42 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 15, 18» 
offshoots spring up ; these should all be removed, leaving the one growth 
only ; by doing this the stem has a chance of becoming strong, and will 
flower ultimately. These offshoots will propagate very freely, but if 
wanted for this purpose it is best to leave them a little longer, 
when they will have a root or two, and consequently will grow more 
freely. 
The pots should be filled one-third with crocks, and the bulbs potted 
rather firmly about 1 inch beneath the surface of the soil, which should 
be up level with the rim of the pot. Potted in this way and placed in 
the position I have mentioned and with the proper treatment the Disa 
can hardly fail to grow, although it is said by some to be difficult to 
manage. 
Of the insects which are troublesome red spider will soon take 
advantage if the atmosphere is dry, but green fly can easily be kept 
down by the usual means of sponging and fumigating. As regards 
feeding, I find liquid farmyard manure is decidedly beneficial to these 
plants if given not too strong about once a week during the growing 
season. This is as near as I can explain the treatment which I adoj t, 
and which I think is the best for the Masdevallia and the Disa. 
THE BRITISH FRUIT GROWERS’ AS30CIATI0X. 
The annual general meeting of the above Association was held in 
the Hotel Windsor, Victoria Street, S.W., on Thursday, January 8th, 
at 6 P.M. There was a good attendance of members, but several were 
unable to be present owing to the severe weather, and the President, 
Lord Brooke, telegraphed, expressing his regret that he could not attend, 
as he was unwell and not allowed to leave the house. In his absence 
one of the Vice-Presidents, Dr. Maxwell T. Masters, took the chair. 
The principal business was to receive the Committee’s report and 
financial statement for the last year, to elect officers and Committee 
for 1891, and to consider the programme and work of the Association. 
After the minutes of the pi-evious general meeting had been read and 
confirmed the report as follows was read by Mr. J. Cheal ; — 
Report 1888—1890. 
In presenting their report for the year 1890, the Committee of the 
British Fruit Growers’ Association consider it desirable to briefly review 
the history of this organisation, the progress that has been made, and 
the effects resulting from its action in the promotion of fruit culture, as 
important changes have occurred. 
When it was publicly announced, early in May, 1888, that a Con¬ 
ference of fruit growers would be held at the Crystal Palace in 
September of that year, the project was most favourably received. 
Hundreds of approving and suggestive letters were forwarded to t'nose 
entrusted with the arrangements, and it became at once apparent that 
the proposed meeting was exactly in accordance with the wishes of 
fruit growers genera ly. A large and representative Committee was 
formed, and a full programme was prepared and published. This 
was carried out in its entirety on September 7th and 8th, under the 
presidency of T. Francis Rivers, Esq. The meetings were exceptionally 
well attended on both days, and the proceedings were fully reported in 
most of the leading daily and weekly papers, articles also being 
devoted to the subject in come of the more important organs. A con- 
5iiderable amount of publicity was thus afforded to the matter, such as 
is very rarely accorded to special or technical subjects in the daily press. 
Recognising the importance of the gathering and of the information 
adduced, a number of these present suggested that an organisation 
should be formed, to be devoted to a continuation of the work thus 
commenced. This was proposed at the conclusion of the business, 
and a resolution “ That a Society of Fruit Growers be instituted,” was 
duly seconded and carried unanimously. The Executive Committee of 
the Conference was entrusted with the preparation of a scheme for 
carrying this into effect, and at a meeting held in London a few days 
after a draft was prepared as the basis upon which the British Fruit 
Growers’ Association was organised, and this was published, together 
with the names of officers and Committee. Another Conference was 
held in the Crystal Palace on October 11th, which was well attended, 
“Profitable Fruit Culture’’ being the subject under discussion. 
Numerous promises of support for the Association were received, 
and at a subsequent meeting of the Committee it was resolved to hold a 
Conference on railway rates at Westminster. This tock place on 
November 8tb, 1888, and evoked many interesting and important facts, 
mest of which were published at the time in the horticultural pap.-rs. 
It was proposed that the Association should collect as much information 
as possible bearing upon the subject, with a view to subsequent publica¬ 
tion. The business of the year concluded with the re-election of officers 
and Committee, with a few alterations for the following year. 
The progress up to this point had been rapid and satisfactory, but 
owing to the prolonged illness of one of the officers in 1889, no action 
was taken with regard to the work of the Association until October of 
that year, when a Conference was arranged to be held at the Crystal 
Palace on October 10..h at 3 p.ji., when excellent papers were read 
dealing with fruit culture generally, and with Peaches and Nectarines 
specia’ly. Several meetings were also subsequently held with the object 
of extending the usefulness of the Association, and at the annual meet¬ 
ing of that year the rules were more fully elaborated with some altera¬ 
tions in the constitution of the Association that were considered 
necessary, and an important programme was prepared. 
Vigorous action was taken early in 1890 ; the report, programme, 
rules, and objects of the Association were widely circulated, with tha 
result that the number of members rapidly increased, and the work of 
the Association was again brought into prominence. The first important 
meeting of the year was occasioned by an invitation from Brownlow 
R. C. Tower, Esq., agent for Earl Brownlow at Ellesmere, Salop, and 
Hon. Secretary to the local Horticultural Society, for the Association to 
send a lecturer to discourse on “ Profitable Fruit Culture,” at a public 
meeting in the town named. The meeting was held in the Town Hall, 
Ellesmere, on Saturday, March 22ad, and was attended by a large and 
appreciative audience. An exhaustive practical lecture was delivered' 
by Mr. John Wright, which was followed by excellent speeches by Mr.. 
