114 THE FLORIST. 



GOSSIP AND NOTICES. 



In another page of our present Number our readers will find a sug- 

 gestion from Mr. Rivers on the formation of a Pomological Society, 

 to which we beg to direct the attention of all interested in the culture 

 of hardy fruits. There can be no doubt that a Society such as Mr. 

 Rivers has proposed (if rightly constituted) would be the means of 

 effecting a great amount of good ; and by disseminating a knowledge 

 of the most useful varieties of hardy fruits (not only of our own 

 country, but of America and the Continent as well), with hints re- 

 quisite for their profitable cultivation, would add much to the 

 comfort and enjoyment of large classes of the community ; and we 

 therefore most cordially give our assistance in bringing the subject 

 forward. What a small number, comparatively, of our urban and 

 rural population is there who can command a sufficient supply of 

 such a wholesome fruit as the Apple ! using that as a luxury, ,we may 

 say, which ought to constitute an article of daily food. What, in the 

 shape of the above, we ask, would not the population of our manu- 

 facturing districts consume, if they could be purchased at a cheap 

 rate, for eight or nine months in the year ? Besides, we are now 

 obliged to import a considerable quantity each season to supply the 

 demands of Ccvent Garden alone ; and surely our climate is not alto- 

 gether so bad, that we could not grow Apples, &c. sufficient, if we try 

 to set about it. We mention this fact, because we think it should 

 be one object of this Society (when established) to point out to landed 

 proprietors, farmers, &c. the best variety of hardy fruits suitable 

 for different soils and situations, where such could be profitably 

 grown. There are hundreds of miles of hedge-rows in England 

 alone, now choked up with scrubby Elm and Ash, to the manifest in- 

 jury of what may be growing beneath them, which might, by plant- 

 ing them with fruit-trees, be converted into a source of considerable 

 revenue to the owner, besides yielding a large quantity of a wholesome 

 kind of food and beverage to the lower classes. This illustration 

 only shows how useful such an institution may become, in addition 

 to increasing the information respecting fruits, and the love of them, 

 among the more wealthy classes. We shall now conclude with re- 

 minding our readers that prospectuses will soon be issued, explaining 

 more fully the objects which the intended Society is most anxious to 

 attain. We understand Mr. Spencer, of Bowood, has consented (for 

 a time at least) to receive suggestions from parties interested respect- 

 ing its formation, as well as the names of those wishing to become 

 members. 



We regret to learn, that all, or at least the greater part, of the 

 unequalled collection of Exotic plants at Ealing Park — which have 

 so long elicited the admiration of all who have seen them — are to be 

 disposed of. Although the collection taken together is, we fear, too 

 extensive for any private individual to purchase, we are not without 

 hopes that some of our botanical societies will furnish the funds 



