With regard to the fifth order, viz., Natatores, including both divers and swimmers, the water-fowl on the river are more plentiful, but the severity of our winters rules their frequency. Before the opening of the railway from Ross to Hereford, 29 years ago, there was a considerable barge traffic, and the bargees considered a fowling-piece a necessary portion of furniture of a barge, and this disturbance has now ceased. Small flocks of Geese still favour us with a visit, chiefly Brent and White-fronted species. The Sheldrake also occurs. The Mallard or Wild Duck is common, a few of which remain in the county throughout the year, and breed with us. The Teal and Wigeon come next as to scarcity. Between them and the occasional occurrence of the Pochard, Golden Eye, and Tufted Duck, is a wide break in point of frequency.

As to Divers, the Cormorant, Gannet, Great-crested and Red-necked Grebes, are of more rare occurrence than in past years. Likewise the Goosander and the Red-throated Diver. The Grey Phalarope has been once taken.

It only remains to speak of Terns, Gulls, and Petrels, all of which must be regarded as occasional or accidental visitors. Driven here by American gales, they are visitors by accident in two ways-for if they ever have the good fortune to get back it is by accident also. They are generally knocked down as soon as they "turn up." Among the regular occurrences, are the Kittiwake and Common Gulls, and Common Tern. In the more rare list is recorded the Sandwich Tern, Lesser Tern, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, and Pomerine Skua. Among Petrels, we have the Manx Shearwater, Stormy Petrel, the Fork-tailed Petrel, and Fulmar.

As to the future, in spite of the forces that militate against our feathered friends, they have more laws for their protection than of yore. If gamekeepers would but save their powder, the majestic Kite and graceful Peregrine might again be seen sailing over our woods. Our Finches and Sylviadae are on the increase, thanks to Acts of Parliament. If sportsmen and collectors would but spare the rarer species when seen, they might once more grace our landscape and heighten the interest of our rural walks.

A GENERAL Congress of the Pomological Societies of France is now being held here. The "Association Pomologique de l'Ouest," has its centre of operation in the capital of Normandy; and the present Congress is held with the co-operation of the "Société Pomologique de France," the "Société Nationale et Centrale de France," the Societies of Horticulture and Agriculture "de la Ville de Rouen," et "des Départements de la Manche, d'Ile et Vilaine, et de la Seine Inférieure." The union of all these societies has necessarily produced a very large meeting, attended by all the leading pomologists of France, and a very extensive and important exhibition of apples, pears, and other fruits, with cider presses and all other mechanical contrivances for the manufacture of cider.

The Woolhope Club heard last year of the appointment of this grand Congress, and decided to send a deputation to attend it, in order to make a comparison between the apples and pears of Normandy and those of Herefordshire. The gentlemen who were named in the spring for this purpose were Dr. Bull, of Hereford, Dr. Hogg, of London, and Mr. Piper, of Ledbury, and it was left to them to take such steps as they thought advisable on behalf of the Club. These gentlemen did not fail to make every preparation worthy of so grand and important an occasion. They resolved that the Herefordshire apples and pears of all kinds should be fully represented, together with samples of Herefordshire cider and perry. The gardens of Stoke Edith, of Holme Lacy, of Thing-hill, and other smaller places were freely placed at the disposal of the Woolhope Club, and an excellent display of fruit was selected. Four large boxes of fruit, containing 238 different varieties, with seven fruits of almost each variety, were very carefully packed by Mr. Illman and his assistants, from King's Acre, and two other boxes, containing six varieties of the best kinds of cider and two of the best perry, were also sent. These boxes were sent the week before, and the deputation were very glad to find them all safely there on their arrival. The exhibition of table fruit was held in the Great Hall of the Hôtel des Sociétés Savantes, and an excellent

position on one of the central tables was set aside for the Woolhope exhibition. It was no easy task to unpack and unwrap above 1,600 different fruits, and arrange them all on the tables, but the same energy which got them there accomplished the work in some five or six hours. The number of plates exhibited is stated to be about 6,000.

