382 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
October  15,  1898. 
more  water  in  the  large  ones.  Another  purpose  for  which  third  rate 
fruits  could  be  used  was  jam  making,  and  in  no  other  way  coaid  such  a 
good  and  cheap  preserve  be  obtained.  During  the  last  few  years  he 
(\Ir.  Watkins)  had  consigned  bis  best  fruit  under  his  own  private  brand, 
and  an  extract  of  a  letter  which  he  read  from  his  Covent  Garden  salesman 
proved  that  it  had  paid  him  well  to  grade  and  brand  his  fruit.  Pears 
for  market  should  be  graded  as  carefully  as  Apples. 
Turning  to  packing,  Mr.  Watkins  said  the  most  important  point  was 
to  pack  fairly,  but  attractively.  It  was  a  mistake  to  follow  the  old 
fashioned  method  of  placing  the  best  fruits  on  the  top  and  the  inferior 
ones  underneath  ;  in  fair  packing  lay  the  secret  of  foreign  success. 
With  American,  Canadian  and  Australian  fruit  any  number  of  barrels 
or  cases  can  be  sold  from  one  sample,  and  in  America  the  National 
Shipping  Association  has  amended  its  rules  regarding  the  grades  and 
varieties  of  Apples  to  be  packed.  During  recent  years  Mr.  Watkins 
thought  we  had  made  some  improvements,  and  are  not  beaten  yet,  and 
a«  an  instance  he  quoted  a  salesman  in  Glasgow  who  informed  him 
that  never  before  had  English  Apples  sold  so  well  there  as  they  did 
last  spring. 
The  kind  of  packages  to  be  used  depended  greatly  on  the  market, 
and  some  were  in  favour  of  boxes  and  barrels  of  one  even  size.  Extra 
choice  Apples  or  Pears  should  be  wrapped  in  soft  tissue  paper,  and  sold 
in  boxes  containing  one,  two,  or  three  dozen,  and  the  remainder  may  be 
marketed  in  boxes,  flats  or  barrels.  The  commoner  sorts  may  be  packed 
in  open  square  baskets,  and  the  top  layer  placed  so  as  to  look  as 
attractive  as  possible,  and  hazel  twigs  placed  over  to  protect  them. 
Fruit  in  all  cases  should  be  packed  firmly,  as  loosely  packed  Apples 
always  travel  badly,  the  same  remarks  applying  to  Pears,  the  choice 
samples  being  tastefully  arranged  in  small  boxes,  and  the  second  class 
fruits  sent  to  market  in  boxes  or  flats. 
In  conclusion,  Mr.  Watkins  made  some  references  to  the  consign¬ 
ments  sent  from  the  Channel  Islands,  and  a  short  discussion  followed, 
in  which  Messrs.  Koupell,  Gaymer,  and  others  took  part.  Votes  of 
thanks  to  the  Essayist  and  Chairman  for  presiding  brought  the  meeting 
to  a  close. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Drill  Hall,  October  13th. 
The  show  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday  was  very  much  larger  and 
superior  in  all  respects  to  what  might  have  been  expected  at  this  season 
of  the  year  and  after  such  weather.  All  sections  were  well  represented, 
vegetables  being  particularly  good.  The  gold  medal  Vanda  Sanderiana 
from  J.  Gurney  Fowler,  Esq,,  was  superb.  Other  Orchids  were  finely 
and  numerously  shown. 
Fruit  Committee.  —  Present :  P,  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Dr.  Hogg,  and  Messrs.  H.  J.  Pearson,  G.  Bunyard, 
J.  Cheal,  G.  W.  Cummins,  A.  F.  Barron,  A.  H.  Pearson,  H.  Balderson, 
H.  J.  "Veitch,  G.  Wythes,  T.  G.  Miles,  T.  Farr,  W.  Pope,  C.  Ross, 
J.  Willard,  A.  Dean,  and  J.  Wright. 
There  was,  as  will  be  seen,  a  good  attendance  of  members,  but  while 
several  very  good  examples  of  produce  were  placed  on  the  table  there 
were  no_  novelties  possessing  the  characteristics  that  entitled  them  to 
certificates.  In  the  body  of  the  Hall  two  tables,  one  furnished  by  Mr. 
