 

 Melons) no less than 224 first-class certificates and awards of 

 merit have been given to new fruits (1887-97) ; and it may 

 interest those who question the value of the work done by the 

 Society's committees to say that, out of the 224 certificates 

 granted, only about fifty varieties have gone out of commerce, 

 and that through being superseded by better ones. At the same 

 time it should be remembered that even these superseded awards 

 were in many cases but the encouraging steps that led to the 

 further improvements. It would be well if, as individuals, we 

 all made as few errors of judgment. 



In the pomological literature of the period the first place must 

 be given to the late Dr. Robert Hogg, whose " Fruit Manual" 

 has become a standard book of reference for all British and 

 even American fruit growers. The work of Robert Thompson, 

 of Chiswick, before quoted; the publication of Mr. John 

 Wright's essay for the Fruiterers' Company ; Mr. Pearson's 

 " Hardy Fruits for the Midlands"; Mr. Cheal's ' < Practical Fruit 

 Culture" ; and, if it be permitted to mention one's own efforts, 

 my "Fruit Farming for Profit," and many other books have also 

 supplied valuable information in a popular form. In the earlier 

 period the " Transactions of the Pomological Society " (esta- 

 blished 1854) ; the Journals of the Royal Horticultural Society 

 in recent times, with the Reports of the Chiswick Apple and 

 Pear Conferences, 1883,1885, 1888; and Mr. Malcolm Dunn's 

 Report on the Edinburgh Plum Conference, 1889, supply prac- 

 tical hints for planters in all districts. " Scott's Orchardist,' 