The morning after the arrival of the members of the deputation, M. Héron, the President of the Société d' Horticulture de Rouen, with M. Lechartier, the Vice-President, most politely called upon them and invited them to the opening meeting of the Congress, and to all the successive meetings held daily. They also invited the members to the grand opening banquet to be given the next day at the Hôtel d'Albion. This banquet was attended by all the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of their several Societies. In the speaking afterwards many compliments amongst themselves passed as a matter of course-we have only to relate what concerns the Hereford deputation. Very high places were fixed for them at the table, and the President, M. Héron, was so complimentary to them, that in his turn Dr. Bull had to rise and answer him. This he did in a speech which created quite a sensation and great applause. He had no sooner finished than there was a great shaking of hands, from the President downwards, and a successive clinking of champagne glasses. It was of course highly complimentary, and he was pressed on all sides to supply a copy for the Transactions of the Congress. To return to the Exhibition,-a good place on a centre table, as we have said, had been reserved for the Woolhope Club's exhibition, and after the great labour of putting out the fruit, it was very evident how fine the collection was. The apples and pears from Stoke Edith, Holme Lacy, Thing-hill, and other places, were really magnificent. They had travelled well, and though there were many other plates of very fine fruit, it was quite clear that for general beauty, for form, size, and colour, there was no other collection amongst the 6,000 plates that equalled the Herefordshire fruit. The plates were not large enough to hold the required number of six, one had to be taken from each, and then the table was covered with them. The Herefordshire grapes (Black Alicante), from Mr. Coleman, of Eastnor Castle, were also very fine. This exhibition of the Société Centrale d'Horticulture de France is not strictly competitive. Like our own Royal Society in London, they only award prizes for special merit. The Council had been round before the banquet, and afterwards Dr. Bull was informed that a gold medal had been awarded to the Herefordshire fruit; that a large silver medal had been given to the Herefordshire grapes; and that although it was unusual for the Society to notice publications, it was impossible to pass over the magnificent work, The Herefordshire Pomona, without awarding to it the highest honour in their power, and they had therefore awarded to Dr. Bull, on behalf of the Woolhope Club, a Diplôme d' Honneur. Again and again the President requested Dr. Bull to give a copy of his address for publication, and it was impossible any longer to decline it. The Exhibition of the Association Pomologique de l'Ouest, which takes in the orchard fruits and cider and perry, did not open until Monday, the 6th. The Hereford collection of cider apples, except as regards the so-called Norman fruits, is not large, for some of those who had promised cider apples did

not send them in time to be sent over; but the collection of perry pears (from Mr. Piper) is extensive and fine. The Woolhope Club exhibits also six varieties of cider and two varieties of perry, of the highest quality they could procure, and it will be curious to notice how they suit the Norman palates. The great success of the Woolhope Club exhibits will compel the deputation to remain at Rouen until to-morrow, when the prizes will be awarded with much ceremony.

[BY TELEGRAPH.]

ROUEN, October 10, 1884.

The following is the official list of awards in connection with the Herefordshire exhibits :

(1) Gold medal for collection of table apples and pears.

(2) Large silver medal for grapes.

(3) Gold medal to Dr. Hogg for his life-work in pomology.

(4) Silver gilt medal for cider made from mixed fruits.

(5) Silver medal for Foxwhelp cider.

(6) Bronze medal for cider and perry fruits.

(7) Diploma of honour for The Herefordshire Pomona, from two Societies.

[We have been favoured with the text of the speech delivered by Dr. Bull at the grand banquet given by the Société centrale d' Horticulture de la SeineInférieure at Rouen to all the leading pomologists attending the Congress. It took place at the Hôtel d' Albion, on October 2nd, 1884.]

Monsieur le Président et Messieurs,-Je voudrais m' addresser à vous en anglais, mais je sais bien qu'il y a des personnes dans cette assemblée si distinguée qui ne comprennent pas notre langue si difficile et si excentrique, quoique si chère à nos cœurs.

C'est bien dommage, parce que, moi-même, je ne parle français qu'à la mode anglaise; cependant, si je puis me faire comprendre, sans trop vous gêner, j'en serai content, car je suis bien assuré d'avance de votre complaisance, et de votre bienveillante considération. Si je ne puis pas vous dire de choses intéressantes, au moins entendrez-vous des erreurs amusantes.

