356 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 18,1899. 
life? These and many others are questions that should come to all of 
us. That such gardeners and assistants are not myths I have ample 
proof. Can head gardeners wonder at their assistants deceiving them, 
when they insist on such unreasonable conditions? for everyone is 
well aware how difficult it is to keep these fixed temperatures when the 
temperature outside rises or falls rapidly, or when the wind is very 
rough. Where fixed temperatures are insisted upon I know it is very 
unpleasant for all concerned, for many places are deficient in heating 
apparatus, or the pipes are not laid properly ; and then it is well nigh 
mpossible to keep every house at any fixed degree.— James B. Riding. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
NATIONAL APPLE AND PEAR CONFERENCE. 
The Exhibition of Apples and Pears in the Chiswick Gardens which 
opened on Tuesday last, the 16th inst., and closes to-morrow (Friday) 
evening, the 19th inst., is a very remarkable one, and though lacking 
the novelty that attached to the Apple Congress held in 1883, and the 
Pear Conference of 1885, it to a large extent combines the merits of 
both with some special characteristics of its own. There can be no 
doubt that from a purely practical point of view the present one is the 
best of the three, and when the official or select lists of varieties are 
issued they may be expected to possess more than ordinary value. It 
was a wise determination on the part of the Committee to restrict the 
number of varieties shown by each exhibitor, as it is only by such means 
that anything like useful selections for different districts could be ob¬ 
tained. That the exhibitors have fully entered into the spirit of the 
idea is amply proved by the care which, in the majority of cases, has 
been displayed in excluding worthless varieties and representing only 
the best. In a few cases perhaps it must be concluded that the ex¬ 
hibitors have bad trees, bad soil, a bad climate to contend with ; but 
although there is a considerable difference in the size and quality of 
Apples and Pears staged from various districts, it is noticeable that 
the individual collections are more even, and consequently more satis¬ 
factory, than on the two previous occasions. At these meetings the 
struggle seemed to be who should show the largest number of varie¬ 
ties, and in consequence many of little merit were represented, and 
some that, except as curiosities, were absolutely worthless. However, 
both the former Conferences at Chiswick performed valuable service, 
and it is a subject of general remark that a most noteworthy illustration 
of this is afforded by the more accurate nomenclature displayed through¬ 
out the Exhibition. 
Apples, of course, constitute the major portion of the Show, being 
in fact by far the most interesting and attractive feature. Pears are 
generally rather under the average size, and besides being wanting in 
the colour which renders the Apple display so varied and bright, they 
occupy a somewhat dark tent that certainly does not add to their effect. 
Over 5000 dishes are staged of Apples and Pears together, contributed 
by about 100 exhibitors, coming from all the chief fruit-growing 
districts from Devonshire to Scotland. The home counties are par¬ 
ticularly well represented, Herts, Kent, Middlesex, and Sussex especially 
so, the collections of Apples from these counties constituting the best 
part of the Apple display. The large vinery or conservatory presents a 
beautiful appearance ; not perhaps so bright as at the 1883 Congress, 
but there is a sufficient number of highly coloured Apples to render the 
effect very pleasing. The whole of this building is occupied with 
Apples, two tables extending the full length of the house, in addition to 
the side stages, being filled with exhibits. The great class for fifty 
varieties, in which there are sixteen exhibitors, fills the whole space of 
one of these tables, and would alone form a show of much importance 
and interest. The opposite table is mainly occupied with classes 2 
and 3 for twenty-four varieties best adapted to the exhibitor’s district, 
and the best twelve varieties of Apples respectively, the former class 
c mtaining no less than twenty-nine entries, and the other nine. The 
side stages are filled with some of the smaller classes, such as those for 
six and twelve varieties of dessert and culinary Apples, Apples from 
cordons, bush, pyramid, and standard trees, those grown on special 
stocks, market varieties and new varieties. 
To the Pears the large tent already noted is appropriated, a smaller 
one also being filled with these and a few Apples for which space could 
not be found in the conservatory. Ten classes are devoted to Pears, 
and the entries range from two in the market class to seventeen in that 
for twelve dessert varieties. 
As regards quality the Apples are highly satisfactory', and they 
afforded a very agreeable surprise to many visitors who expected in such 
a season as the present one to find a considerable deficit both in size and 
quality. Many handsome fruits are shown, some probably having had 
the protection of glass, but there are abundant satisfactory specimens 
from trees in the open, and it must be said in justice to the nurserymen 
that the majority of these are exceptionally good for the season. On 
another occasion it might be advisable to provide a separate class 
for orchard house fruits, for at an exhibition of this character there 
is a danger that inexperienced persons might be disappointed when 
they failed to procure such magnificent fruits upon ordinary outdoor 
trees. 
As already remarked the nomenclature is generally satisfactory 
throughout, but some of the exhibitors have taken rather more trouble 
than merely to furnish the names. For example, in the Dalkeith collec- 
t.on of Apples from Mr. Dunn a very neat card is employed which gives I 
useful information regarding the season of the variety, quality, style of 
tree, stock, &e. The fruit itself in this case suffered greatly in transit, 
but the idea of labelling is an excellent one for meetings of this 
character ; indeed, if it were carried out at ordinary competitive shows 
their interest and usefulness would be materially increased. At the first 
Apple Congress forms of a similar character were supplied to the ex¬ 
hibitors, and much of the information thus secured was embodied in the 
admirable official reports subsequently issued. The Committee will no 
doubt be able on the present occasion to add considerably to the facts 
recorded both in the Apple and Pear reports, and any kind of election 
based on the reduced lists of select varieties will possess much practical 
value. At the same time the individual selections will be of especial 
local interest as indicating the varieties that have proved most reliable 
in each particular district. 