G.  Wythes  with  fruit,  and  the  other  by  Mr.  Eonpson  with  fruits  and 
vegetables,  merited,  as  they  deserved,  the  highest  and  next  highest 
awards  that  the  Committee  could  recommend. 
Tubers  of  the  Syon  House  main  crop  Potato  from  Mr.  G.  Wythes  were 
first  placed  on  the  table,  the  exhibitor  retiring  when  their  merits  were 
discussed.  They  were  fine  and  well  stiaped,  the  variety  being  the  result 
of  a  cross  between  Sutton’s  Seedling  and  Prime  Minister.  No  award 
was  made,  but  the  variety  was  considered  suSiciently  promising  to  be 
tried  at  Chiswick.  Mr.  Wythes  also  sent  a  bunch  of  a  small-fruited 
Banana  resembling  the  variety  known  as  the  Lady’s  Finger.  The  fruits 
were  of  fair  but  not  distinctly  high  quality,  and  no  award  was  made. 
Mr.  John  Basham,  Bassaleg,  Newport,  sent  wonderfully  coloured 
fruits  of  the  Gravenatein  Pippin  Apple,  almost  covered  with  deep 
crimson.  Typical  fruits  of  this  fine  old  Apple  are  of  a  waxen  yellow 
colour,  and  if  the  colour  of  Mr.  Basham’s  fruit  should  be  maintained 
when  trees  are  grown  in  other  soil  and  districts,  the  variety  might  not 
inappropriately  be  named  Red  Gravenatein.  A  vote  of  thanks  was 
recorded. 
Mr.  J.  Shingles,  sent  from  The  Gardens,  Melton  Constable,  a  bunch 
of  his  new  Grape  Lady  Hastings,  a  sport  from  Muscat  Hamburgh.  The 
berries  are  large,  black,  tender  skinned,  and  well  flavoured,  but  had  lost 
their  freshness,  and  in  tbeir  present  condition  no  award  could  be  made. 
A.  Waterhouse,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  Maher),  Tattenden  Court,  sent 
three  seedling  Grapes.  No.  1  very  black,  but  soft ;  No.  2  Red  Sweet¬ 
water,  sweet  and  pleasant ;  No.  3  black,  a  sweet  thick-skinned  Black 
Hamburgh  type  of  Grape.  Some  members  thought  them  worthy  of 
further  trial,  as  the  weather  did  not  appear  to  have  been  kind  to  them, 
and  no  award  was  made. 
Mr.  R.  W.  Green,  Wisbech,  sent  tubers  of  Green’s  Surprise  Potato,  a 
good  looking  kidney,  said  to  be  quick  in  arriving  at  maturity.  Recom¬ 
mended  to  be  tried  at  Chiswick.  Mr,  W.  Roupell  sent  clusters  of 
Yellow  Acorn  Tomato,  a  slightly  elongated  form  of  Golden  Nugget  and 
similar  to  the  Yellow  Plum  Tomato.  The  flavour  was  not  such  as  to 
entitle  it  to  be  regarded  as  a  dessert  Tomato,  and  it  was  passed  without 
any  award.  Mr.  Chas.  Ross,  Welford  Park,  sent  fruits  of  a  seedling 
Pear  of  the  character  of  Duchesse  d’AngoulSme,  sweet,  but  rather  gritty, 
and  passed.  He  also  brought  a  dish  of  Apples  named  Surprise,  a 
seedling  from  the  Northern  Spy,  in  appearance  like  a  large  Worcester 
Pearmain,  and  moderately  .drm.  Voting  wus  equal  for  an  award  of  merit, 
and  the  Chairman  decided  that  it  be  seen  again.  Ross’s  Pearmain  was  also 
placed  on  the  table  from  Mr.  Ross,  long  yellowish  fruits  streaked  with 
red ;  but  no  award  was  made.  Mr.  Ross  retired  from  the  table  during 
the  examination  of  his  fruits. 
