THE FOUR NORTHERN COUNTIES FRUIT CONGRESS AND SHOW. CCXXl 



he is a man who " earns his hving by gardening, " as does every jobbing 

 gardener from John o' Groat's to Land's End. 



A vote of thanks to the Chairman was proposed and carried with 

 acclamation, after which the proceedings of the Conference closed. 



DEPUTATION TO THE FOUE NOETHEEN COUNTIES' FEUIT 

 CONGEESS AND SHOW, 



Held at Hexham, Octobee 20-22, 1910. 



A DEPUTATION (Messrs. Geo. Bunyard, V.M.H., Jas. Hudson, V.M.H., 

 and A. H. Pearson, J. P., V.M.H.) was appointed by the Council to 

 attend the Congress. It was the first of its kind held in the district, 

 and ample proof was afforded of the practical interest taken in fruit 

 cultivation in the North of England. 



The deputation reports most favourably on the success of the 

 Congress (in great measure due to the exertions of the energetic 

 Secretary, the Eev. J. Bernard Hall, B.A., E.N.) and on the general 

 excellence of the Show. 



There were three complimentary exhibits from growers in the South 

 and West, as will be seen by the list of awards. Of those within 

 the sphere of influence (the Northern Counties) there were several 

 exhibitors who did not compete in the set classes, but who are already 

 well known as skilled cultivators. But it was not these, so much as 

 those whose names were comparatively unknown to more Southern 

 growers, \^'ho gave the impression of Northern excellence in fruit- 

 growing. In almost all instances the exhibits, both Apples and Pears, 

 were staged remarkably well, and from them an idea could be formed 

 of the best varieties for the district. . 



In the competitive classes the contest was keen and close in nearly 

 every case, both in the open " and the '* amateur " sections. There 

 was a marked indication of hardiness in all the fruits staged by the 

 Northern growers. Colour, it is true, was not conspicuous, but the 

 fruits were remarkably firm and weighty for their respective varieties. 

 The best varieties of Apples were ' Ecklinville,' 'Lord Suffield,' 

 * Lord Derby,' * Lane's Prince Albert,' ' Newton Wonder,' ' Bramley's 

 Seedling,' ' Allington Pippin,' * King of the Pippins,' and ' Worcester 

 Pearmain ' ; of Pears, 'Marie Louise,' * Beurre Diel,' ' Pitmaston 

 Duchess,' 'Durondeau,' 'Beurre Superfin,' and ' Hacon's Incom- 

 parable. * 



In the competition in the classes for bottled fruits there were many 

 good examples of the fruit preserver's handicraft and skill. 



It should be borne in mind that the altitude of the district, and its 

 topographical position, with the consequent exposure to winds and 

 sudden changes of temperature, limit the number of varieties of both 

 Apples and Pears that can be successfully grown, more so undoubtedly 



