JANUARY. 
23 
society, although the gentry around are great patrons of gardening. 
There are, however, to our knowledge, some first-rate plants in that 
neighbourhood. York has a horticultural society which is on its last legs ; 
indeed, the sooner it is defunct the better. No city apart from 
London is more favourably situated for having a first-rate exhibition 
than York, favoured as it is with railway communication to all parts of 
the kingdom. In no county in England are there better plants, 
fruits, flowers, or vegetables grown than in Yorkshire. Then, it may 
be asked, why are not the exhibitions good ? Simply because the 
prizes offered are so poor, that no person at any distance from York can 
compete, even if he be successful, without considerable loss; conse¬ 
quently, the shows consist of the few things grown in the immediate 
neighbourhood. It need not, therefore, be a matter of surprise that 
the exhibitions are poor and ill attended. 
BRITISH POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Dec. 3.—R. Hogg, Esq., Vice-President, in the chair* After the 
arrangement of the prize list, which will be found in our advertising 
columns for this month, the meeting proceeded to the examination of 
the fruit. Mr. Stephens, of Chingford, Essex, sent four varieties of 
Seedling Pears, all of which possessed qualities of greater or less excel¬ 
lence. No. 23 was of a long tapering shape, completely covered with 
bright cinnamon-coloured russet, and having much the appearance of 
Baronne de Mello; but it is much superior even to that excellent 
variety, being very tender and melting, exceedingly juicy, very sugary, 
and with a rich aroma. This was highly commended by the meeting. 
No. 26 was a melting variety; but the juice is watery, and without 
aroma, and the flesh is gritty. 
Messrs. Veitch and Son, of Exeter, sent two Seedling Dessert 
Apples : one distinguished as Eggesford Seedling, No. 1, which is a 
handsome Apple, and sometimes assumes the appearance of Adams’s 
Pearmain. It has a good flavour, but was not considered to possess 
any novelty in its character. The same opinion was given of Eggesford 
Seedling, No. 2. 
Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, brought several varieties of Pears ; 
among which were some new or little known kinds. Delices de Loven- 
joul, one of Van Mons’ Seedlings, is a medium size Pear, very melting, 
juicy, and sugary, with a rich aromatic flavour. This was very excel¬ 
lent. Alexandre Lambre, which ought to have been good, was quite 
the reverse, being astringent, half-melting, and inferior in flavour. 
Princess Charlotte is evidently of the Passe Colmar race, and resembles 
that variety in shape; the specimens before the meeting were firm and 
crisp in the flesh, and with sugary juice. Beurre Gris d’Hiver Nouveau 
is large, and resembling the old Brown Beurre in colour. The flesh is 
very tender and melting, with a very fine, brisk, piquant juice, sugary, 
and with a peculiar and rich aroma. Though not a new Pear, this is 
one which is not much cultivated; and it was suggested, that if its 
