NOVEMBER. 
339 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The grand exhibition of fruit, held under the auspices of this society, at 
Willis’s rooms, on the 24th ult., not only more than realised the most 
sanguine expectations that could possibly have been formed of it, but 
in some respects greatly surpassed all previous displays of the kind that 
have ever before been witnessed, even in the neighbourhood of London. 
In the principal room two immense tables were literally loaded with 
the very choicest productions which English gardens could furnish at 
this season of the year. These were tastefully set out for competition, 
while, in another large room were arranged such subjects as were con¬ 
tributed for exhibition only. Among the latter was an extensive and 
most interesting collection of Gourds from Messrs. Lee, of Hammersmith. 
These were’’of all sizes and colours, which, together with their grotesque 
forms, rendered them objects of general admiration. Exhibitions of this 
kind also came from other growers. Among other matters, not for com¬ 
petition, were large collections of Apples, from Ribston Park and 
Stourton, sent by our excellent correspondents, Messrs. Saul and Abbott. 
These contained some fine examples of Ribston Pippin, and other kinds, 
all excellent specimens of hardy fruit culture. Messrs. Paul and Rivers 
both contributed highly interesting collections of Pears. Those from 
Mr. Rivers especially included some new varieties, of which we hope to 
give some account hereafter. They were from dwarf bushes, on Quince 
stocks, and many of them were really very fine. 
But let us return to the principal exhibition room. Here were won¬ 
derful collections of fruit, from Messrs. Webber & Solomon. The White 
Colville Apples, and Belle Angervine Pears, from the latter, for size, 
were most remarkable. Some of the Apples weighed 1 lb. each, and the 
Pears 2 lbs. each. A collection of Pears, of French growth, came from 
Nantes, but with the exception, perhaps, of some large Beurre Diels, 
few of the fruit contained in it were first-rate. Inferior to these, how¬ 
ever, was a display of Pears, of American growth, from Messrs. Hovey, 
of Boston. They were bruised and injured from travelling, but inde¬ 
pendently of that they were, individually, small and poor, especially 
when compared with the fine English fruit which everywhere surrounded 
them, and with which they formed a sorry contrast. This, however, 
has, we believe, been a bad year for fruit in America. Of transatlantic 
Apples, furnished by the same growers, we can, however, speak in more 
favourable terms. The Rhcde Island Greening, and the Baldwin, upon 
being cut, were found to be first-rate. The former especially, though 
somewhat unpromising in appearance, is crisp, juicy, and most agreeable 
to the taste, and the same may also be said of the Baldwin. While 
speaking of Apples remarkable for fine flavour we must not omit to 
mention that Cox’s Orange Pippin, an English variety, which has already 
been described in Mr. Powell’s articles on fruits in our pages, was found, 
in this instance, to completely beat the Ribston in this particular. It 
is medium sized, with a yellowish firm flesh, and in the class of single 
dishes well deserved the first prize which was awarded it. Two fine 
dishes of Ribston bore no comparison with it in point of flavour. Among 
