416 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November G, 1884. 
next potted firmly in another compost, five-eighths of loam, two of 
dry cow dung, and one of leaf soil. They are then placed in a 
position so as to allow them to have the full benefit of the sun, 
and allowed to stand there until the middle of November, when 
they are placed in cold frames and protected from severe frosts. 
Mr. Lunt generally starts the first batch about the 20th of 
February brings them on slowly until they are showing flowers, 
then keeps them a little closer until they are set, after which 
they are thinned out to eight or ten fruits on a plant. Then comes 
the time to develope the fruit, with a plentiful supply of 
liquid manure given quite strong. They are kept close with 
plenty of moisture and a minimum heat of 60°, rising to 100°, 
with sun heat until they are colouring, then the foliage is pressed 
down and air given both top and bottom during the day, and a 
little at the top at night. By the above treatment I have no 
doubt your readers who are anxious to obtain large well-coloured 
and highly flavoured fruits will not be disappointed. —Undek 
Gardener. 
APPLE AND PEAR SHOW. 
Exeter—October 30th and 31st. 
This “ Exhibition and Fair ” proved highly successful in every respect, 
and it is to he hoped will become an annual event. It was originated with 
the primary object of attracting attention to the best sorts of Apples and 
Pears for all purposes, thereby conducing indirectly to an improvement in 
the culture of these fruits in the county of Devon, and, let us hope, also in 
other neighbouring western counties equally as favourably situated for fruit 
culture. That there is room for improvement no one will dispute, but how 
this shall be accomplished is not so easily decided. The Exhibition under 
notice is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, as being the readiest 
means of directing public attention to the need for a thorough investigation 
of the Apple and Pear industry. Offering prizes for the best examples of 
the most approved sorts in a district like that of Exeter must prove of great 
value to all who need instruction as to the merits of varieties, but the pro¬ 
moters of this laudable scheme should not rest contented with this, as after 
all it is only the commencement of, or one contribution towards, the necessary 
reform. We will suppose that this Exhibition was not merely meant to 
amuse some, perhaps the majority of the visitors, or to enable others to 
correct the nomenclature of the sorts they have in cultivation, and to suggest 
a few others that are worthy of cultivation. Praiseworthy as the latter 
objects would be, we should prefer to think that the end in view is rather 
the encouragement of growers for profit. That it is quite possible to grow 
great quantities of really fine fruits in the western counties is indisputable, 
and we are also of opinion that it is quite possible to market the produce at 
a profitable rate. The growers, however, must seek the markets, or in other 
words they should take more active steps in the matter, and not to sell at 
the price any neighbouring fruiterer may offer. Again, to turn all the Apples 
in an orchard into cider, simply because a profitable market near at hand 
cannot be found, is altogether an unreasonable proceeding. It is not the 
fault of the times that a good market for fruit cannot be always found. For 
instance, incur return journey from Exeter we spent several hours in Bristol, 
and could not escape noticing what a quantity of very inferior Apples were 
offered for sale in all directions, and yet there were great heaps of better 
fruit lying in nearly every orchard we passed on two sides of Exeter that 
might well have been turned to a better account. It may be argued that 
many of the Apples grown, in spite of their attractive appearance, are yet 
only fit for cider-making. But why grow such sorts at all ? What is really 
wanted is a central association to guide and watch over the interests of the 
growers, and with its help the farmer might find the best markets, besides 
obtaining other useful information. If the Americans can grow and send 
Apples to England at a profit, and which they do in immense quantities, 
surely the growers in the west of England ought to be in a position to 
successfully compete with them during most seasons. This, however, is a 
difficult matter, if they are always to be at the mercy of indifferent or even 
unscrupulous salesmen, as well as the railway companies that monopolise 
the carrying power in their respective districts, and this is another strong 
reason for establishing an association. While on this subject we would also 
strongly impress upon all growers the great necessity for selecting their 
fruit for the markets, instead of packing them promiscuously in the hampers, 
barrels, or sieves, as the case may be. It is thought by some to be a clever 
trick to place a number of very inferior fruits in the bottom, and to “ top ” 
these up with a few of the best, but this very unwise proceeding only serves 
to induce consumers to purchase the American fruit, which is usually of 
equal quality throughout. Fine fruit will invariably sell well, but that of 
poor quality, or a mixture of poor and good fruit, will seldom realise profitable 
prices at a distance. 
