October 4, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
311 
would be kept in this country which now go to the foreign 
growers. 
An interesting discussion followed, in which Messrs. J. Cheal, 
J. Mclndoe, S. T. Wright, W. Roupell, and other gentlemen took 
part, all of whom supported the opinion of the lecturer. Mr. 
S. T. Wright said according to his experience, however, the 
northern buyers did not care to have the Apples packed separately 
in paper, although as regards Pears he had found the plan answer 
admirably. He also said that the labour troubles affected the sale 
of fruit, in the manufacturing districts especially. Mr. Roupell 
mentioned the pleasing fact of his having sent Muscat of 
Alexandria Grapes to Chicago, and was informed that they had 
arrived in excellent condition. On this occasion the Conference 
was held in a much larger hall than the previous ones, but this 
room was crowded, which, as before remarked, goes to prove the 
great interest that is at present being taken in the cultivation of 
fruit. In consequence of this we give prominence to the report 
of a magnificent show, which it is to be hoped will be repeated by 
the Royal Horticultural Society next year, and under similar 
circumstances. 
THE CRYSTAL PALACE FRUIT SHOW. 
September 29th, October 1st and 2nd. 
When the idea of holding a three-days exhibition of British grown 
fruit at the Crystal Palace, under the auspices of the Eoyal 
Horticultural Society, was first made public, various opinions were 
expressed as to whether the venture would prove a success. It was 
thought by some that the dates selected would prevent many growers 
exhibiting, but such apparently was not the case. Considering the 
season it was, on the whole, a magnificent show, affording ample 
evidence of what can be done when two powerful bodies amalgamate. 
Both transepts at the Crystal Palace were required to stage the exhibits, 
these being placed on many thousand cubic feet of tabling. About 138 
exhibitors competed, these coming from many parts of Great Britain, 
while Scotland was splendidly represented, especially in the Grape 
classes. 
Regarding the quality of the fruit, that was generally considered to 
be excellent. The colour of many of the Apples shown by Kentish and 
other southern growers was remarkable, and caused much surprise, 
inasmuch as those staged by the northern cultivators were, in many 
instances, practically colourless. Neither Apples nor Pears could be 
compared with those of last year as regards size, the latter this season 
being much smaller than usual. There were, of course, exceptions in 
this respect, as in some of the competitive classes splendid Pears were 
shown, but on the whole they were below the average. Grapes were 
excellent, and in some classes the competition was unusually keen, the 
same applying to various other classes in which the exhibits were nume¬ 
rous. The nurserymen’s productions were for the most part arranged 
by themselves in one of the transepts, and made an imposing display. 
Most of the well known growers in the kingdom were represented, 
some of them sending extensive collections of splendid fruit, as notified 
in the report which follows. 
Open Classes. 
The first division of the open section comprised twenty-one classes, 
which included those for collections of fruit grown in the open air or 
under glass, also Grapes, Peaches, Tomatoes, and Figs. In some of the 
smaller ones of these there were several exhibitors, but the larger classes 
did not appear to induce a very keen competition. As an example there 
was the class for a collection of ripe fruit of fifteen distinct varieties, to 
include two varieties of Melons and dish each black Grapes, white 
Grapes, white or yellow Plums, red or black Plums, Peaches, Nectarines, 
Apples, Pears, and five other dishes of fruit of distinct varieties. Mr. 
Mclndoe, gardener to Sir J. W. Pease, Bart., Hutton Hall, Guisborough, 
was apparently the only exhibitor, and received the premier award. 
His Grapes were Foster’s Seedling and Gros Colman, both of which were 
well finished. Melons, Verdant Green and Noble ; Plums, Magnum 
Bonum and Pond’s Seedling ; Nectarines, Humboldt; Apricots, Moor 
Park ; Figs, Brown Turkey ; Apples, Washington ; Pears, Pitmaston 
Duchess ; Peaches, Exquisite ; Gooseberries, Warrington ; Musa Caven¬ 
dish!, and the Passion fruit. There were four competitors in the class 
for a collection of ripe fruit of nine distinct varieties. Pines excluded. 
The schedule stated that two dishes of Grapes, one Melon, one dish of 
Peaches, Nectarines, Pears, Apples, and two other dishes of fruit were 
to be included. Mr. J. Masterton, gardener to the Countess of Camper- 
down, Weston House, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, was placed first. 
This exhibitor had good Muscat of Alexandria and Black Alicante 
Grapes, King of the Pippin Apples, Morello Cherries, Barrington Peaches, 
The Countess Melon, Brown Turkey Figs, Pineapple Nectarine, and 
Beurr^ d’Amaiilis Pears. Mr. S. Haines, gardener to Hon. D. P. Bouverie, 
was second with a good collection. Mr. W. J. Empson, gardener to 
Mrs. Wingfield, Ampthill House, Beds, being third. 
Grayes .—These were splendidly shown, particularly in the class for 
six distinct varieties. The first prize went to Mr. Alec Kirk, gardener 
to J. Thomson Paton, Esq., Norwood, Alloa, N.B., for magnificent 
bunches. The varieties shown were Muscat of Alexandria, Gros Maroc, 
Mrs. Pearson, Madresfield Court, Black Hamburgh and Duke of 
Buccleuch, the latter being especially fine. Mr. J. Berry, gardener to 
C. Bower, Esq., Tewesbury Lodge, Forest Hill, was awarded the second 
prize, Muscat of Alexandria, Gros Maroc and Alicante being the best. 
