clxxiv proceedixctS of the royal horticultural society. 
Deae Sib, — Iii connection with the samples of our new Grape 
' Diamond Jubilee ' which we laid before your Fruit Committee on 
26th of last month, and the remarks on the post card we had from 
you afterwards, said remarks being, '* Very similar to Black Morocco 
Grape," we would be obliged to know if it is customary for this 
Committee not to grant awards to new Grapes when such bear a 
resemblance to existing varieties ; and as the remarks imply a doubt 
as to this being a new variety at all, is it within the province of the 
Royal Horticultural Society to make further inquiries on this head, 
either from the raisers or from independent sources ? 
For a good many years now we have made a speciality of not only 
Grape-growing, but the raising of new varieties. At present we have 
other six new Grapes besides ' Diamond Jubilee,' but before going to 
any further trouble and expense in placing any of them again before 
the Fruit Committee we should like to have some guidance as to the 
qualities essential to procure a First-class Certificate, or if the procedure 
is different now to what it has been in the past, when First-class Certifi- 
cates were granted to new varieties of Grapes. We shall feel obliged if 
you can send us aiiy information on this matter. 
Yours faithfully, 
D. & W. BUCHANAN. 
Deae Sie, — The object of our Committees' recommending, and of 
our Council making awards, is to encourage the production of, and to 
mark, improved varieties. 
If, therefore, a new Flower or Fruit is brought before the Com- 
mittee which very closely resembles an existing one, and in which the 
Committee fail to discover any improvement, it is obvious they cannot 
make any award. 
The Committee's remark that your Grape is very similar to Black 
Morocco " does not imply any doubt, or express any opinion one way 
or the other, as to its being a new seedling, but simply gives the 
opinion of the Committee that it is too like "Black Morocco"" to 
deserve any award. 
The qualities essential for any fruit to obtain an award are that it 
should be thoroughly good of its class and distinct, as well as being an 
improvement in some respect on whatever it most nearly resembles. 
The procedure of the Committees is the same as it always has 
been. 
Faithfully yours, 
W. WILKS, 
Secretary. 