E. J. Baillie of Chester and Mr. G. Bunyard, Mr. Tower subsequently 
wrote expressing the greatest satisfaction with the proceedings gene- 
rallv, and thanking the Committee for their assistance. 
On Friday, June 27th, a Strawberry Conference and Exhibition were- 
held at Westminster, when papers were contributed by Messrs, 
T. F. Rivers, Shirley Hibbeid, J. Wright, G. Bunyai’d, and T. Laxton. 
The exhibits comprised 160 dishes of Strawberries from nineteen ex¬ 
hibitors, representing nine counties—namely, Kent, Surrey, Bedford, 
Cambridge, Herts, Hants, Sussex, Middlesex, and Herefordshire. Forty- 
varieties of Strawberries were included, and many very handsome fruits' 
were shown, especially those from Mr. T. Sharp of the Royal Strawberry' 
Gardens, Knowle Hill, Virginia Water. So much valuable information- 
on the history and culture of Strawberries, both under glass and out of 
doors, was included in the papers read, that it was subsequently resolved? 
to re-publish them as a complete report, which was issued free to ali 
members, and is now sold to the general public at 61. per copy. 
A conference was also held at Leicester on August 5th, in conjunc- 
tion with the local horticultural Exhibition, in the Abbey Park. James 
Ellis, Esq., M.P , occupied the chair, and papers were read by Messrs. 
Rivers, Ingram (Belvoir Castle Gardens), A. H. Pearson, and G. Bun- 
yard. The Chairman was supported by the Mayor, Dr. Lankester, andi 
several gentleman in the district, and there was a good attendance. 
The members of the Association who were present to read papers or take 
part in the discussion were entertained by the Mayor and Corporation, 
and much local interest was excited in the subject of fruit culture. 
Somewhat earlier in the season Messrs. Gordon and Castle, having 
announced their intention to spend a holiday in Ireland during the 
autumn, with a view to investigating the condition and prospects of 
fruit culture in Ireland, were unanimously appointed delegates of the 
Association, and desired to prepare a report upon the subject, to be 
submitted at one of the London meetings. Leaving Leicester on the 
evening of August 5th the delegates proceeded to Belfast via Stranraer 
and Larne ; investigations here commenced in the counties of London¬ 
derry and Antrim, and continued thence south to Cork and Kerry, 
taking alt the principal districts in the way. They also proceeded to 
Limerick and returned to Dublin, where they were received by the 
Council of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland, who promised 
every assistance in obtaining further information, and forwarding the- 
special objects of the Association. The delegates experienced much' 
courteous attention during the journey, and most cordial readiness to- 
help in every way. 
At the Crystal Palace Conference, on September 5th, an outline 
report of the Irish tour was presented, a full description of the journey 
and its results being reserved for separate publication. Papers were 
also contributed by Mr. Rivers, Mr. J. Smith of Mentmore (read by 
Mr. Joseph Cheal), and by Mr. Bunyard. On this occasion the chair 
was taken by G. T. Rait, Esq., one of the Directors of the CrystaB 
Palace. There was an excellent attendance, and a brisk discussion- 
followed, in which many cultivators took part. In conjunction with 
this meeting an exhibit of Irish Apples and Pears was provided, 
representing the varieties chiefly grown, and showing the poor quality 
of old orchard fruit as compared with that from gardens. 
The next meeting was at Brighton, on September 11th, and irt 
journeying thither the members took advantage of the opportunity to- 
visit Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons at Crawley, where several extremely 
pleasant hours were spent, and after partaking of Messis. Cheat’s gene¬ 
rous hospitality the visitors proceeded to Brighton. There arrangements 
were made for holding the Conference in the King’s Room of the Royal- 
Pavilion. The Mayor, G. Manwaring, Esq., took the chair at 4 P.M., and’ 
the meeting was addressed by Mr. Rivers and Mr. Gordon, papers also- 
being contributed by Mr. J. Roberts, Mr. W. Iggulden, Mr. J. Cheal, 
Mr. A. Cheal, and Mr. R. Smith. The attendance was good, and the 
meeting was fully and favourably reported in the local papers. Some, 
members remained in Brighton until the following day, when they 
visited the market gardens and fruit-growing establishments at Worth¬ 
ing. They were courteously received by all the growers, and had a most 
interesting and extended tour of inspection, chiefly under the guidance 
of Mr. A. Cheal and Mr. W. G. Head, who are familiar with the. 
district. 
The Fruiterers’ Company having resolved to hold an Exhibition of 
hardy fruit in the Guildhall, invited the assistance of several members 
of the British Fruit Growers’ Association. An elaborate schedule was 
prepared, a large amount being offered in prizes, and though the seasoa 
was a bad one for fruit generally, an excellent show was provided on 
October 6th, 7th, and 8th. To this members of the Association con¬ 
tributed a non-competitive exhibit of 300 dishes of Apples and Pears, 
comprising at least 1800 fruits. These came from thirty exhibitors in> 