The third prize went to Mr. J. Mclndoe, whose best Grapes were Gros 
Guillaume. 
Mr. G. Reynolds, gardener to Messrs. Rothschild, Gunnersbury 
House, Acton, secured the first prize for three varieties of Grapes, two 
bunches of each. The kinds shown were Alicante, Muscat of Alexandria, 
and Gros Maroc. The second prize went to Mr. James Day, Galloway 
House, Garliestown, Scotland, who staged two grand bunches of Mrs. 
Pince amongst others. In the class for three bunches of Madresfield 
Court Mr. W. F. Empson was first, the second and third prizes going to 
Mr. J. Gibson and Mr. W. W. Farr. The prizes for Black Hamburgh 
Grapes went to Messrs. J. Gibson and W. Howe, who had fair examples. 
Mr. G. Reynolds won the premier award for three bunches of Gros 
Colman, Mr. Mclndoe being second, and Mr. S. T. Wright third, the 
competition in this class being unusually keen. 
For three bunches of white Grapes, Mr. Thos. Osman, gardener to 
L. T. Baker, Esq., was awarded the first prize for fine examples of 
Dr. Hogg, the second prize going to Mr. G. Reynolds for three bunches 
of Buckland Sweetwater, and the third to Mr. J. Wallis, Keele Hall, 
Newcastle, Staffs, for Golden Queen. Muscats formed an interesting 
class, four exhibitors competing, and the first prize was awarded to 
Mr. W. Tidy for large well coloured bunches. Mr. W. H. Lees, Trent 
Park, New Barnet, was a close second, the third prize going to Mr. J. 
Bury. 
In the class for three bunches of black Grapes the competition was 
very keen. Mr. James Day was first in the class for three bunches, 
staging fine and well-coloured examples of Gros Guillaume. This was 
another instance of what can be done over the border. Mr. Hudson, 
Gunnersbury House, Acton, was second with Alnwick Seedling, and 
Mr. W. Sanders, Andover, Hants, third with the same variety. Mr. 
G. GiflSn, gardener to J. Astley, Esq., Coombe Bank, Kingstoa-on- 
Thames, was first with three bunches of Alicante, the second prize going 
to Mr. W. Tayler, and the third to Mr. W. Howe, all of whom showed 
well. Messrs. T. Rivers & Son were the only competitors in the class 
for three Vines in pots bearing ripe fruit, and deservedly received the 
premier award. Two of the Vines were Black Alicante, and the other 
Gros Colman, each in fine condition. 
Peaches and I^ectarines .—The classes confined to these fruits were 
not very numerous, but the produce staged was of very fair quality, 
especially in the case of the first named. For three dishes of Peaches, 
distinct, Mr. J. Gore was a good first with Walburton Admirable, 
Princess of Wales, and Sea Eagle, alt in fine form. Mr. G. Woodward 
was second, and Mr. Mclndoe, third. For one dish of Peaches Mr. 
Wallis, gardener to R. Sneyd, Esq., was first with Sea Eagle. Mr. 
T. Lunt, Dunblane, second with Walburton Admirable; and Mr. 
Markham third with Princess of Wales; each of the competitors 
showing well. Mr. Wallis was first for a dish of Nectarines with 
Victoria; Mr. W. Pope being second with Balgowan, and Mr. Haines, 
gardener to the Hon. D. P. Bouverie, third with Pineapple. 
Figs and Tomatoes .—The prizes for a dish of Figs went to 
Messrs. W. Pope, Kerry and Haines, each exhibitor staging Brown 
Turkey. The classes devoted to Tomatoes provoked keen competition, 
and some superb fruits were staged. The principal class was for four 
dishes of distinct varieties, nine fruits of each, and Mr. J. Gore was 
accorded the premier position with Polegate, Trophy, Ham Green 
Favourite, and Challenger. Mr. Howe was a capital second with Hack- 
wood Park, and in good condition ; Mr. E. Ryder, Orpington, being a 
creditable third. In the class for a dish of any one variety Messrs. 
Garraway, Blake, and Thompson were the most successful competitors, 
each staging fine examples of Perfection. The only other Tomato class 
was for six clusters of one variety as cut from the plant, and in this Mr. 
J. Gore was first prizewinner with grand specimens of Polegate ; Mr. 
J. Hill, jun., being second with Conference ; and Mr. Farr, gardener to 
A. Peads, Esq., third with All the Year Round. 
Dessert Apples .—These were very numerously staged, and some 
highly creditaole specimens were noticed, though not perhaps so good as 
might have been expected. The following classes were confined to 
single dishes of certain varieties, and the prize list is appended hereto. 
For a dish of Adams’ Pearmain to Messrs. Geo. Woodward, W. Tayler, 
and the English Fruit and Rose Co. For Braddick’s Nonpareil to the 
English Fruit and Rose Co. and Mr. W. Tayler. For Cox’s Orange 
Pippin to Messrs. Strugnell, G. Woodward, and Empson. For Duke of 
Devonshire to Messrs. Ross, H. Berwick, and Helman. For Golden 
Reinette to Mr. H. Berwick. For King of the Pippins to Messrs. 
Cotterell, the English Fruit and Rose Co., and Garraway. For Lady 
Sudeley to Messrs. R. Edwards and H. Berwick. For Mannington’s 
Pearmain to Messrs. Mackenzie, Nicholson, and G. Woodward. For 
Margil to Messrs. Geo. Woodward, Jas. Spottiswood, and Helman. For 
American Mother to Messrs. Mackenzie, Geo. Woodward, and Wright. 
