November 5, ls>91. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
393 
Surrey. He was, however, placed in a somewhat invidious position, 
because that meeting was not convened entirely on his own suggestion, 
but on the suggestion of a large number of horticulturists in various 
parts of the kingdom, but he felt that he could not do otherwise than 
call those together who were more interested than himself in fruit 
culture, which was saying a great deal. (Hear, hear.) They were 
probably aware that there was an opinion abroad that much was yet to 
be done in fruit culture, and the schoolmaster was abroad also, for the 
public were being educated to a great extent through the instrumentality 
of the united societies, which had done a great deal for the national 
welfare and the national prosperity. (Hear, hear.) He felt they might 
now take opportunity by the hand by promoting a national and inter¬ 
national exhibition, and if it was the wish of that meeting that this 
should be done it could be arranged on probably the largest scale ever 
attempted in this country. (Hear, hear.) The Exhibition which was 
held in Edinburgh the other day was a very considerable success, but if 
the meeting decided that there should be a large exhibition held in 
London that exhibition, he ventured to say, would be an enormous 
success, and would probably surpass those which had been held before in 
this or any ether part of the world. If the meeting decided upon pro¬ 
moting this exhibition they must commence at once, so that due notice 
should be given to the growers at home and those who were living in the 
colonies. It appeared to him desirable that a fresh face should be placed 
upon the exhibition, compared with the exhibitions which had been held 
in this country on previous years. In this matter he hoped every asso¬ 
ciation would join hands, that there would be no jealousies whatever ; it 
should not be connected with any particular association, an d he hoped 
the work might be considered good enough for every man, whether he 
held a high position or a low one in the scale of horticultural 
science, to join in this cause. (Hear, hear.) As to a site for 
the proposed exhibition, there were several places where it cou’d 
be held, such as the Crystal Palace or the grounds of the Royal 
Horticultural Society ; but he was inclined to believe that if they 
wished to make it a great success it should be held in the heart of 
London, where railway lines converged, and where anyone residing in 
London or the suburbs could visit it without difficulty. (Hear, hear) 
He knew there was a site on the Thames Embankment belonging to 
the Corporation, and assuming that the Corporation had not let that 
■site for building purposes, or disposed of it in the interval between the 
present time and October, he had no hesitation in sayiDg that, as a loyal 
body, and having shown a disposition to assist in the cultivation of 
fruit, the Corporation would assist them as far as they could. (Hear, 
hear.) He had taken one step with a view of sounding those in autho¬ 
rity on the matter, and he spoke with some knowledge when he said if 
a proper application was made at the proper time there would not be 
much difficulty in securing this site without any cost or charge what¬ 
ever. But it was necessary that a guarantee fund should be started, 
<not that he expected any deficiency, but they must provide for any such 
emergency, and he thought he -would be able to obtain very considerable 
guarantees from those who occupied the highest positions in the 
country. He would himself give a guarantee of £500. (Applause.) 
As to what should be done with the surplus, if there should be any, it 
was not a subject the meeting could discuss at the present time, but 
•there were societies which were doing good work in fruit culture, and 
.there w r ere two charities more especially connected with the horti¬ 
cultural community, and therefore in the future it might be consi¬ 
dered how far those to pieties had claims upon them. He did not desire 
an the slightest degree to occupy any position of prominence -with 
respect to the proposed Exhibition, if it was felt by those present 
that other steps should be taken, and that someone else should 
■be put forward—(“ No, no ”)—as President or Chairman of Com¬ 
mittee. He could assure them that he would be willing to take 
a humble part in the efforts which would be made in bringing 
about a successful result. He hoped also that all present would 
pull together heartily, with a desire to promote an exhibition 
which would be worthy of their united efforts. Sir James then read 
several letters expressing regret at inability to attend the meeting, one 
being from the Rev. W. Wilks, the Secretary of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, who explained that the subject of the advisability of holding a 
Fruit Show on a large scale in London next year had been discussed by 
•his Council, and the possibility of being able to hold this Exhibition on 
a vacant site on the Thames Embankment. Letters were also read from 
Dr. Hogg and Mr. Bruce Findlay, Secretary of the Royal Botanical 
Dardens, Manchester, promising to give their cordial assistance to the 
movement. Referring to the letter of Mr. Wilks, Sir James said he had 
no idea that the Royal Horticultural Society intended moving in thi9 
matter, and with regard to the site on the Embankment he had reasm 
to believe that no application had been made to the Corporation by the 
Society. Whatever was done they should not oppose that Society, 
because he wished its members to join them in the movement. He had 
put down a few points which he thought might be considered by the 
meeting, and these were that the title of the Exhibition should be the 
National and International Fruit Exhibition ; that it should take place 
.in October, and that it should be kept open for nine or ten days, and 
that the arrangements for carrying out the same should be on the 
broadest basis—(Hear, hear), and that the Royal Horticultural Society, 
the Fruiterers’ Company, the Royal Agricultural Society. The Gardeners’ 
Company, the British Fruit Growers’ Association, and all provincial 
•horticultural societies should be called upon to assist. 
A somewhat lengthy discussion ensued, in w r hich various details 
connected with the proposed Exhibition were discussed. One or two 
gentlemen took exception to the title of International, contending that 
the exhibits should be confined to British home-grown fruits, although 
they admitted that it was only in a very small way in which foreign- 
grown fruit took the lead, and that that fact was owfing to a better 
climate abroad. 
