CCXxiv PKOCEEDINGS OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



book, and pays in what is collected each week to the Treasurer, who, 

 in turn, pays the money into the P. 0. Savings Bank in the names 

 of two trustees. The men are getting plenty of vegetables, &c., 

 from their ground, and can spare fairly willingly a few pence weekly 

 to place in the club funds; and when the time comes for putting 

 manure on the land and ordering seeds, paying rent, buying bean 

 or pea sticks, &c., they have the money ready to be withdrawn 

 for such purposes. Beyond making it easier for them to feed their land 

 properly, and get good seeds and better terms by being able to give 

 larger orders, they also hope to get their goods at reduced prices. It is 

 proving a good and useful movement, having considerably increased 

 the membership and attendance at the meetings. 



Mr. Jay hopes to be able to tell the delegates at the 1913 Con- 

 ference how the first year's attempt has answered. 



The desirability of forming a small loan fund was suggested as a 

 possible means of extending the value of the Garden Club described by 

 Mr. Jay. 



The invitation for rules for the judging of bottled fruits produced 

 the following suggestions, which are given as sent in, but have not been 

 in any way revised or authorized by the E.H.S. : — 

 From the Croydon Mutual Improvement Society: — 

 That judging be done on the point system, desirable qualities being 

 as follows : — 



Points. 



1. Bottles to preserve a perfect vacuum after all screw 



bands, clips, &c., have been removed ... 6 



2. Fruit to be uniform in size ..... 4 



3. Clearness of syrup or liquid ..... 4 



4. Fruit to be of good colour ..... 4 



5. Wholeness of the fruit and general good appearance . 6 



24 



N.B. — Plums, Damsons, Cherries, and other stone fruits should 

 be perfectly sound and unbroken in the skin. Bottles should be quite 

 full, and the fruit within evenly balanced. 



From the Beckenham Horticultural Society : — 



Experts should be invited to draw up a code of rules based on 

 a number of points to be decided upon according to the difficulty 

 experienced — for instance, Easpberries should count more points than 

 Plums, and Eed Currants than Cherries. 



There should be two sections — culinary and dessert. In the case 

 of dessert the judges to award points for flavour. Bottled fruits shou\'i 

 include Tomatos and Ehubarb, which are generally classed as 

 vegetables. 



A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the afternoon's pro- 

 ceedings. 



