326 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 9, 1884. 
the Hotel des Socidt^s Savantes, Eue St. L6, and the proceedings were 
opened by an address which was delivered by M. A. Heron, the President 
of the Society of the Seine Inferieur. After the address the chair was 
taken by M. L. de La Bastie, Vice-President of the Socidtd Pomologique, 
and after some introductory remarks by the Chairman the meeting pro¬ 
ceeded to constitute the sections, and to appoint vice-presidents and 
secretaries. Delegates were present from most of the departmental 
societies of France, and England was represented by Dr. Bull of Here¬ 
ford, Mr. Piper of Ledbury, and Dr. Hogg of London, all of whom were 
delegated by the Woolhope Club of Hereford. 
What gave an unusual interest to the Exhibition of the Departmental 
Society of the Seine Inferieur was its somewhat international character. 
The Woolhope Club, as the foster father of the Herefordshire orchards, 
was desirous of placing the produce of these orchards with the represen¬ 
tatives of those of Normandy, and as soon as they were fully exposed to 
view it was evident where the attraction lay, and discerning eyes could 
pretty well decide where the honours would fall. Dr. Bull, with his 
usual energy and discrimination, had, on behalf of the Club, procured 
from the most important gardens and orchards in the county the best 
examples that could be found of the dessert and culinary varieties of 
Apples and Pears, as well as a considerable collection of the leading cider 
Apples and perry Pears, and samples of the finest cnis of cider and perry. 
This collection consisted of fifty-seven dishes of dessert and culinary 
Apples and fifty-seven dishes of Pears. Among the former might be seen 
noble fruits of Warner’s King, Lord Derby, Lord Suflield, Lord Grosvenor, 
Gloria Mundi, Costard, Catshead, Alfriston, Tower of Glamis, and Cox’s 
Pomona. The dessert collection was also very fine, and exhibited the 
several varieties in their true character. They had evidently been 
selected with great judgment, and were spoiled neither by their excessive 
size or by being too small. Among these were fine examples of the true 
old Golden Pippin, Yellow Ingestrie, Cockle’s Pippin, Pomeroy, Fearn’s 
Pippin, Ribston Pippin remarkably well shown. Golden Reinette, Brad- 
dick’s Nonpareil, Adams’ Pearmain, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Lord Burghley, 
Rosemary Russet, Pearson’s Plate, Scarlet Nonpareil, and Old Nonpareil. 
The Pears were also very attractive, and though not so large as those 
exhibited by the Society of Rennes they were not surpassed by any other 
collection. Among these we specially noticed General Todtleben, Triomphe 
de Jodoigne, Thompson’s, Marie Louise exceptionally fine, Beurrd Bose, 
Van Mons L6on Leclerc. So highly did the Society appreciate this 
collection that they awarded it a gold medal. The only other fruit that 
was exhibited on behalf of the Woolhope Club was a fine bunch of Black 
Alicante Grapes, which was so far ahead of all the other Grapes shown 
that this was also awarded a gold medal. 
The Exhibition which next claims our attention because of its extent 
and the splendid development of the specimens is that of the Horti¬ 
cultural Society of Rennes, to which a gold medal was awarded. The 
varieties that were the most striking were Beurr6 Diel, Glou Morpeau, 
Doyenne du Comice, General Todtleben, Beurre Superfin, Duchesse 
d'Angouleme, Marechal de Cour, and Beurrd Hardy. Of the following 
culinary varieties there were very large specimens—Catillac, Uvedale’s 
St. Germain (called Belle Angevine), Grosse Calebasse, Gille-6-Gille Poire 
d’Hardenpont, Bonchretien de Vernois. A silver medal was awarded to 
a rather extensive collection exhibited by M. Jouanne, but there was 
nothing in it that called for special notice. M. Vedie, a nurseryman at 
Boisguillaume, was awarded a large silver-gilt medal for a very excel¬ 
lent collection of 102 varieties of Pears, which consisted of the usual sorts 
with which we are already acquainted in this country. Indeed, one 
rarely meets with any varieties possessing any merit that are not already 
to be met with in our gardens. M. Varenne, Director of the public 
gardens of Rouen, exhibited a very large collection consisting of 231 
varieties of Apples and 136 of Pears, but besides the quantity there was 
nothing in the quality of the fruit to call forth admiration. As might be 
expected, there were numerous other exhibitors whose names are quite 
unknown in this country, and to mention them would not be of any interest. 
There were two very interesting exhibitions of Grapes, both of which 
were grown in the open air. The first that calls for attention is that of 
M. Fran 9 ais Marc fils of Yaudrieul in the department of the Eure. It 
consisted of 100 varieties, among which we observed some of those grown 
in this country, but they consisted chiefly of the small dessert Grapes like 
the various varieties of Chasselas, the small Frontignans, and generally 
of the many varieties that are cultivated in the gardens in the south of 
France, and which, though not unknown to the initiated in this country, 
are not in general cultivation. They were very carefully and correctly 
named, and M. Marc deserves great credit for the attention he bestows 
on this branch of fruit culture ; it was awarded a gold medal. There was 
another very good exhibition, though not so extensive as the former, from 
M. Charles Macaire of St. Pierre, near Elbeuf. It consisted of fifty-four 
varieties grown in the open air in the department of the Seine Inferieur. 
The bunches were not so large as those of M. Marc, but they were also 
well ripened and very correctly named. To these the large silver-gilt 
medal was awarded. In these collections we observed some of our own 
popular varieties, but of course they were very much inferior in quality to 
the manner in which they are produced in our vineries. There were 
bunches of Gros Colman wonderfully well developed to have been grown 
in the open air. Golden Champion was excellent and perfectly ripened, 
and the remark on the label was that it is of “ ler qualite et ties fertile.” 
