FRUIT AND VEGETABLE COMMITTEE. 
H 
Other Exhibits. 
Mr. W. G. Miller, Wisbech : Rhubarb. 
Messrs. Westmacott, London : Cape fruits. 
Fruit and Vegetable Committee, March 28, 1916. 
Mr. J. Cheal, V.M.H., in the Chair, and ten members present. 
No awards were recommended on this occasion. 
Exhibits. 
Mr. E. Beckett, V.M.H., sent three varieties of cabbage all sown 
on the same date in August 1915. The exhibit was of special interest, 
showing the great improvement in earliness 'of ' Harbinger ' and 
' April ' as compared with the well-known variety ' Ellam's Early 
Dwarf.' 1 Harbinger ' was quite ready for use, and as it is a small 
compact-growing one, it can be planted a foot apart each way. ' April ' 
was almost ready, only wanting a few more days to make it quite 
ready for use, while ' Ellam's Early Dwarf ' would not be fit for use 
for another month or six weeks. 
Mr. W. H. Bey, Seend : seedling Apple. 
Messrs. Cheal, Crawley : Apples. 
Messrs. Merry weather, Southwell : Apple ' George Ruffles.' 
Mr. G. W. Miller, Wisbech : Rhubarb ' The Sutton.' 
Mr. G. Taylor, Ferry Bridge : Onion ' The Urn.' 
On January 11, 1916, Mr. E. Beckett, V.M.H., Aldenham House 
Gardens, Elstree, exhibited Grape ' Cooper's Black ' in splendid 
condition, and considerable discussion arose as to its distinctness from 
one or two other varieties, and also as to its origin. Mr. Owen 
Thomas brought the following letter before the Committee on 
March 28 : — 
"Boconnoc Gardens, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. 
" Dear Sir, — In 1888 I went to Hillsborough Gardens as foreman 
under Mr. Bradshaw and there had the original vine of Cooper's Late 
Black Grape under my care for some time. At that time a very keen 
interest was aroused among the old garden men on the subject 
of seedling Grapes. As there was at that time so much criticism 
among a certain set of exhibitors in Ireland about ' Cooper's Black 
Grape,' I made all the inquiries I could on the spot from the men who 
had assisted in the vineries under Mr. Cooper. Undoubtedly it was 
a seedling of Mr. Cooper's and fruited about 1866, but I could not 
ascertain the seed parent. In the autumn of 1867 Lord Downshire 
erected a large vinery from plans drawn by Mr. Cooper, and the work 
was done by the estate carpenters. In the spring of 1868 the vines 
were planted, nearly all being late varieties, and ' Cooper's Black ' 
was given a place in the house. Lord Downshire died shortly after- 
wards : to be exact, in August 1868, The fifth Marquis died in 1874, 
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