148 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 7, 1891. 
PROPOSED GREAT FRUIT 
SHOW IN LONDON. 
A meeting of horticulturists was held at the Cannon 
Street Hotel, on the 30th ult., Alderman Sir James 
Whitehead, Bart., presiding, to consider the advisa¬ 
bility of holding a great International Fruit Show in 
London, next autumn. Among those present were Mr. 
H. R. Williams (Fruiterers’ Company); Mr. James 
Douglas, Great Gearies; Mr. G. Bunyard, Maid¬ 
stone; Mr. A. H. Smee ; Mr. J. Cheal, Crawley; 
Mr. John Laing, Forest Hill; Dr. Masters, F.R.S.; 
Mr. F. Sander, St. Albans; Mr. Cutbush, Highgate; 
Mr. John Wright, Mr. W. G. Head, Mr. Wythes, 
Mr. B. Wynne, Mr. Crute, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. 
Herbst, Mr. Hudson, Mr. A. Dean, Mr. J. Willard, 
Mr. R. Dean, and Mr. Cuthbertson (Dobbie & Co.), 
Rothesay. 
Sir James Whitehead said hehad asked those pre¬ 
sent to meet him in order that they might discuss a very 
important subject. There would doubtless have been 
more present that afternoon if it had not been for other 
engagements—he alluded particularly to the several 
friends who were visiting a gentleman in Surrey. He 
was, however, placed in a somewhat invidious posi¬ 
tion, Decause that meeting was not convened entirely 
on his own suggestion, but on the suggestion of a 
large number of horticulturists in various parts of 
the kingdom, and he felt that he could not do other¬ 
wise than call those together who were even more 
interested than himself in fruit culture, which was 
saying a great deal. They were probably aware that 
the spirit of fruit culture was abroad ; that much 
remained to be done in promoting the improved 
culture of hardy fruits ; and that the schoolmaster was 
abroad also, for the public were being educated to a 
great extent through the instrumentality of the 
various societies, which had done a great deal for the 
national welfare and the national prosperity. He felt 
that they might now take occasion by the hand by 
promoting a nationaland international exhibition, and 
if it was the wish of that meeting that this should be 
done, it could be arranged on probably the largest 
scale ever attempted in this country. The exhibition 
which was held in Edinburgh the other day was a 
considerable success, but if the meeting decided that 
here should be a large exhibition held in London, 
that exhibition, he ventured to say, would surpass 
those which had been held before in this or any 
other part of the world. If the meeting decided upon 
promoting this exhibition, they must commence at 
once, so that due notice should be given to the growers 
at home and those who were living in the colonies. 
It appeared to him desirable that a fresh face should 
be placed upon the exhibition, in contradistinction 
to the exhibitions which had been held in this 
country in previous years. In this matter 
he hoped all associations would join hands, 
that there would be no jealousies whatever ; it should 
not be connected with any particular association, 
and he hoped the work might be considered good 
enough for every man, whether he held a high posi¬ 
tion or a low one in the scale of horticultural science, 
to join in the cause. As to a site for the proposed 
exhibition, there were several places where it could 
be held, such as the Crystal Palace or the gardens 
of the Royal Horticultural Society ; but he was in¬ 
clined to believe that if they wished to make it a great 
success it should be held in the heart of London, 
where railway lines converged, and where anyone re¬ 
siding in London or the suburbs could visit it without 
difficulty. He knew there was a site on the Thames 
Embankment belonging to the Corporation, and as¬ 
suming that the Corporation had not let that site for 
building purposes, or disposed of it in the interval 
between the present time and October next, he had 
no hesitation in saying that, as a body, having 
shown a disposition to assist in the cultiva¬ 
tion of fruit, the Corporation would help them as far 
as they could. He had taken one step with a view 
of sounding those in authority on the matter, and he 
hoped if a proper application was made at the proper 
time there would not be much difficulty in 
securing this site without any cost or charge 
whatever. But it was necessary that a guarantee 
fund should be started, not that he expected 
any deficiency, but they must provide for 
any such emergency, and he thought he would be 
able to obtain very considerable guarantees from 
those who occupied the highest positions in the 
country. He would himself guarantee /500. 