Mr.  James  Hudson,  Gunnersbury  House,  sent  a  basket  of  splendid 
fruit  of  Newton  Wonder  Apple  produced  by  a  tree  planted  in  1894. 
Finer  samples  of  well-formed,  well-coloured,  and  firm  market  Apples 
could  not  be  desired.  A  cultural  commendation  was  granted.  A  similar 
mark  of  recognition  was  made  to  the  same  exhibitor  for  excellent  dishes 
of  Peas  of  the  following  varieties  : — William  I,  and  Sutton’s  Bountiful, 
sown  July  20th;  Empress  of  India,  July  10th  ;  also  Veitch’s  Criterion 
and  The  Duchess,  July  11th  ;  a  decidedly  meritorious  exhibit. 
Mr.  Lovelock,  The  Gardens,  Normanton  Park,  sent  a  seedling  Apple 
from  Cellini,  but  too  much  like  that  variety  to  be  regarded  as  distinct. 
Mr.  J.  C.  Tallack,  Livermere  Park,  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  sent  medium¬ 
sized,  very  high-coloured  fruits  of  a  seedling  Apple,  beautiful  in  appear¬ 
ance,  but  lacking  in  quality  for  dessert  pu'-poses.  Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons 
sent  fine  fruits  of  Sir  Joseph  Banks  Apple,  well  coloured,  of  the 
Blenheim  type  ;  and  Messrs,  Rivers  &  Son  sent  fruits  of  St.  Edmund 
Apple — a  dark  medium  fruit — the  merits  of  which  the  Committee 
thought  would  largely  centre  in  its  keeping  properties.  No  awards  were 
made  for  any  of  these  Apples. 
Jelly  made  from  the  fruit  of  Rhodomyrtus  tomenlosa  was  seat 
through  the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew,  from  the  Government  Botanic 
Gardens,  Octamund.  It  was  sweet  and  pleasant,  but  not  considered  by 
any  means  so  good  as  Medlar  jelly  that  has  been  sent  by  Mr.  Rivers. 
Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  sent  specimens  of  dwarf  variegated 
leaved  Celeriac  with  large  turnip  shaped  roots,  but  no  award  was  made 
to  the  President ;  and  Mr.  Freer,  New  Brompton,  Chatham,  sent  two 
Vegetable  Marrows,  marbled  green  and  white,  weighing  respectively 
lbs.  and  64^  lbs. 
On  the  side  tables,  as  before  indicated,  Mr.  G.  Wythes  staged  100 
dishes  of  Apples  and  Pears.  The  fruits  represent  excellent  cultivation, 
and  the  collection  was  one  of  the  finest  that  has  been  staged  in  the  Hall 
by  a  private  gardener.  A  silver-gilt  medal  was  awarded  unanimously. 
Fine  as  Mr.  Wythes’  display  was,  still  more  imposing  was  the 
wonderful  collection  of  produce  grown  and  arranged  by  Mr.  W.  J. 
Empson,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Wingfield,  Ampthill  House,  Ampthill.  It 
comprised  200  dishes  or  piles  of  vegetables  and  fruit — Apples,  Pears,  and 
Grapes.  The  vegetables  included  splendid  examples  of  all  kinds  in 
season.  The  produce,  half  a  ton  in  weight,  was  effectively  arranged, 
various  ornamental  Gourds  enhancing  its  attractiveness.  No  such  display 
has  been  seen  in  the  Hall,  and  the  Committee  could  not  satisfy  them¬ 
selves  without  recommending  the  distinguished  honour  of  a  gold  medal. 