Mr. Smee then moved the following resolution : “ That in the opinion 
of this meeting it is desirable to take advantage of the prevailing 
enthusiasm in the cause of fruit culture in order to promote a National 
and International Exhibition in London next year, and that efforts 
should be made to combine with it popular lectures and demonstrations 
for the practical education of the people in profitable fruit culture.” 
This resolution, which was adopted, was seconded by Mr. J. Wright, and 
supported by Mr. H. R. Williams, Mr. Ckeal, Mr. Bunyard, Mr. Herbst, 
Mr. Cutlibertson, and others. Mr. Williams, in the course of his 
remarks, referred to the success which had attended fruit culture at 
Highgate and Hornsey, and strongly condemned any attempt to exclude 
foreign products, because he felt sure the public would be well able to 
judge of the superiority of English grown fruit when placed side by 
side -with that imported by the foreigner. (Applause.) 
Sir James Whitehead concurred with these remarks. 
Mr. Douglas said he had been asked to move the following resolution 
from the Royal Horticultural Society : “ That the Royal Horticultural 
Society are ready to cordially co-operate in holding a Great National 
Fruit Show in 1892 on the understanding that the horticultural arrange¬ 
ments of the Show should be left to the Society, whose members com¬ 
prised nearly all the fruit experts in the United Kingdom.” 
Sir James Whitehead, however, thought that societies should sink 
their individuality in this movement. Referring to statistics on 
English fruit culture, Sir Jame3 said he was pleased to see that there 
had been an increase during the past twelve months in the extent of 
fruit culture of 13,600 acres, and during the past three years the total 
increase had been 27,000 acres. (Applause.) 
It was afterwards moved by Mr. Laing, and seconded by Mr. Wynne, 
and resolved that a provisional committee should be appointed to 
formulate a scheme for carrying out the object of the foregoing 
resolution, and report thereon at a future meeting. And it was further 
resolved that the Royal Horticultural Society, the Fruiterers’ Company, 
the Royal Agricultural Society, the British Fruit Growers’ Association, 
the Gardeners’ Company, and the other horticultural societies should be 
asked to co-operate in the movement. One member from each of the 
above-mentioned societies, and a member of the Corporation and six 
other gentlemen, will constitute the provisional committee, with Sir 
James Whitehead as the Chairman. 
On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Crute, a hearty vote 
of thanks was accorded to the Chairman for presiding. 
It was stated before the meeting had dissolved that nearly £1000 
was already promised for the Guarantee Fund. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
HAVANT.— Oct. 29th and 30th. 
The eighth annual autumn Exhibition was held as usual in the 
Town Hall, and was the most successful yet seen in this town. It 
would be difficult indeed to find in another town such grand cut 
blooms as was exhibited here from so small a district, but much 
encouragement is given to growers in the neighbourhood. The Com¬ 
mittee is almost entirely composed of gardeners, ably led by Mr 
A. Chignell, and right well they do their duty. 
Cut blooms demand first notice, owing to their superior quality 
right through, the competition being exceedingly keen. The premier 
class was for thirty-six distinct varieties, half to be incurved and the 
remainder Japanese, and for which a silver cup and a money prize 
was offered for the best stand, with suitable second, third, and fourth 
prizes. Although there were but three competitors, the display was 
remarkably good. Mr. A. Payne, gardener to Mrs. Ernald Smith, The 
Oaks, Emsworth, was placed first by the superior weight of the incurved 
blooms in the back row, which were of grand proportions, fresh and 
neatly staged. The Japanese were good also, though some were, rather 
thiD. The names were :—Madame C. Audiguier, Mdlle. Lacroix, Val 
d’Andorre, Soleil Levant, Volunteer, Etoile de Lyon, Puritan, Mrs. C. 
Wheeler, A. H. Neve, Condor, E. Molyneux, Annie Clibran, Sunflower, 
Madame B. Pigny, Mons. Bernard, Avalanche, W. H. Lincoln, and Stan- 
stead White. Incurved Queen of England, Lord Alcester, Jeanne 
d’Arc, Golden Empress, Lord Wolseley, Empress of India, Mrs. Heales, 
Violet TomliD, Miss M. A. Haggas, Prince Alfred (extra fine), Golden 
Queen of England, Princess of Wales (the best bloom in the stand), 
Alfred Lyne, Mrs. S. Coleman, Nd Desperandum, Jardin des Plantes, 
Mr. R. Mudie, and Mrs. Naish. Mr. Agate, Havant, was a capital 
second, the Japanese being perhaps a trifle bet f er than in the first 
prize stand. Very fine was '\ iviand Morel, W. H. Lincoln, A. H. Neve, 
Sunflower, and Stanstead White. Mr. Fuller, gardener to the Right 
Honourable J. Matthews, Idsworth House, Havant, was third, having 
good Japanese also. 
Mr. Payne followed up his previous success by securing the leading 
position for both twelve incurved and the same number of Japanese, 
distinct, with admirable quality in both sections ; the names were Princess 
of Wales, Lord Alcester, Queen of England, Golden Empress.^ Prince 
Alfred, Empress of India, Golden Queen of England, Lord Wolseley, 
Miss M. A. Haggas, Violet Tomlin, Mrs. Heale, and Mrs. Naish. 
Japanese—Madame C. Audiguier, Stanstead White, Stanstead Surprise, 
