246 THE FLORIST. 



the grace and elegance of their fohage, is a step in the right direction, 

 and one calculated to improve our taste. That this class of plants, now 

 rapidly rising in pubHc favour, will ere long be as generally cultivated 

 for the enduring beauty of their leaves alone as others now are for the 

 brilliancy of their flowers, we entertain not the least doubt ; and we 

 therefore feel certain that every one capable of appreciating the true 

 beauties of nature will go with us in the opinion we have thus formed 

 of their merits. 



As Fruit was to be the principal feature, we shall commence with 

 remarking generally that a very large quantity was produced in every 

 class, much of which was very excellent, the exceptions being few. 



In collections to consist of not less than twelve dishes, the first prize 

 was most deservedly given to Mr. Ingram, gardener to Her Majesty at 

 Windsor, whose fi-uit was in admirable perfection (as it always is). 

 This collection contained, among other productions, very large and 

 beautifully coloured Elruge and Murray Nectarines, Jefferson and 

 Victoria Plums, noticeable for size and beautiful bloom ; fine Ham- 

 burgh Grapes, and Bellegarde and Royal George Peaches, a handsome 

 well swelled Queen Pine, and fine Bigarreau and Black Eagle Cherries. 

 Mr. M'Ewen, of Arundel Castle, was second in the same class ; his 

 collection contained a Providence and a Queen Pine, good Royal George 

 and Walberton Peaches (this latter very much resembled a pale 

 Noblesse), Murray and Hunt's Tawney Nectarines, very good Ham- 

 burgh and Muscat Grapes, Red and Green Gooseberries, Victoria 

 Plums, and Brunswick FigSc A third collection was exhibited by Mr. 

 J. A. Watson, fruit-grower, Ealing. 



In the class of Large Pine-apples, Mr. Jones, of Dowlais, exhibited a 

 Providence 12 lbs. 3 oz., a noble fruit, hardly coloured. Mr. Taylor, 

 Temple Newsom, had the second prize for a brace of handsome Black 

 Prince Pines, each upwards of 7 lbs. Mr. Fleming, Mr. Turnbull, 

 and Mr. Dods (Sahsbury), had each good firuit of the Providence, and 

 were awarded medals. 



In the class Queens no very remarkable fruit were shown ; the best 

 was one from Mr. Gostling, weighing 4 lbs. 15 oz. Mr. Spivey had the 

 next best, weighing 4 lbs. 10| oz. ; then followed Messrs. Davis, Fleming 

 (for a Moscow Queen), Jones, Barron, Merryfield, Dods (Salisbury), 

 and Coster ; prizes were awarded to each of these. In the class for 

 Cayennes and the like, the only exhibition was a Cayenne from Mr. 

 Turnbull, of Blenheim. 



For Hamburgh Grapes, the first prize was obtained by Mr. Stent, 

 for admirable bunches and well-swelled berries, nicely coloured ; next 

 was Mr. Fleming, for large bunches of Hamburgh, but hardly so well 

 coloured. Messrs. Williams, Forsyth (gardener to Baron Rothschild), 

 Tillyard, and Hill (gardener to R. Sneyd, Esq.), were each awarded 

 third prize medals ; these productions were all of great merit. 



For Muscat Grapes, Mr. Turnbull, of Blenheim, was first, with fine 



bunches of Muscat, which, however, were hardly ripe — a fault which 



was perceptible in all the other dishes. Mr. Mitchell, of Brighton, had 



•very large bunches, hardly so fine in the berry as the above, and 



scarcely so ripe. Besides these second prizes were awarded to Messrs. 