Votes  op  Confidence  in  the  Tre.a.surer  and  Secretary. 
Prior  to  leaving  the  table,  Mr.  G.  Wythes  rose  and  said  that,  having 
regard  to  the  unworthy  and  undignified  reflections  on  the-Treasurer  and 
Secretary,  by,  he  was  sorry  to  say  gardeners,  in  the  Journal  of  Horti¬ 
culture,  where  they  had  been  fairly  treated  by  the  Editor,  yet  he  felt  that 
the  Committee  ought  not  to  separate  without  tendering  to  Mr.  Crowley 
and  Mr.  Wilks  an  expression  of  complete  confidence  in  them  in  the 
positions  they  filled  so  diligently  and  so  well,  coupled  with  regret  that 
any  gardeners  could  have  been  led  without  personal  knowledge  of  the 
conduct  of  business  in  Committee,  to  make  allegations  for  which  there 
was  not  a  shadow  of  foundation,  and  cast  reflections  on  gentlemen 
which  were  unmanly  and  unfair.  In  addition  to  an  expression  of 
confidence,  he  should  like  to  propose  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Crowley 
and  Mr.  Wilks  for  the  scrupulously  fair  and  impartial  manner  in  which 
they  discharged  their  duties  at  the  table.  Mr.  Charles  Ross  seconded 
the  vote  of  confidence  and  thanks,  which  was  passed  with  acclamation. 
[We  afforded  a  full  opportunity  for  whoever  could  do  so  to  substan¬ 
tiate  the  allegations  of  favouritism  on  the  part  of  the  Committee,  and  of 
some  vague  sort  of  sinister  influence  erroneously  supposed  to  be  exerted 
by  the  officials.  We  did  this  because  we  thought  the  time  had  arrived 
when  the  truth  or  falsity  of  somewhat  widely  circulated  rumours  should 
be  determined.  Not  a  vestige  of  evidence  has  been  forthcoming  in 
support  of  the  allegations.  It  may  be  noted  that  (allowing  for  Dr.  Hogg’s 
early  retirement  from  the  table,  without  the  knowledge  of  Mr. 
Wythes’  intention — and  which,  in  fact,  was  unknown  to  the  Committee 
generally),  that  the  members  comprised  an  amateur  (Mr.  Balderson), 
five  nurserymen,  and  ten  gardeners  ;  also  it  may  be  further  noticed  that 
nothing  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Wythes  for  the  novelties  he  caused  to  be 
placed  on  the  table  ;  nothing  to  Mr.  Ross  for  his  new  Apples ;  while  the 
President  succeeded  no  better  with  his  variegated  Celeriac.  The  result 
of  the  action  of  the  malcontents  is  to  strengthen  the  Committee  and 
officials  as  composed  of  an  independent  body  of  individuals  honestly  and 
impartially  trying  to  do  their  duty.] 
Floral  Committee. — Present;  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair); 
with  the  Rev.  H.  H.  D’Ombrain,  and  Messrs.  H.  B.  May,  J.  Fraser, 
H.  Herbst,  R.  Dean,  R.  Owen,  G.  Stevens,  J.  T.  McLeod,  J,  H.  Fift, 
R.  B.  Lowe,  C.  J.  Salter,  W.  Bain,  J.  D.  Pawle,  G.  Nicholson,  0.  E.  Shea 
J.  W.  Barr,  G.  Gordon,  J.  T.  Bennett-Poe,  G.  Paul,  C.  Beckett, 
C.  Jeffries,  H.  Turner,  E.  Mawley,  C.  T.  Druery,  J.  Laing,  R.  M.  Hogg, 
and  J,  Fraser. 
That  the  popularity  of  Michaelmas  Daisies  is  on  the  increase  in 
private  gardens  was  proved  by  the  splendid  collection  staged  by  Mr, 
