104 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 1G, 1858. 
delivered at St. James’s Hall on tlie previous evening; 
and if by band, not later than ten o’clock on the day of 
Meeting; the Secretary being empowered to refuse ad¬ 
mission, for consideration on that day of Meeting, to all 
fruit which is not sent in accordance with this regu¬ 
lation.” It is believed that this request will not incon- j 
venience any contributor, and it has become necessary in 
consequence of the increased, and still increasing, quantity 
of fruit which comes to every Meeting. It being the in¬ 
tention of the Council, that in future all fruit sent shall 
be partially examined by Sub-Committees before the 
Chair is taken, that the time of the Meeting may not be 
engrossed by needless details ; and as these Committees | 
must commence their labours not later than eleven o’clock; 
the Secretary should be enabled to have the greater part 
of the fruit unpacked, placed in dishes, and entered on 
the previous evening. 
The Secretary reported that almost every lot of fruit 
sent this time had been accompanied by forms carefully 
filled up with the desired information, or by long de¬ 
scriptive letters. 
A large quantity of Apples and Pears were sent for 
competition and examination. Many of them were, as 
usual, unripe, and were reserved for consideration at 
future Meetings. Of other fruits, the following were the 
most remarkable 
PINE APPLES. 
A very fine, large fruit, said to be a Seedling, was 
sent by Mr. Andkew Batger, of Arenley House Gar¬ 
dens, near Leeds, Yorkshire ; but, as it was requested to 
be returned uncut, no notice could be taken of it, further 
than to mention it in connection with an expression of 
the impossibility of the Society taking any cognisance of 
anything which, when sent, is accompanied by a pro¬ 
hibition to test its quality. 
pomegeanates. 
A dish of this fruit—rare for the English climate—was 
sent by Mr. II. Pullen, gardener to the Hon. and Bev. 
II. C. Cust, Cockayne Iiatley, Bedford. The fruit was 
line for this country, but not quite ripe. The tree is re¬ 
ported to be “ fifty years old,” but was cut down by frost 
in 1840 and 1841, being now, however, twenty-two feet 
high, and covering ten feet in width of a south wall, 
where it blooms and sets freely every year. 
GEAPES. 
In this class, one of the most interesting exhibitions 
was a bunch of Snow’s Muscat Hamburgh, sent by Mr. 
Aethue Hendeeson, of the Nurseries, Fdgeware Boad, [ 
accompanied by the following statement: — “It was j 
grown in a house without any fire heat, excepting on one i 
night in the beginning of the month, when we expected a I 
sharp frost. Excepting on this occasion, no heat has been 
applied, the house being kept as a common greenhouse. 
October 28th, 1858.” The Meeting strongly expressed 
their satisfaction that this exhibition had been made, as 
it afforded conclusive evidence that the former judgment 
passed by the Society was not founded on a mistaken idea 
as to the hardiness of the variety; reports having been 
in circulation during the past summer implying doubts 
thereof, and of the sufficiency and correctness of the in¬ 
formation concerning it to which the Society had given 
credence. 
Messrs. James Veitch and Son, of Exeter, sent a 
Seedling Grape, called Bidwell’s Seedling, raised some 
years since by J. C. Bidwell, Esq. (son of the present Mr. I 
Bidwell), who died some three years since in Australia, j 
and was well known in the horticultural world. The : 
Grape had been grown on an eastern aspect, others on 
a south wall having produced much larger bunches and 
berries, which ripened a month earlier. Those exhibited 
were not ripe, but indicated that the variety was worthy 
of being asked for again. 
Wm. Eveeaed, Esq., of King’s Lynn, and Mr. Tap- 
penden, of Ashford, sent supposed Seedlings, both of 
which were either Black St. Peter, or coincided therewith 
too closely to be worthy of separate designation and 
propagation. 
Mr. Bohn brought some very fair specimens, from a 
wall, of Black Hamburgh Grape, which were large and 
well-flavoured for out-door produce. 
Fruits exhibited at this Meeting for Advertised 
Premiums :— 
Class A.— General Dessert Pears in Season. 
Under this head were twenty-one dishes, in fourteen 
varieties, by eight growers : — 
Marie Louise was sent by Mr. Wighton, from a 
south wall and espalier. Both lots were much over-ripe, 
and considerably bruised; but of the fruits which were 
eatable, those from the wall were much the best, being 
very sugary, but not nicely melting; those from the 
espalier were watery, and harsh in texture.—By Mr. 
Webster, of Castle Gordon. Very large; colour high, 
and well mingled with russet. Considered, in appearance, 
the best dish exhibited. The flesh was nicely melting, 
but the flavour was entirely spoilt, apparently from the 
fruit having lain upon straw after it was gathered, as the 
Secretary reported they had been carefully and properly 
packed. — By Mr. Vallance, the Gardens, Farleigli 
Castle, near Bath. In nice condition; colour pale; 
texture buttery, but rather gritty. Not quite equal in 
flavour to Mr. Wighton’s best.—By Mr. Tiley, of Bath. 
Large, and in fine condition; nice flavour, sugary, and 
very melting. These, after repeated trials and com¬ 
parisons, were pronounced the best in the room, and were 
awarded the first prize of £1. 
Napoleon was sent by Mr. Wighton. Very ripe, 
sugary, but not highly flavoured; rather coarse and 
gritty in texture. 
Duchesse d’Angouleme was sent by Mr. Wighton 
and Mr. Tiley. Both large and sugary, but breaking; 
coarse and gritty in flesh. 
Beurre Bose was sent by Mr. Wighton. Very sweet 
and juicy, but crisp and breaking ; not melting in texture. 
Beurre de Capiaumont was sent by Mr. Cole, gar¬ 
dener to Mrs. Silver, Abbey Hoad, St. John’s Wood. 
Small, rough in texture, and over ripe.—By Mr. Wighton, 
from a south wall. Medium sized, and highly coloured; 
very juicy, nearly melting ; rich sugary flavour, with a 
fine aroma. It was considered the best example of this 
variety which had come before the Society this season. 
Suffolk Thorn was sent by Mr. Mould, gardener to 
Philip Bose, Esq., Bayner’s House, near High Wycombe. 
This is an excellent variety, resembling, in many par¬ 
ticulars, Gansel's Bergamot, from which it w as raised; 
but being much hardier, later, and free from the grittiness, 
which is not uncommonly a defect in the parent. The 
examples laid before the Meeting by Mr. Mould were 
very fine, juicy, buttery, and melting, with a fine rich 
flavour, and powerful aroma. They were awarded the 
second prize of 10 a'. 
Chaumontel was sent by Mr. Swhnerd, gardener at 
Minster Abbey, in the Isle of Thanet, from wall and stand 
ard trees. The latter large and oblate, melting, and very 
juicy, but with no flavour; the former were smaller, more 
pyriform, high coloured, and more crisp in texture ; but 
exceedingly sw eet and juicy, with a good nutty flavour. 
Louise Bonne of Jersey* w as sent by Mr. Webster, 
Gordon Castle. Fine in appearance, and melting; but 
having a musty, straw-like flavour. 
Brown Beurre was sent by Mr. Vallance. Very 
round in shape, melting, and buttery in texture; but 
astringent and woody in flavour. 
Seckel was sent by Mr. Cole, of St. John’s Wood, 
llemarkable for having preserved their flavour, although 
the fruit was very much decayed. 
Belle deFlandres was sent by Mr. Trow, gardener 
to Lady Charlotte Wolfe, Forenaughts, near Naas, Ire¬ 
land, under the name of Beurre d’Aremberg. This was a 