We cannot give details of the classes or varieties this week, but the 
following are some of the principal exhibitors, and we hope to refer 
again to the best collections for which commendations or some othei' 
suitable recognition will be awarded by the Committee. The leading 
amateur exhibitors are the Messrs. Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park, Acton 
(gardener, Mr. Roberts) ; A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Wallington (.ai- 
dener, Mr. Cummins) ; the Earl of Warwick, Warwick Castle (gardener. 
Mr. Christie); Mr. J. Rust, Eridge Castle Gardens, Tunbridge; Mr. 
J. Grex, Normanton Park Gardens, Stamford ; Rt. Hon. Sir T. D. Ack- 
land, Kellerton, Exeter (gardener, Mr. Garland) ; the Duke of New¬ 
castle, Clumber, Worksop (gardener, Mr. Gleeson) ; W. E. Brymer, Esq., 
Ilsington House, Dorchester (gardener, Mr. Powell) ; H. M. Middleton, 
Esq., Bradford Peverill, Dorchester (gardener, Mr. Gallop) ; the Earl of 
Ducie, Tortworth, Gloucester (gardener, Mr. Shingles); H. A. Brasscy, 
Esq., M.P., Preston Hall, Aylesford (gardener, Mr. Waterman) ; Lady 
Frances Fletcher, Kenward, Yalding (gardener, Mr. R. Smith) ; Sir 
R. Sutton, Bart., Benham Park, Newbury (gardener, Mr. J. Howe) ; 
Peter Thellussen, Esq., Brodsworth Hall, Doncaster (gardener, Mr. V , 
Chuck) ; J. R. Rolls, Esq., The Hendre, Monmouth (gardener, Mr. ''. 
Coomber); W. Roupell, Esq., Harvey Lodge, Roupell Park; H. J. 
AtkinsoD, Esq., M.P., Gunnersbury House, Acton (gardener,Mr. Hudson) ; 
Mr. W. G. Pragnell, Sherborne Castle Gardens, Dorset ; and Mr. Sidney 
Ford, Leonardslee Gardens, Horsham. 
The principal trade exhibitors are Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea ; 
G. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone ; T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth : 
J. Cheal & Son, Crawley ; Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross ; R. Veitch. 
and Sons, Exeter ; Dicksons, Chester ; T. Bunyard, Ashford ; H. Lane 
and Son, Berkhamsted ; C. Turner, Slough; C. Lee & Son, Hammer¬ 
smith ; Paul & Son, Cheshunt; J. Watkins, Pomona Farm, Hereford; 
C. G. Sclater, Exeter ; Lucombe, Pince & Co., Exeter ; W. El. Fretting- 
ham, Beeston, Notts ; J. Jefferies & Son, Cirencester ; Saltmarsh & Son. 
Chelmsford ; Laing & Sons, Forest Hill; and Peed, Norwood. 
On Tuesday the opening ceremony took place at three o’clock, in the 
conservatory, when Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., delivered an in¬ 
augural address to the exhibitors and about fifty visitors. He said that, 
as President of the Royai Horticultural Society, he had great pleasure in 
declaring the Exhibition open. He was not entitled to express any 
opinion upon the subject of fruit cultivation, but he knew that a great 
amount of interest had been brought to bear upon the question, in some 
measure due to observations made by gentlemen occupying positions in 
the political world who were possibly very much at a loss for a subject 
upon which to speak. An address was delivered recently on the subject 
of fruit-growing, but those people spoken of as having made £5 a year 
out of twenty chickens or a patch of Strawberries might be a little dis¬ 
appointed if they tried the experiment. Nor was it to be expected that 
in the cultivation of fruit they would find the panacea for the trouble- 
which has been afflicting the agricultural classes. The utmost that could 
be expected was that it would afford some assistance by increased intel¬ 
ligence and skill. So long as we continued to import fruit to the amount 
of £6,000,000 or £7.000,000 a year people would quote the fact as an 
evidence of what might be done in this country ; but it should not be- 
forgotten that a very large proportion of that amount represented fruit 
which could not be grown in this country. Since he had been in the 
gardens of the Society he had asked two authorities what they thought 
on the subject of cultivating Apples and Pears for profit. One of those 
gentlemen told him that after the care expended upon them and the cost 
the profit would not be more than 6d. per sieve, but the other said he 
was certain that for all the hardy fruit that could be grown in this' 
country a good market could be found. When these fruit Shows were 
held an attempt was made to collect every description of known Appl s 
and Pears with a view to getting rid of those which were of little value, 
but the present Conference proposed to invite the cultivation of such only 
as found favour and might be worthy of cultivation. The object of 
the Conference was therefore a practical one, and the Exhibition, having 
regard to the bad season, must be considered as satisfactory. One point 
of great importance vs at undoubtedly the question of railway rates, and 
in regard to the step which had been taken in the matter, he thought 
the Legislature had acted wisely in deciding that preferential rates 
should be considered and revised by the Board of Trade, because al! 
were painfully aware how the railwaj'S had had the monopoly of the 
means of transport in this country. As a result of the Conference, 
attacks had been made upon the nurserymen. It was said that they 
kept a large quantity of worthless Apple and Pear trees, and no doubt 
such was the case, but they did not represent the bad as good. He was 
quite certain with regard to the cultivation of hardy fruit that care 
and intelligence were of much more importance to the result than 
climate. An evidence of this was to be found in the fact that at the- 
