FRUIT AND VEGETABLE COMMITTEE, MAY 8. 
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Fruit and Vegetable Corjmittee, May 8, 1900. 
Philip Ckowley, Esq., in the Chair, and twenty-one memhers present. 
Awards Recommended: — 
Silver-gilt Kniglitian Medal. 
To the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House (gr. Mr. G. Wythes, 
V.M.H.), for a collection of vegetables. 
Silver Kniglitian Medal. 
To the Earl of Camperdown, Shipton-on-Stour (gr. Mr. J. Masterson), 
for a collection of fruit. 
To the Marquis of Salisbury, Hatfield (gr. Mr. G. Norman), for 
splendid ' Royal Sovereign ' Strawberries. 
Aiuard of Merit. 
To Cucumber ' Ideal ' (votes, 8 for, 4 against), from Lord Aldenham, 
Elstree (gr. Mr. E. Beckett). This variety was raised from Lockie's 
' Perfection ' x ' Victory,' and is of medium size, with scarcely any neck, 
dark spines, and of fine colour. 
To Turnip 'Early Forcing,' as a forcing variety (votes, 15 for), from 
Lord Aldenham. A very fine selection of ' Jersey Navet.' 
Ctdtural Commendation. 
To Mr. J. H. Cuckney, Cobham Hall Gardens, Gravesend, for fine 
fruits of ' Royal Sovereign ' Strawberries. 
Other Exhibits. 
Mr. G. Wythes, Syon House Gardens, sent Cabbage ' Early April,' 
very similar to Ellam's ' Early Dwarf.' It was requested that seed be 
sent to Chiswick for trial. 
Mr. C. Martin, Clarence House Gardens, Isle of Wight, sent Melon 
* Clarence House Favourite,' a pretty well-netted fruit, with scarlet flesh 
and of fair flavour. 
Dr. R. Sisley, 1 Park Row, S.W., sent a small collection of Apples. 
Messrs. Laxton Bros., Bedford, sent a new Perpetual Strawberry in 
pots named ' St. Antoine de Padoux.' Fruit of moderate size, of a bright 
red colour, with prominent seeds, and rather small foliage. The Com- 
mittee washed to see it again later to enable them to judge of its value as 
a imy^tual fruiting variety. The Rev. W. Wilks stated that on his light 
soil none of the Perpetual fruiting varieties were perpetual. They fruited 
at the usual season, and again in the late autumn, but too late to ripen 
out of doors. They also behave in a similar manner at Chiswick. Mr. 
G. Bunyard and Mr. J. Cheal stated that on their strong soil they fruited 
continuously until checked by frost. It would be interesting to know 
whether those who succeed with these so-called Perpetuals allow the 
plants to grow quite naturally like other outdoor Strawberries, or whether 
they in any way prevent them bearing a natural crop of fruit at the 
ordinary time of year, and in that way induce an autumnal fruiting. It 
would also be interesting if some one on " holding " soil would pinch out 
