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73 
he accordingly sent cuttings of it to this country and to France. Mr. 
Pearson says that for making port wine this Grape is better than the 
Oporto (irape, being richer both in flavour and in colour. He writes : — 
" By fermenting its juice, mixed with an equal quantity of pure water, and 
adding three pounds of grape sugar to each gallon of liquid, I have made 
port wine better than any I have seen, which retailed in Philadelphia at 
S5 a gallon." The ' Ironclad' is being grown in all the State Experi- 
ment Stations in America, and one private Grape grower in California, 
having visited New Jersey on purpose to see the Vine, at once ordered 
20,000 cuttings of it, thus practically showing his opinion of its value. 
II. 
H.M. Customs : 
16th March, 1899. 
Sir, — You are no doubt aware that the imports of raw fruit into the 
United Kingdom are rated by the bushel as the unit of quantity. It has 
been represented that this unit of quantity is indefinite and unsatisfactory, 
and that some other unit should be used. The descriptions of imported 
raw fruit are as follows : — 
Apples . . . Bushel. Oranges . . . Bushel. 
Cherries . . ,, Pears 
Grapes . . . „ Plums . 
Lemons . . ,, All other sorts* 
In each case the bushel is supposed to represent a weight of 56 lbs., 
but perhaps a more definite unit of quantity could be used, and one more 
in unison with the daily transactions of the trade in raw fruit. 
I should be greatly obliged if you would consider this question as to 
unit of quantity, for doubtless the Royal Horticultural Society, which 
exists for the encouragement of the Home Industry, is fully acquainted 
with the need of obtaining information of such a character that, while 
showing the volume of Foreign and Colonial competition, it also at the 
same time sets forth the opportunities of our own growers, 
I am, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
A. W. Wood, 
The Secretary, DejJiity Principal. 
Royal Horticultural Society, 
117 Victoria Street, S.W. 
The Council of the Society sent the above letter on to the Fruit and 
Vegetable Committee, requesting their opinion. 
The Committee, not wishing to debate so large a matter as a Com- 
mittee, suggested that the Council should appoint a Sub-Committee of 
five to consider and report. 
The Council therefore appointed Philip Crowley, Esq., F.L.S., Master 
of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners and Chairman of the Fruit and 
* 111 this are included Currants, Gooseberries. Blackberries, Strawberries, Bananas. 
F * 
