1885.] ALEXANDRA PALACE EXHIBITION. 5 



— is under the Department of Science and Art. It might be well 

 were tlie Edinburgh institutions under similar tutelage. In this 

 case there would be no threats of cheeseparing of the estimates, no 

 neglect of the Arboretum, and no lack of a home for the School of 

 Forestry Museum. 



The importance of Ben Nevis Observatory, situated as it is as if 

 up in a balloon, was prominently brought forward at the half-yearly 

 meeting of the Scottish Meteorological Society. Because of this, 

 extensive weather changes may now be more confidently predicted 

 than ever. The partiality of sparrows for spring crocuses and other 

 such early flowers was the prominent theme of the Edinburgh 

 botanists ; while Mr. Kinnear proved to the Geological Society the 

 prevalence of fossil scorpions in the well-searched fossil strata of 

 Fife and Edinburghshire. The indications, which were not under- 

 stood till three years ago or so, had been neglected by the most 

 distinguished Scottish paltcontologists, so little do we, after all, know 

 of that ancient life which geologists have for fifty years been so 

 assiduously studying. 



The tables of ornamental and greenhouse plants shown at 

 the spring meeting of the Eoyal Caledonian Horticultural Society, 

 both by amateurs and nurserymen, were alone in themselves an 

 education in the beautiful. Added to this was an unique display of 

 spring flowers and foliage. There were 10,000 visitors during the 

 first day, and 7500 on the second day. This Society is one of the 

 oldest, if not the oldest in the kingdom, and offers a larger amount 

 in prizes than is done by any other horticultural society. It has 

 existed for three-quarters of a century, and its vigour is increasing 

 with its years. 



Dixi. 



ALEXANDRA PALACE EXHIBITION. 



THIS Exhibition was opened on 31st March, by Lord George 

 ■ Hamilton, M.P. It is to be regretted that the Forestry depart- 

 ment is so w^eakly supported. On asking one of the officials for the 

 Forestry section, we were informed that it was scattered throughout 

 the general Exhibition. The following may be noted amongst those 

 exhibits which partake more or less of a forestal character. 



Mr. Richard Hartland, of the Lough Nurseries, Cork, has a very 

 well arranged case of sections of Irish-grown woods useful in pro- 

 moting native industries. These, with a few exceptions, have been 



