8 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



This Committee at once drew up and circulated a letter 

 stating the objects of the proposed Apple Congress, and inviting 

 co-operation from all fruit growers in the United Kingdom, and 

 the response to this invitation far exceeded the most sanguine 

 anticipations of the Council, promises of support and consign- 

 ments of fruit being received from all parts of the country, com- 

 pletely filling the great conservatory, as well as several other of 

 the houses in the Gardens. The following figures will show the 

 extent of the interest displayed : — 



Number of Exhibitors 236 



Number of Dishes, or separate lots of Apples ... 10,150 



In the arrangement of the various collections received, the 

 different counties and districts were grouped together, so far as 

 possible, thus illustrating to some extent the general character 

 of the produce of different parts of the country, and forming- 

 some indication of the varieties most suited to different 

 localities. 



Kent contributed the greatest number of dishes, viz., 913, 

 Middlesex being second with 908. 



The following form was also sent out by the Committee : — 



"NATIONAL APPLE CONGEESS, 1883. 



"FoEM TO BE Filled up by Exhibitoe. 



" Name of Exhibitor 



Number of sorts exhibited 



Situation where grown, sheltered or otherwise 



Character of soil, sub-soil, &c ... 



Stocks on which grafted 



Character or form of trees. Standard, Bush ; age 



Best Culinary sorts suited to district, not exceeding twelve 

 Best Dessert sorts suited to district, not exceeding twelve 

 General remarks " 



Upon the returns thus obtained the Eeport of 1883 was 

 . chiefly based. 



The Committee met on several occasions during the Congress, 

 and, working in sections, made careful examination of the ex- 

 hibits, with a view to the correction of nomenclature, &c., which 

 corrections were in each case forwarded to the exhibitor. 



The number of different names applied to the Apples 

 exhibited, including synonyms, amounted to 2,020, and the 

 number of varieties described as presumably distinct to 1,445. 



In drawing up the Report of 1883 it was found desirable to 

 form separate groups or divisions of the different districts of the 

 country, corresponding to the arrangement of the exhibits at the 

 Congress. For example. Group I. The Southern Counties, 

 comprising Berks, Hants, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex,. 



