342 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— August 12,1850. 
more thau compensatory for any deficiency it occasions i 
in the fruit crop. Whether it does occasion any, re- | 
mains to be proved. At all events, the young wood at 
present is healthy, vigorous, and maturing well. 
The Annual Meeting of the British Pomological 
Society was held at the Rooms, 20, Bedford Street, 
Covent Garden, on Monday, 4th inst.; Mr. Underhill, 
of Birmingham, in the chair. 
The special objects of the Annual Meeting are to elect 
office-bearers for the ensuing year, to receive the 
Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports, and for the usual 
business. From the Secretary’s report it was found that 
the Society was in a very- prosperous condition, the 
number of members now being over 120, and only one 
having withdrawn since the formation. From the 
Treasurer’s reports it was also found to be in a highly 
satisfactory position. After paying all liabilities, 1 
there is a balance in hand of between 4!20 and ^£30, 
which, with subscriptions still due of over d;30, make 
the funds sufficient for every purpose. 
On the recommendation of a committee appointed at 
a previous meeting, the meeting took into consideration 
the alteration of the Rules, particularly No. XL, which 
states, that “ the Society shall hold its ordinary meetings 
on the first Monday of every month,” but which has 
been altered to “the first Thursday of August, Sep¬ 
tember, October, November, December, February, aud 
April.” It was found that Monday is an inconvenient 
day for persons living in tho country, who have to pack 
their fruit on Friday or Saturday, and which, before 
Monday, was not unfrequently injured. The “ four 
extraordinary meetings” provided for by Rule XII. were 
abolished, and other meetings substituted, to be called 
“ Special Meetings, to be held when deemed necessary 
for the purpose of exhibiting such fruits as may not be 
in season at the time of the ordinary meetings, aud for 
other business.” It was agreed that the charge of six¬ 
pence for the transactions to members should be dis¬ 
continued" and that they be supplied gratis. Rules VII. 
and XV. were cancelled. 
It was agreed that, in future, the proceedings of every 
meeting be printed, and a copy sent to every member of 
the Society as soon after such meeting as possible. 
This we consider an excellent step, as it will bring the 
members more immediately in contact with the central 
body, and keep up that interest and unity of feeling 
which is always desirable in such cases. 
The meeting then proceeded to the election of office¬ 
bearers. In consequence of the death of William 
Stevens, Esq., of Reading, Mr. Hogg was elected Vice- 
President; and Mr. John E. Lane, of Berkhampstead, 
and J. Silver, Esq., of Kensington, were added to the 
Council. The office-bearers for the year are, therefore, as 
follows:— 
PRESIDENT. 
Sir Joseph Paxton. 
Vice-Presidents. 
Robert Hanbujiy, Esq. I Robert Hogg, Esq. 
H. Bellenden Ker, Esq. | Thomas Ingram', Esq. 
council. 
G. W. Johnson, Esq. 
H. G. Bohn, Esq. 
Mr. Thomas Rivers. 
Mr. John E. Lane. 
Mr. John Lee. 
Mr. George M'Ewen 
Mr. J. B. Whiting. 
Mr. Thomas Moore. 
Mr. Hugh Low. 
Mr. Charles Turner. 
Mr. John Edwards. 
Mr. J. Powell. 
J. Silver, Esq. 
TREASURER. 
Mr. Thomas Taylor, Centre Row, Covent Gardcu. 
SECRETARY. 
Mr. John Spencer, Bowood. 
ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 
Mr. William Davidson. 
The meeting then proceeded to the examination of 
several specimens of Fruits which were on the table. 
The first was Mr. Underhill’s Sir Harry Strawberry; 
of which there have been so many conflicting accounts, 
and which, in consequence of having been packed 
in moss, when brought to the last meeting, was not in a 
fit state for trial. Those which were produced at this 
meeting, even at this late season (August 4th), though 
not quite so eminently large as at the last, were large 
and well-coloured, the colour of the ripest being almost 
black. The flavour was most excellent, piquant, and 
highly aromatic, with much of tho flavour of the 
Hautbois. There cannot be a doubt that when Sir 
Harry is properly grown and well-ripened, it is a very 
Large, early, and highly-flavoured Strawberry, and well 
worthy of being generally cultivated. Mr. Kitley, of 
Bath, sent specimens of his Carolina superba, which 
also, at this late season, preserves its exquisite flavour. 
Both of these are excellent varieties, and highly-fla¬ 
voured, but quite distinct in flavour; Carolina superba 
having that of the British Queen, and Sir Harry more 
that of the Hautbois. A specimen plant of Sir Harry, 
from the open ground, was literally covered with fine 
large fruit; it is, certainly, a capital bearer, aud its fruit 
well up. 
Messrs. Stewart and Neilsou, of Liscard, Cheshire, 
sent specimens of what they called a new late seedling 
Strawberry. It is of a conical shape aud medium size, 
not highly coloured, and with a pleasant flavour; but 
it was not regarded as worthy of being introduced into 
cultivation. 
Mr. Carpenter sent specimens of bis New Seedling 
Grape, which is, certainly, a most distinct variety. It 
was raised from the Black Hambro' crossed with the 
Royal Muscadine. The berries are of good size, and 
oblate, or orange-shaped. The skin is white, with deep 
russety furrows over its surface, and shows its venations 
as some Gooseberries do, but it is thick, and adheres to 
the flesh. The stones are large, and are attached so 
firmly to the stalk as that they may be pulled out; the 
flesh is juicy and well flavoured, but adheres too much 
both to the skin and the stones, so that when eaten it 
has a strong astringency in it. The meeting was of 
opinion that, though a very distinct variety aud a well- 
flavoured Grape, still it was not equal to other white 
Grapes already in cultivation. 
Mr. Rivers produced a bunch of a nice little black 