Dans nos vergers de Herefordshire, en ce moment les pommiers dits normands sont tout à fait à la mode. Si on cherche des pommiers de pressoir, ou si on plante un verger, le cultivateur ne serait pas content, s'il ne s'y trouvait un certain nombre de ces espèces; la cause n'est pas loin à chercher, c'est qu' elles sont très robustes, très fécondes, et que leur fruit fait un très bon cidre. Il y a, à peu près, une vingtaine de ces espèces, et leur fruits se trouvent en ce moment sur la table, là-bas, à l'Exposition.

Mes confrères et moi nous avons été délégués pour faire une comparaison

entre ces fruits et les vraies pommes de Normandie. C'est pour nous aussi un devoir de choisir, avec le secours de votre bonté, environ six ou sept variétés de pommes de pressoir, des meilleures espèces, franchement normandes, pour les remporter chez nous. Nous apportons aussi quelques échantillons de cidre et de poiré, afin de pousser plus loin la comparaison de nos produits. En outre, nous sommes délégués, avec pleins pouvoirs, pour rapporter autant de nouvelles idées que nos pauvres cervelles pourront en retenir. Tout le monde sait parfaitement que s'il s'agit de trouver des cultivateurs de fruit des plus habiles et des plus soigneux, on ne peut les chercher dans un endroit plus fertile que dans la France, en général, et dans la Normandie, en particulier. Les arbres fruitiers eux-mêmes, à ce qu'il paraît, semblent reconnaître leur maître; taillés très sévèrement, ils prennent la forme qu'il désire, et à son ordre deviennent très productifs et lui rapportent de beaux fruits.

Il faut l'avouer, Messieurs, nos vergers, en Angleterre, sont en général très négligés, et si je dois croire ce qu'on me dit, il en est de même ici. Ne sembleraitil pas que le niveau intellectuel des personnes qui travaillent continuellement à la terre s'abaisse graduellement ? Leur santé peut s'améliorer et leur corps devient plus robuste, mais l'esprit s'alourdit, il devient lent à mesure que les épaules s'arrondissent; le préjugé agricole a horreur du changement. Il pratique le "laissez aller” à un degré presque incroyable. N'est-ce pas à cet esprit de routine qu'il faut attribuer la persistance à planter encore des arbres, dont les noms figurent dans les classes "lilas," "saumonnée," ou même "blanche," de l'admirable Catalogue des fruits à pressoir, de la Société centrale d'Horticulture, qui marque d'une manière si précise et si commode la valeur relative de ces diverses espèces. Ne pourrait-on pas choisir exclusivement la liste "jaune"?

Nous regardons ce Catalogue, il faut l'avouer, avec beaucoup d' envie. Le gouvernement, chez nous, ne s'occupe aucunement de nos vergers; et je crois bien que si l' on osait demander son aide, il dirait, comme il le dit en effet: "Si vous voulez de bons pommiers, cherchez-les. Si vous voulez planter des vergers, plantez-les. Si vous voulez des analyses, adressez-vous aux analystes les plus habiles." Le gouvernement anglais ne nous aide en aucune manière, tandis que le vôtre vous seconde largement, en prenant à sa charge les dépenses d'analyses et en présentant aux cultivateurs d'aussi beaux ouvrages que Le Cidre, de M.M. de Boutteville et Hauchecorne, et le Catalogue de la Société centrale d'Horticulture, dont j'ai parlé. Je vous assure, Messieurs, que Le Cidre, ouvrage si excellent, a beaucoup contribué à animer nos efforts pour la publication de, The Herefordshire Pomona, que vous nous avez fait l'honneur de couvrir de vos louanges.

Messieurs, nos cultivateurs, en général, possèdent, l'esprit agricole ; ils suivent les mêmes procédés qu'on a pratiqués de siècle en siècle, et que leurs aïeux ont suivis. Ils sont un peu comme ce bon M. Jourdain, dans la comédie inimitable de Molière; ils pratiquent de certains procédés et le cidre en résulte; mais cornment cela peut arriver, ils n'y ont pas pensé du tout. Il n'y a que très peu d' années, tout le monde était à peu près dans le même cas; ils ne pouvaient pas comprendre, par exemple, le procédé de la fermentation. Les analystes ont par

lé de l'oxygène, et des changements qu'il produit dans les matières inorganiques;