JOURNAL 
OF THE 
Royal Horticultural Society. 
Vol. XXIII. 1900. 
Part III. 
SIXTH GREAT ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF BRITISH-GROWN 
FRUIT. 
Held at the Crystal Palace, September 28, 29, and 30, 1899. 
Although the Fruit Season of 1899 was by no means an exceptionally 
bad one, it was certainly not a good one, the crop of almost every descrip- 
tion of hardy fruit being below the average both in quantity and in size ; 
the frosts thinned the crops severely, the early drought made them an 
easy prey to insect pests, and the exceptionally hot dry summer did not, 
in the south-eastern districts at least, afford opportunity for the proper 
development of what there was left. In certain localities noted for fruit- 
production the almost unexampled hailstorms of midsummer rendered 
apples and pears absolutely unfitted for exhibition purposes. Notwith- 
standing these drawbacks the Show was an excellent one, and full of 
instruction for fruit lovers and growers. 
As an object-lesson in British Fruit cultivation this Annual Show 
stands unrivalled, and is of national importance. Those who have 
visited it from year to year cannot fail to have been impressed by the 
wonderful advance which has been made in the quality of the hardy fruits 
exhibited. And as the importance of fruit-growing in this country 
cannot well be over-estimated, the Council invite Fellows and their friends 
to support them in their efforts to maintain and improve this Exhibition 
by visiting it, and by subscribing to its funds. For it cannot be too 
widely known that the continuance of the Show is absolutely dependent 
B 
