AUGUST. 171 



^^,e must leave for the judges (?) of the day to answer. There were 

 other instances where the judgment was nearly as questionable ; but 

 as we are personally interested, it will be out of place to allude to 

 thsm here. 



Pinks were shewn by Mr. Turner and Mr. Bragg ; also in the 

 amateur class by Mr. Baker, Woolwich, and Mr. Edwards, Hollo- 

 way; and prizes were given in the order in which they stand. Many 

 of those exhibited were seedlings, the best being, Sarah, Esther 

 Koh-i-noor, Duke of WeUington, Prince of Wales, Glory, Perfection, 

 Dr. Hawtrey, Arthur, and Harry. Optima was also fine. 



Pansies : 1st, Mr. Turner; 2d, Mr. Bragg : Mr. Thompson also 

 sent a stand of blooms, but it was not placed. 



Seedlings. Pelargoniums : Optimum was shewn better perhaps 

 than we have ever seen it, four plants being present ; it is an abun- 

 dant bloomer, producing large trusses, which, with the richness of 

 the colour combined with good habit, makes it very effective ; Queen 

 of May is also a very showy plant ; colour orange-scarlet. These 

 were from Mr. Black, gardener to E. Foster, Esq. Mr. Hoyle of 

 Reading sent Zaira, a spotted orange-rose, very novel, and of good 

 form; also Portia, white, with spot on top-petals; a free-flowering 

 variety, which will make a good exhibition plant. Novelty, by Mr. 

 Turner, is a free-flowering attractive variety : this and Zaira had cer- 

 tificates, as had also a dark Pansy from Mr. Bragg. 



FUCHSIA GRACILIS. 



The following is a speedy way of increasing this useful Fuchsia : 

 on the approach of an anticipated cold and dreary winter, I 

 covered my beds of hardy Fuchsias as usual. On removing the 

 turf-sods in the succeeding April, to my surprise I found that all the 

 shoots of F. gracilis, which had been cut and laid on the stools pre- 

 viously to the sods, had taken root, and were divisible into plants, 

 some hundreds in number. Many of these entire shoots, however, I 

 potted at once, while a portion of the remainder was laid on the 

 ground till the following spring, when they were treated similar to 

 the others. On the arrival of a more genial season, I was com- 

 pensated with a multitude of the most gorgeous specimens of this 

 attractive species, which continued to display its handsome blossoms 

 the whole of the ensuing season. The shoots, it should be observed, 

 were three feet in length (the summer's growth in our dry soil), and 

 of course admitted of being planted immediately, without waiting the 

 ordinary period of obtaining plants. In this way the trouble of 

 striking was saved, together with considerable attention, usually 

 required in the period during which cuttings are attaining a neces- 

 sary degree of strength and height, to render them available for the 

 different purposes to which they are commonly ajiplied. 



Englefield Green. William Whale. 



