AUGUST. 167 



were very meagre. Fuchsias were not at all to our mind ; they were 

 straggling and leggy ; and notwithstanding all that can be said in 

 favour of rapid growth, it finds no favour with us in the case of the 

 Fuchsia. We should have been glad had our friends seen and studied 

 the examples of this flower produced in the Townhall of Birmingham 

 on the 27th May. Cut Roses were fine for the early season, and 

 there was a good competition. Of other cut-flowers there were a 

 few Finks, Ranunculuses, and Pansies; and in fruits some fine Pine- 

 apples and Grapes. Vegetables were shewn largely and in fine con- 

 dition by the gardeners of the neighbourhood. It was very gratifying 

 to our feelings of nationality that the chief jirizes were borne off by 

 exhibitors from our own neighbourhood (Air. Bayley and Mr.Dryden), 

 as proving the utility of the exhibitions which we have helped, in a 

 small degree, to establish here; but far more gratifying was it to us to 

 note the cordial feeling which was shewn on every side, and the hearty 

 emulation which seemed to animate all engaged ; and very cordially 

 indeed we trust such kindly feeling may more and more abound. 

 Derby. E. S. D. 



A NOTE ON THE MATURATION OR RIPENING OF 

 GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



The plan recommended in your last, p. 139, though it has novelty 

 to promote its adoption, w'ould not, I fear, have a very sightly ap- 

 pearance, especially upon a lawn. Besides, all pots are not made 

 with holes at the sides, as described by J. H. B. With large plants, 

 such as he mentions, it will be better to plunge the pots two-thirds 

 of their depth in the ground, arranging them either singly over the 

 lawn, or collecting them into groups, according to the taste of the 

 proprietor or gardener. Thus specimen-plants may be made to serve 

 a very interesting purpose, imparting quite a new^ and exotic feature 

 to the lawn, admitting of their proper training at all opportunities, 

 and at the same time allowing each plant to be properly inspected 

 and examined. Of course, in such an arrangement care must be taken 

 in preparing the holes for the pots to secure proper drainage, and 

 also by placing some lime-rubbish or cinder-ashes in the bottom, to 

 prevent the ingress of worms. Plants so arranged have the advan- 

 tages, so much to be desired, of a cool bottom, without the roots or 

 pots being exposed at one time to scorching heat, and at others to 

 cold chills, consequent upon the vaporisation of the moisture from the 

 sides of the pots. And these are great points; for though, to secure 

 the thorough maturation of the wood, full exposure is necessary for 

 the branches, nothing is more injurious to tender-rooted plants than 

 the undue exposure of their pots to a dry and acrid atmosphere. 



In exposing tender plants, however, for the benefit of atmo- 

 spheric influences, the fact must not be lost sight of, that while 

 some plants require thorough exposure to mature their wood and set 

 the flowers, others are better for a partial shade; and many, as among 

 our choicest Heaths and Chorozemas, do net set their flowers until 



