12 THE FLORIST. 



there be some reasonable chance of their being exhibited. On the 

 other hand, small growers, particularly of Florists' flowers which are 

 shewn in a cut state, often run into the extreme as regards class- 

 shewin"- ; for however desirable it may be to introduce this system 

 to a limited extent, in order to test closely the relative merits of dif- 

 ferent varieties, the eftect produced is not in proportion to the amount 

 expended in prizes. Such displays please a few who are interested 

 in the matter ; but our aim should be to gratify the public in general 

 as much as possible, and to foster a love of plants as well as reward 

 merit. The success of Horticultural Societies must ever depend on 

 the support they receive from the public ; and if properly managed, 

 they seldom fail in achieving their object. The sooner the subjects 

 eligible for prizes are made known the better, in order to give intend- 

 ing exhibitors a fair chance of bringing their productions forward in 

 a creditable manner on the day a])pointed for the show. Rules for 

 such meetings should be few and plain, and what are made should be 

 rigidly enforced ; but unfortunately such is seldom the case. Secre- 

 taries have onerous duties to fulfil; and the above remarks are penned 

 more with a view to assist them than to find fault. I may, however, 

 observe, that success will greatly depend on a judicious schedule of 

 prizes. An Old Exhibitor. 



REVIEW. 



British Pomology. By Robert Hogg. Groombridge and Sons. 8vo. 



We received two numbers of this promising work some months ago, 

 but we have hitherto been unable to give them attention. We now 

 refer to them with pleasure, because we can discover from what they 

 contain, that the work, when complete, will form one of the best guides 

 to the Fruitist, as regards the history and naming of fruits, that has 

 yet been published. Each fruit is described in alphabetical order, 

 with its synonymes attached, and in many cases an outline is added ; 

 so that the work will be amply illustrated. As will be gleaned from 

 its title, it is to contain a history, description, and classification of all 

 the fruits cultivated in the gardens and orchards of Britain. Such a 

 work is much wanted, and we wish it success. We expect that the 

 following account of the origin of the Apple, taken from Part I. p. 9, 

 will be read with interest : 



" The Apple is a native of this, as well as almost every other 

 country in Europe. Its normal form is the Common Wild Crab, the 

 Pyrus Malus of Linnaeus, and the numerous varieties with which our 

 gardens and orchards abound are the result either of the natural 

 tendency of that tree to variation, or by its varieties being hybridised 

 with the original species or with each other. It belongs to the natural 

 order Rosacece, section Pomece, and is by botanists included in the 

 same genus as the pear. 



Some authors have ascribed the introduction of the Apple into 