As to what should be done with the surplus, 
if there should be any, it was not a subject the 
meeting could discuss at the present time, but there 
were societies which were doing good work in fruit 
culture, and there were two charities connected with 
horticulture which were worthy of consideration, 
as being especially favoured by the horticultural 
community, and therefore in the future it might be 
considered how far those associations'had claims upon 
them. He did not desire in the slightest degree to 
occupy any position of prominence, personally, with 
respect to the proposed exhibition, if it was felt by 
those present that other steps should be taken, and 
that someone else should be put forward as president 
or chairman of committee. He could assure them 
that he would be willing to take a humble part in the 
efforts which would be made in bringing about a 
successful result. He hoped also that all present 
would pull together heartily, with a desire to pro¬ 
mote an exhibition which would be worthy of their 
united efforts. 
Sir James then read several letters expressing re¬ 
gret at inability to attend the meeting, one being from 
Mr. Wilks, the secretary of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, who explained that the subject of the 
advisability of holding a fruit show on a large scale 
in London next year had been discussed by his 
council, and the possibility of being able to hold this 
exhibition on the Thames Embankment. Letters 
were also read from Dr. Hogg and Mr. Bruce Find¬ 
lay, secretary of the Royal Horticultural and Botani¬ 
cal Society of Manchester, promising to give their 
cordial assistance to the movement. Referring to the 
letter of Mr. Wilks, Sir James said he had no idea 
that the Royal Horticultural Society intended moving 
in this matter, and with regard to the site on the 
Embankment he had reason to believe that no appli¬ 
cation had been made to the Corporation by the 
society. Whatever was done they should not like to 
be opposed by that society because they wished its 
members to join them in the movement. He had put 
down a few points which he thought might be con¬ 
sidered by the meeting, and these were that the title 
of the exhibition should be the National and Inter¬ 
national Fruit Exhibition ; that it should take place 
in October ; that it should be kept open for nine or 
ten days ; that the arrangements for carrying out the 
same should be on the broadest basis, and that the 
Royal Horticultural Society, the Fruiterers’ 
Company, the Royal Agricultural Society, the 
Gardeners' Company, the British Fruit Growers' 
Association, and all provincial horticultural societies 
and associations should be invited to assist. 
A somewhat lengthy discussion ensued, in which 
various details connected with the proposed exhi¬ 
bition were discussed. Mr. Bunyard took exception 
to the title of International, contending that the 
exhibits should be confined to British home-growm 
fruits, although he admitted that it was only in a 
very small way in which foreign-grown fruit took the 
lead, and that that fact was owing to a better climate 
abroad. Mr. Smee then moved the following resolu¬ 
tion : 11 That in the opinion of this meeting it is 
desirable to take advantage of the prevailing enthu¬ 
siasm in the cause of fruit culture in order to pro¬ 
mote a national and international exhibition in 
London next year, and that efforts should be made 
to combine with it popular lectures and demonstra¬ 
tions for the practical education of the people in 
profitable fruit culture." This resolution, which was 
adopted, was seconded by Mr. Wright, and supported 
by Mr. H. R. Williams, Mr. Cheal, Mr. Herbst, and 
Mr. Cuthbertson. 
Mr. Douglas said he had been asked by the council 
of the Royal Horticultural Society to move the 
following resolution : “ That the Royal Florticultural 
Society are ready to cordially co-operate in holding 
a great national fruit show in 1892, on the under¬ 
standing that the horticultural arrangements of the 
show should be left to the societ) 7 , whose members 
comprised nearly all the fruit experts in the United 
Kingdom.”—The Chairman, however, thought that 
societies should sink their individuality in this move¬ 
ment. He would much regret the fact if the Royal 
Florticultural Society should decide not to co-operate 
with them in the manner he had suggested, but he 
was bound to say that whether they did so or not, 
the movement would go on just the same. The reso¬ 
lution was not seconded. 
