EXHIBITION OF SOUTH AFRICAN FRUIT. 



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EXHIBITION OF SOUTH AFRICAN FRUIT. 

 March 22, 1906. 

 By the Rev. W. Wilks, M.A. 



I HAVE been asked to put down on paper, not an official or formal report 

 on the show of Cape fruit held in our Hall on March 22, 28, 24, 1906, but 

 my own Individ aal ideas thereupon. 



First let me say, generally, that it was a most interesting and sur- 

 prising exhibition, and did the utmost credit to those who had organised 

 it and got it all together. Then I will take the several items and speak 

 quite candidly on each, keeping back nothing that occurs to me. 



Fresh Fruit. 



Apples. — Many very beautiful boxes and examples were shown — very 

 beautiful at a first glance, but on examination many of the fruits proved 

 "soft," and the prevalence of the black-spot fungus was quite remark- 

 able. Even where it was not sufficiently advanced to show through the 

 skin, its presence could be clearly detected by the tiny pit-like depression 

 which so often occurs over it. I cannot hold out much hope of a good 

 market for Cape apples unless, first and foremost, the black -spot fungus 

 be got rid of, and then firmer and crisper varieties be grown. 



Pears. — These were almost, if not quite, as numerous as the apples ; 

 and for dessert pears I think there should be a great future at the Cape 

 and a great market in England. The specimens shown were remarkable 

 for cleanness of skin, tenderness of flesh, and absence of all defects. The 

 size of the individual fruits left nothing to be desired. They were amply 

 large enough without being too big and coarse, as some of our English- 

 grown exhibition specimens very often are. But only the best varieties 

 should be grown. The following would, I think, be the best dozen (I 

 name them in order of ripening) : — ' Williams's Bon Chretien,' ' Souvenir 

 du Congres,' ' Triomphe de Vienne,' ' Louise Bonne,' ' Beurre Hardy,' 

 'Beurre Superfin,' 'Doyenne du Cornice,' ' Beurre Dumont,' ' Beurre 

 d'Anjou,' 'Josephine de Malines,' ' Glou Morceau,' 'Easter Beurre.' 

 Such varieties as ' Capiaumont ' and ' Clairgeau ' may sell at first, but 

 as soon as the consumers find out their comparative worthlessness the 

 market for them is bound to fall away, and that just when the trees in 

 the colony are coming into full bearing. Plant only the best varieties 

 and be sure they are true to name, for the nomenclature of the pears 

 sent to this exhibition was exceedingly faulty. Has anyone tried 

 ' Chaumontel ' ? I should think it exactly suited to the Cape, and it 



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