312 
THE FLORIST. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Fruit Committee. —F. J. Graham, Esq., in the chair. At 
this Meeting prizes were offered for the best three dishes of 
Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums. Mr. Dwerrihouse, gardener to 
Lord Everslej, at Heckfield, sent Royal George, Noblesse, and 
Salway. The first was briskly flavoured, but not sweet; Noblesse 
was very rich and sugary, and remarkably highly coloured for 
that variety ; while Salway was very flat in flavour, though large 
and remarkably handsome fruit. The merit of this variety is in 
its lateness; and from this exhibition it was evident that it does 
not do to force, but requires to be ripened gradually. This being 
the only collection exhibited, Mr. Dwerrihouse was awarded the 
First Prize of IZ. Mr. Dwerrihouse also exhibited a dish of very 
fine Violette Hative Nectarines. There were no competitions for 
the Nectarines. 
In Plums there were three competitors, of whom the most suc¬ 
cessful was Mr. Francis Dancer, Little Sutton, Turnham Green, 
who obtained the First Prize of \L His collection consisted of 
Jefferson, Pond’s Seedling, and Poupart’s Seedling. The Jeffer- 
sons were remarkably large and handsome, having a bronzy tinge, 
and most deliciously flavoured. Pond’s Seedling was also large, 
but the flavour, though good for that variety, was only that of a 
cooking Plum. Poupart’s Seedling is the size of an Orleans, quite 
black and lined all over with bronzy tracings. The flavour is rich, 
and it appears to be a very desirable Plum. The Second Prize of 
I5s. was awarded to Mr. John Newton, East Lodge, Enfield Chase, 
for Jefferson, Red Magnum Bonum, and Coe’s Golden Drop ; and 
the Third Prize of 10s. to Mr. Henry Eyre, gardener to A. F. 
Slade, Esq., Chiselhurst, for Green Gage, Jefferson, and Bleeker’s 
Yellow Gage. The last is an American variety, about the size of 
a well-grown Green Gage, of an amber colour, but not particularly 
rich in flavour. 
There was a very nice collection of Grapes exhibited from the 
garden at Chiswick, among which were Muscat Noir HMif, Hatif 
de Jura, and Rouge de Rolle. These seemed all to be very much 
alike, and appeared to be the same as our old Early Black July. 
There was not the slightest trace of Muscat in the Muscat Noir 
Hatif. Muscat Hamburgh was well exhibited, the bunches being 
of good size and very well set. The flavour was most excellent. 
Burchardt’s Prince, grown in the Vine-pit in a pot, was very well 
developed. The bunch was large and long, and the berries as 
black as Sloes, while the flavour was that of the finest Black 
Hamburgh. The true Esperione, as exhibited, is a short bunch 
and not very well set, the stalk and pedicels very stout and warted, 
and the berries perfectly round. The skin is jet black and thick ; 
and the flavour is good, and between the Black Hamburgh and 
Black Prince character. 
A Seedling Grape of a remarkable character was received from 