Dr. Masters asked if the promoters of this move¬ 
ment had taken any steps to consult the council of 
the Royal Horticultural Society before calling that 
meeting, and on being replied to in the negative, said 
he considered that the neglect of the promoters to do 
so was a deliberate insult to the society, which for 
ninety years had taken the lead in all horticultural 
matters in this country.—Sir James Whitehead 
thought Dr. Masters could hardly have understood 
what he had said with reference to their intention to 
seek the assistance of the Royal Horticultural 
Society and other societies, and denied the assertion 
that any insult whatever was intended to be offered 
to the society in question. Most of those present 
were supporters of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
but were not precluded by that fact from supporting 
any other society or horticultural movement. 
It was afterwards moved by Mr. John Laing, and 
seconded by Mr. B. Wynne, and resolved that a 
provisional committee should be appointed to formu¬ 
late a scheme for carrying out the object of the 
foregoing resolution, and report thereon at a future 
meeting. And it was further resolved that the Royal 
Horticultural Society, the Fruiterers' Company, the 
Royal Agricultural Society, the British Fruit 
Growers' Association, the Gardeners' Company, and 
the other horticultural societies should be invited to 
co-operate in the movement. One member from each 
of the above-mentioned societies, and a member of 
the Corporation and six other gentlemen, will consti¬ 
tute the provisional committee, with Sir James 
Whitehead as the chairman. 
On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. 
Crute, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the 
chairman for presiding. 
CLIMBING ROSES. 
How often we see these wrongly treated, while if 
properly grown and pruned they are by far the best 
for forcing purposes. Whether grown as pillar or 
wall Roses, under glass or in the open air, there is 
only one way to do them to perfection, and that is to 
get as much strong, healthy growth as possible, and 
to secure this being thoroughly well ripened before 
severe frost sets in, or before starting them into heat 
again. 
I was quite lately called in to see what was the 
matter with a lady’s Roses. The varieties were 
Marechal Neil and William Allen Richardson. She 
had only had a matter of half-a-dozen or so flowers 
from each sort during the whole season, and expressed 
herself as much dissatisfied with their flowering 
qualities. I could see at a glance what was the 
matter with them, and her first sentence confirmed 
this. "They keep throwing up these long shoots 
that never flower," were the first words she used as 
we went into the conservatory. Now I am very 
desirous of saving others from cutting these away as 
she had been doing, because it is " these long shoots 
that never flower ” which will carry such large 
quantities of grand blooms next spring, that is, if 
you secure a well-matured growth. 
It may safely be taken as a general guide that all 
of the strong growing Roses get a great deal more 
pruning than is good for them. Both among Teas, 
Noisettes, and hybrid perpetuals the same rule holds 
good. Mademoiselle Gabrielle Luizet, Abel Grand, 
Magna Charta, Ulrich Brunner, and others of the 
strong growing hybrid perpetuals, will flower freely 
from such summer made wood. These Roses bloom 
more profusely if tied or pegged down, thus giving a 
more even flow of sap to all the eyes. When left up¬ 
right, the bulk of the sap goes to the two or three top 
eyes, and these push into growth and take the lot, 
leaving some dozen or more good plump eyes quite 
dormant beneath them, and which would all have 
carried flowers if the shoot had been tied or pegged 
down. 
As soon as the blooms are secured, it is as well to 
remove the bulk of the wood that has flowered. You 
will find there are more young shoots springing from 
the base of the plant; grow 7 these on as strongly as 
possible consistent with securing well-matured wood, 
and you can bend these down in the same manner 
next spring. 
Climbing Tea-scented and Noisette varieties are 
not so apt to flower from the few top eyes as those of 
the hybrid perpetual class, but even these will do 
much better if trained in as spreading and horizontal 
a manner as possible. It always vexes me when I 
hear Roses spoken of as being splendid growers but 
shy bloomers. I do not believe there is a single 
strong growing Rose grown that cannot be induced 
to flower freely if treated as I have suggested. It is' 
when thoughtless or inexperienced persons trim away 
these strong growths that the mischief is done. As 
