754 Report of the Steward of Farm Produce at Windsor. 
Division II. — For Cider and Peeey Manufactueeks only, wuo aeb 
NOT Geowers of Feuit (open to the whole of the United Kingdom). 
Class 5S. — Cask of not less than Eighteen Oallons or more than Thirty 
Gallons, made in the autumn of 1888. — Eight samples were exhibited, of 
which three came from Herefordshire, three from Devonshire, one from 
Somersetshire, and one from Norfolk. 
Class 59. — One Dozen Bottles of Cider made in the autumn ©/"IBSS. — 
Eight samples were exhibited, of which three came from Herefordshire, 
one from Somersetshire, three from Devonshire, and one from Norfolk. 
Class GO. — One Dozen Bottles of Cider made in any year before 1888. — 
Seven samples were exhibited, of which two came from Herefordshire, three 
from Devonshire, one from Somersetshire, and one from Norfolk. 
Class 61. — One Dozen Bottles of Perry. — Five samples were exhibited, 
all of which came from Herefordshire. 
In all ninety-two samples were exhibited, of which thirty-six came from 
Herefordshire, nineteen from Devonshire, twenty-three from Somersetshire, 
six from Norfolk, four from Gloucestershire, three from Worcestershire, and 
one from Dorsetshire, 
We consider that the Cider and Perry exhibited, and which was made 
prior to the year 1888, was as a Class superior to that made in the j'ear 
1888, but this would be accounted for by the fact that the season of 1888 
was unpropitious for the growth of apples and pears, and that in consequence 
the fruit did not attain that maturity and ripeness which are essential to the 
production of first-class Cider and Perry. On the other hand, some of the 
1888 Ciders were in our opinion of better quality than those made prior to 
that year, both the Champion Prizes being awarded to a Herefordshire 
exhibitor for Cider in cask and bottle which had been made in 1888. 
Some of the samples appeared to us to be out of condition and to show 
a great want of care in the making and management ; and we think that if, 
generally, more care was taken by the growers in selecting the fruit, in 
seeing that it was sufficiently ripe for grinding, and in the general 
management afterwards, they would be able to realise better prices for their 
produce. 
Considering the value of the prizes offered and the large area of the 
fruit-growing districts, we Avere somewhat surprised to find so few ex- 
hibitors, the whole number of samples sent, amounting to ninety-two, 
having been shown by thirty-five exhibitors only. 
We deem it right to say that we were generally unanimous in our awards. 
H. C. Beddoe. 
Chas. W. Tylee. 
F. J. Hayes. 
Hops. 
Seeing that tlie prize-list for liops amounted to no less than 
180Z., it must be said that the competition was not large nor 
adequate. Here, again, the weather of the simimer of 1888 
was undoubtedly the cause of this. No crop is so materially 
affected by wet and cold summer seasons as the hop crop. The 
whole yield of 1888 was of inferior colour and quality, so that 
many planters did not like to risk the reputation of their 
growths by showing hops of low colour, and lacking condition. 
It was the same at Kilburn. The show of hops was limited 
on account of the cold summer of 1878, which in the words of 