Black Hamburgh was small, but well coloured. Calabrian Raisin quite 
small and disappointing, when we know to what a size it can be grown. 
Trentham Black also very small ; Royal Ascot smaller still ; Alicante 
not half a pound, and Mill Hill Hamburgh also very indifferent. 
Of miscellaneous fruits there was no great variety, The only 
collection worth noticing was that of Mr. Audibert, nurseryman of La 
Cran (Var), which consisted of several varieties of Diospyros Kaki, a 
Japanese fruit, which has already made its appearance at seme of our 
meetings at South Kensington. The names of the varieties were 
Toyama, Tsouroukaki, Torokoukaki, Kiarakaki, Ochirakaki, Tiodemon, 
Hatchiya, Matchimistan, Yakoumi, Marzeli, and Guiboki. None of them 
was ripe, consequently we could not form any opinion of their 
character as a dessert fruit. There were some specimens of Diospyros 
virginiana very well ripened and of excellent flavour. There are also 
several varieties of this, some better than others, and we have tasted them 
growing in the gardens of Tonelle, near Tarascon, so delicious, we have 
regretted that they are not cultivated in this country, which they might 
easily be in an orchard house, or in a house slightly heated. 
It would serve no useful purpose to extend this report farther and to 
occupy our space with a mere list of exhibitors, the names of whom can 
be of no interest to our readers. 
The exhibition of cider Apples, which was under the auspices of the 
Association Pomologique de I’Ouest, was extensive, and included, besides 
fruits, cider presses, pulping machines, and cider. 
The labours of the Congress of the Socidt6 Pomologique de France 
were much lighter than we have ever seen them, and consisted as usual 
in the examination of the merits of dessert fruits, and so rigid are their 
investigations there was not one which was adopted. At the close of the 
Congress the President presented Dr. Hogg with the gold medal of the 
Society in recognition of the services he has rendered to the study of 
pomology. 
THE POLITICS OF THE POTATO FUNGUS—A RETROSPECT. 
[A Paper read by ’Worthington G. Smith, P.L.S., M.A.I., at the Meeting of the Essex 
Field Club, Dot. 4th, 1834.] 
A FEW years ago a writer in Punch in reviewing some of my published 
work said that 1 had at that time extracted all the fun out of fungi. A 
week or two ago the editor of a horticultural paper said that I had 
exhausted every possible pleasantry from fungi, and he publicly challenged 
me to write another humorous fungoid essay. I do not consider myself 
quite played out, but it is not my intention this evening to aim at any 
pleasantry. If there is a species of laugh raised it will possibly be of 
the sardonic variety. 
There is nothing laughable in politics—at least so some persons 
think—and it may sound strange to many that there should be any 
politics about the Potato fungus. Politics were at one time rife on the 
subject of the origin of species, on evolution, on the antiquity of man, 
and lately on what has been termed the “ Schwendenerian hypothesis,” 
and still more lately on corn mildew. The word “ politics ” means the 
contest of “ parties” for power. Now there a.re two or three “parties ” 
who wish to have the Potato fungus entirely in their own hands, and 
to further this end they leave no stone unturned and no shift untried. 
Feeling runs so high between the contesting “ parties,” that in their 
published letters they frequently descend to personal abuse and even 
libel. Sometimes for a change the more lofty political grandees affect 
to ignore each other, and even to forget that their opponents are, or ever 
were, in existence. A talented, critical, and greatly respected young 
lecturer about a year ago strongly advised all his audience—after they 
hal heard his lecture on the Potato disease—if they wished to know all 
and everything about the Potato fungus—to closely study the writings of 
Professor B and Mr. C. Professor B. happened to be his former master 
and Mr. C was then his superior officer, and actually the chairman of the 
meeting. This was a case of unmitigated Potato politics, Mr. D and 
Professor E were quite overlooked. 
The chief combatants are the professional professors and the con¬ 
tinental “doctors,” but besides these there are always several little 
skirmishers who try to aid the great professors and the doctors, thinking 
that by delivering a little blank cartridge and making a noise they may 
gain the ajoproval of their masters, and some day perhaps get a 
testimonial. 
There are different sorts of “professors” and “doctors” as we all 
know; it will therefore be well understood that when I refer to the 
“doctors” and “professional professors” (the sole aim in life of the 
latter being too often the mere making of professions) that I do not refer 
directly or indirectly to any of the genuine doctors and the hona fide 
professors whom we all have such very good reason to respect. 
For my part, and I hope I am not envious, I have never yet been a 
professor, or a doctor, or a paid officer of any museum or institution. 
Politics, therefore, are not in my line. When. I was examined in the 
House of Commons on the nature of the Potato murrain, I exhibited an 
oiiginal drawing of the Potato fungus, whereon a certain M.P. coolly 
asked me if I had copied it from one shown by a respected Professor 
from Kew a few days previously. My reply, of course, was that the 
Professor had more likely copied mine. Thereon I was asked (as the 
printed blue book will show) if I “ belonged to the British Museum.” 
“No,” I replied. “ I consider the British Museum partly belongs to me.” 
These simple unsophisticated answers show that politics are not in my 
line. Notwithstanding this, I have unfortunately been mixed up with the 
Potato fungus perhaps more than any other person, and it is because I, an 
inoffensive outsider, once ventured to look at the Potato fungus and 
modestly express an unbiassed opinion, that the mere dangerous form of 
politics came into existence. I have never blindly sided with any 
“ party,” and this indeed has been my misfortune, for a Potato conflict 
never arises but I am bound to receive shots from both sides, as well as a 