We were fully prepared to see a fine collection of fruit at the Lower 
Market where the Exhibition was held, but the reality exceeded our expecta¬ 
tions. Not only was there a very fine display of Apples especially, but the 
2000 dishes included an extraordinary proportion of fine well-coloured fruits, 
the competitors including well-known growers from Kent, Hereford, and 
other counties. On the whole, the nomenclature was highly creditable, but we 
cannot speak very favourably of the judging, especially among the collec¬ 
tions of dessert Apples, too much regard being paid to size. There were 
thirteen collections of twenty-five distinct varieties of Apples in the class, for 
which the first prize was contributed by the Vegetarian Society, Manchester. 
The first and second prizes went respectively to Messrs. H. Berwick and 
C. G. Sclater, both Devonshire growers, and the third to Messrs. G. Bunyard 
and Co., Maidstone ; but it should be added that had not Mr. J. Watkins of 
Hereford been disqualified for not staging the requisite number of dishes he 
most probably would have pressed closely for the first prize. Among the 
many sorts staged the most noteworthy were Beauty of Kent, large and 
highly coloured, a deservedly popular sort; Bellefleur, large and highly 
coloured ; Emperor Alexander, large, well coloured ; Lady Henniker, medium 
size ; Mere de Manage, large and very highly coloured ; Dumelow’s Seedling cr 
Wellington, very large for this variety and well coloured; Gloria Mundi; 
Red Hawthornden, very fine and well coloured ; Gravenstein, extra fine and 
highly coloured, a valuable sort; Winter Warden, a highly coloured variety, 
and apparently a great favourite among local exhibitors ; Golden Noble, very 
clear-skinned and heavy ; Striped Beefing, medium sized and well coloured ; 
Scarlet Tiffing, a highly coloured sort, not so well known as it deserves to 
be ; Bess Pool, medium sized and highly coloured ; Towers’ Glory, a medium 
sized and rather uncommon sort; Royal Somerset, of good size, heavy, 
bright yellow, and clear-skinned ; Russet d’Orleans, very heavy and probably 
a good keeper ; Eclipse, medium sized, very richly coloured and streaked; 
Black Prince, very dark-skinned, evidently a good keeper ; and such well- 
known dessert sorts as Cox’s Orange Pippin, Court Pendu Plat, Margil, and 
Ross’ Nonpareil. 
With twelve dishes of culinary Apples there was a very keen competition, 
and out of the eighteen lots staged the Judges eventually awarded the prizes 
to Messrs, J. Hain, J. Watkins, and Bunyard & Co., in the order named. In 
these collections most of the above-named sorts were extensively shown, and 
also several local favourites, such as Tom Putt, a very highly coloured sort; 
Sharper’s Apple, Yeitch’s Perfection, Golden Ball, and Madame Clarke. The 
Hereford Apples were, as a rule, the best coloured, while the Maidstone or 
Kentish Apples were, on the whole, the best selected. There were fifteen 
lots of six sorts of culinary Apples staged, the prizewinners being Messrs, 
W. Blackmore, J. Sweetland, and A. Trueman, the class generally being 
highly meritorious. Loddington or Stone Apple, Beauty of Kent, Cox’s 
Pomona, Blenheim Pippin, and Beauty of Somerset were particularly well 
represented. Thirty-five dishes were staged in the class for any culinary 
sort, and the first prize was adjudged to a fine dish of Golden Noble, a most 
deservedly popular variety in Devonshire; and the second prize was won 
with a handsome and heavy dish of Beauty of Wilts, a sort not often seen 
out of the district. The prizes for the heaviest Apples attracted several 
very fine dishes, principally of Warner’s King, the first-prize lot of six fruit 
of this variety weighing 6 lbs. 9 ozs. 
The class for six dishes of Apples, three to be of culinary and three of 
dessert sorts, was a very large one, thirty competitors entering. The first 
prize was awarded to the Rev. T. Yarde, the second to Mr. J. Stevens, and 
the third to Captain Lerett. Among the great number of sorts shown 
some of the best were Alfriston, Winter Warden, Yorkshire Pippin, 
Cellini, Hoary Morning (a very attractive sort of fairly good quality), 
Cornish Gilliflower, Tom Putt, Court of Wick, and Adams’ Pearmain, 
There were thirteen exhibitors of twelve dessert Apples, the prizewinners 
being Messrs. Sclater, Watkins, and J. Hain. The first-prize lot was rather 
too coarse, and included inferior sorts. Some of the best represented 
varieties were Court Pendu Plat, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Syke House Russet, 
Sturmer Pippin, Margil, Sam Young, Ross Nonpareil, Australian Pippin 
(said to be a good bearer), Ribston Pippin, and Adams’ Pearmain, all of 
which are good reliable sorts. 
