INTRODUCTION. 



As The National Apple Congress of 1883 proved so eminently 

 successful, and excited so much interest amongst fruit-growers, 

 it was generally considered desirable that a similar Conference 

 on Pears should be held when the opportunity occurred. The 

 season 1885 seeming to present this opportunity, a resolution to 

 this effect was adopted at a meeting of the Fruit Committee 

 on July 14tli, 1885, and submitted to the Council of the 

 Eoyal Horticultural Society, when the following circular (greatly 

 abridged), which explains pretty clearly the nature of the Con- 

 ference, was issued : — 



''NATIONAL PEAK CONFERENCE, 1885. 



*' Boyal Horticultural Society s Gardem, Chiswick. 



" The crop of Pears this present season being generally 

 abundant and good, an extremely favourable opportunity is 

 presented for the examination of the numerous varieties culti- 

 vated throughout the country. The Council of the Eoyal 

 Horticultural Society has therefore decided to hold a Conference 

 on Pears (of a similar character to that so successfully adopted 

 in regard to Apples in 1883 ), in the great Conservatory at 

 Chiswich, commencing on the 21st October next. 



" This Conference will not assume the form of an ordinary 

 Exhibition — there will be no competition and no prizes — the 

 objects being the dissemination of useful knowledge on the varieties 

 most suitable for cultivation, to compare their merits, and to 

 correct their nomenclature, and generally to render the meeting 

 instructive to fruit-growers. The collection of Pears grown in 

 the Gardens, which contains many typical varieties, will be 

 available for comparison. 



" Growers of fruit will have in this Exhibition an opportunity 

 of correcting or verifying the nomenclature of their own fruits, 

 by bringing specimens with them and making a personal 

 examination. Every possible assistance will be given by mem- 

 bers of the Committee to such enquirers. 



" All fruit-growers are invited to contribute, and the more 

 widely the collections are procured, the greater will be the 

 interest created. No limit will be placed on the number of 

 varieties anyone may see fit to send, and it is not necessary that 

 they should be the products of his own grounds. The Council 



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