FEBRUARY. 59 



grounds adjacent to a largo provincial town a National Dahlia show 

 would he appreciated, and would he supported by all lovers of flowers 

 within miles of the spot, a fine day only being wanted to raise a per- 

 manent fund. 



While on this subject an idea has struck me, that if successful 

 raisers of new flowers would each year draw their pursestrings a little 

 open, and give a guinea or two for the best six blooms of any one 

 variety of a somewhat similar colour to their : pet seedling, what 

 interest would be excited, and what information would he imparted, 

 respecting the merits or demerits of the new flowers. To illustrate my 

 meaning, I will observe that Cherub is acknowledged by all to be 

 a fine Dahlia. A seedling was exhibited at St. James's Hall and 

 elsewhere something similar in colour (and which I expect will be in 

 the hands of most growers this season) named Chairman. Now if the 

 raiser of this variety were to give any sum he thought proper for the 

 best six blooms of a buff variety, himself and all others being eligible 

 to compete, it would not only decide which was the best Dahlia, Cherub 

 or Chairman, but would in all probability benefit the dealer by causing 

 an increased sale of that particular sort. I am so convinced of the 

 necessity of some such test, that I will willingly give my two guineas 

 for the best six blooms of a light ground variety, to carry out my 

 proposition, although I have no new Dahlia coining out this season. 

 Many worthless kinds would not be catalogued, but an increased value 

 would be given to really good varieties , if such a test could be fully 

 carried out. 



Charles James Perry. 



The Cedars, Castle Bromwich, near Birmingham. 



[Mr. Perry's proposition is a good one. Let us, however, invite the 

 opinion of others interested in the matter.] 



REPORT OP THE GREAT AUTUMN FRUIT SHOW OP 

 THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



HELD IN ST. JAMES'S HALL, NOV. 17 and 18, 1858. 



We feel no hesitation in stating our opinion that the autumn exhibitions 

 of fruit held by the Horticultural Society in 1857 and 1858 have done 

 more towards making the cultivation of hardy fruits popular than all the 

 summer exhibitions of Chiswick and the Regent's Park put together. 

 It was therefore no small satisfaction to us to know that the Fruit 

 Committee of the Society had deputed Messrs. Hogg and Moore, 

 assisted by their Secretary, Mr. Thompson, to draw up a report thereon, 

 for the information of the Fellows of the Society. The report, which 

 has been very carefully got up, and forms an 8vo. pamphlet of thirty- 

 two pages ; notwithstanding its great length, however, and that 

 two entire days were devoted to their work, so great was the number 

 of articles they had to examine, that they were compelled to leave the 

 character and respective merit of the Apples unnoticed. We regret this 

 unavoidable circumstance, for the information which their notes would 