Eighteen lots of six dessert varieties were shown, and this again was a 
good class. There were forty dishes in the class for the best flavoured 
Apple, and the preference was given to Cox’s Orange Pippin and Ribston 
Pippin, and in another class for the best dessert sort Cox’s Orange Pippin 
again secured the premier award. No less than thirty-eight dishes of 
Blenheim Pippin were in competition for the two prizes offered for them, 
and a remarkably fine lot of fruit they were. There were eight lots of 
Braddick’s Nonpareil staged, and the examples of this excellent sort were 
very variable, but on the whole fairly good. Buffcoat, a by no means 
valuable sort, was shown by twenty growers, but only eight dishes were 
shown of Celhni, and several of these were rather poor. Cornish Gilli¬ 
flower was shown by eight growers, and many of the fruits shown were 
unusually large. Only twelve dishes in the class for Cox’s Orange Pippin 
were shown, and this is rather surprising, seeing how popular this variety 
most deservedly has become. Court Pendu Plat was shown by eight 
growers, and the examples of this valuable variety in its own class and 
throughout the classes where included were much larger than usual. There 
was strong competition also in the classes for Gravenstein, Wehinaton or 
Dumelow’s Seedling, Ribston Pippin, Gloria Mundi, Gravenstein, King of 
the Pippins, and Red-ribbed Greening. 
Pears appear to be much less plentiful than Apples in the Devonshire 
districts as well as other districts, and as a consequence the competition 
was not so keen. There were seven lota of six varieties, and here Mr. 
Garland, gardener to Sir T. Acland, took the lead with extra fine specimens 
of Josephine de Malines, Glou Morqeau, Easter Beurre, Doyenne du 
Comice, Winter Ndlis, and Pitmaston Duchess. The fruit of the latter 
were wonderfully fine, weighing collectively 6 lbs. 10 ozs., and the heaviest 
1 lb. 10 ozs. ’The same variety was also well shown by other growlers. 
The same number of exhibitors entered in the class for three d.shes of 
dessert Pears, and such sorts as Doyenne du Comice, Pitrnaston Duchess, 
Gansel’s Bergamot, Beurre Diel, Beurr6 Clairgeau, and Winter Nelis were 
remarkably good. The fruit in the class for Beurr6 Diel was very fine, as 
also were the examples of Glou Mor 5 eau, Marie Louise, Doyenn6 du 
Comice, and Duchesse d’Angouleme; but the classes for Chaumontel, 
Passe Colmar, Winter Nelis, and Beurrd Ranee were very small. Stewflng 
Pears were shown in goodly number, and many of them were very fine, 
though much confusion appeared to exist as to the proper names of the 
sorts shown. Some of the best represented were Catillac, Uvedale’s St. 
Germain, Black Worcester, and Verulam. 
Some of the most successful exhibitors of Apples were Messrs. Watkins, 
Bunyard & Son, C. Sclater, C. Salter, J. Cox, E. Enstone, J. Searle, J. 
Stevens, J. Hain, F. W. Dymond, W. Salter, and Miss Matthews; Mrs. 
Manley, Sir T. D. Acland, Sir B. Samuelson, Mrs. Hainsworth, Mr. W. 
Blackmore, and Mrs. C. Smith ; while with Pears the most successful were 
Sir T. Acland, Rev. T. Yarde, Rev. P. Parsons, Sir B. Satnuelson, Mr. T. 
Townsend, Lord Poltimore, Sir J. Kennaway, Rev. P. Williams, Sir John 
Walrond, Messrs. Manley, Mr. G. Shell, Berwick, and Mr. G. B, Carlile. 
Messrs. R. Yeitch <fe Sons, Exeter Nurseries, staged upwards of one 
hundred sorts of Apples, these comprising all the best in cultivation ; and 
Messrs. Lucombe, Pince & Co., Exeter, and G. Bunyard A' Sons, Maidstone, 
also had very good and extensive collections of Apples. Mr. J. Turner, 
gardener to Major Cluggett, brought two dishes of Peasgood’s Nonesuch 
Apple not for competition. They were part of a crop of twenty-six fruit 
gathered from a small pyramid, and were remarkably fine examples of a very 
fine culinary sort. The Market Hall was prettily decorated, and great pains 
