SEVENTH ANNUAL EXHLBITION OF JJEITISH-GKOWN FEUIT. 199 
SEVENTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF BRITISH-GROWN 
FRUIT. 
Held at the Crystal Palace, September 27, 28, 29, 1900. 
The year 1900 will long be remembered by British fruit growers 
for its large crop of Apples, and its immense crop of Pears, Plums, 
and Peaches ; indeed the irrepressible grumbler, unable for once to 
find much fault with the weather of 1900, was compelled to fall 
back on the over-abundance of most hardy fruits, and without doubt 
where thinning was not or could not be practised the crops were too 
large to allow of really fine fruits being produced in any quantity, or 
of the produce commanding high prices. It was therefore only to be 
expected that the Society's great Autumn Fruit Show this year 
should be somewhat below exhibition size as regards the fruit shown, 
and greatly above the average as regards the number of entries. And 
this expectation was fully realised, for the entries in the Classes showed a 
large increase, and though there were plenty of magnificent samples to be 
seen in all the Divisions and Classes, at the same time there were also 
smaller fruits than are usually seen at these Shows. Nor is this entirely 
to be regretted, for after all a moderate- sized Apple or Pear is, generally 
speaking, of superior flavour to one of gigantic proportions, and is far more 
convenient to the consumer whether he use Nature's appliances or the 
more polite knife and fork. Even sitting at table, a very large Pear is 
unwieldy and is apt to roll off one's plate ; and the mere taking the 
monster makes the least selfish feel greedy. Fruits of moderate size, 
well grown, well coloured, and well ripened, should always find favour. 
In their Annual Report the Council remark : — 
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 
w^ell 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 on at 
least £^100 being raised by subscription each year towards the Prize Fund. 
The Show involves the Society in a very large expenditure without the 
possibihty of any financial return. The Council cannot therefore continue 
it unless suflicient interest is taken in it by Fellows and their friends to 
provide i?100 towards the Prize Fund. And this will, in coming years, be 
even more important than heretofore, as the Directors of the Palace have 
