60 THE PLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



care, for cold water -will not benefit the roots of a vine in active growth at this time 

 of year. As for the second n quisite, heated borders are the proper thing, and in all 

 good gardens healed borueis are gradually taking the place ot the old borders, which, 

 being cold, and preventing thereby a reciprocity of action between roots and leaves, 

 cause frequent lo&ses of crop througii blianking, rust, and mildew. In ^forcing 

 vines, a heated border is nine-tenths accomplished towards final success. 



NEWS OF THE MONTH. 



International Horticultural Exhibition ani> Congress. — This exhibition, 

 which is to •■pen on the 22nd of May next, had its origin at one of the meetings 

 held in 1864, at Brussels, under the immediate patronage of the late lamented King 

 Leopold and his family, on which occasion the English horticulturists wi o had 

 assembled in the Belgian capital resolved that Great Biitain, as one of the foremost 

 nations in horticultural matters, ought no longer to lag hi hind its neighbours in 

 adopting snch an influential means of advancing the kindred sciences of botany 

 and horticulture. The idea thus originated was revived at the exhibition which 

 was held last year at Amsterdam, and it was then definitely arranged that imme- 

 diate steps should be taken for carrying out the proposed London meeting during 

 the present year, it being understood that similar meetings were to be held in other 

 European capitals in succeeding years — namely, in Paris during 1867, and in St. 

 Petersburg during 18t8. It will be gratifying to the frienda of horticu.tnre to 

 learn, that her Majesty the Queen, with her usual generosity, has been graciously 

 pleased to give the scntme her countenance and support; while the patronage of 

 his Koyal Highness tlie Prince of Wales, and of other members of the royal family, 

 has been freely accorded to it, and the geneial list of supporters has already 

 become both txttnsive and weighty. The locality which has been selected for the 

 shew is South Kensington ; and the executive committee have already come to an 

 understanding with the authouties of the Royal Horticultural Society, by virtue of 

 which the visitors to the show will have Iree access to the Horticultural Gardens. 

 The show itself, thanks to the permission of the First Commissioner of Works and 

 the Lords of the Treasury, will take place on the site of the Exhibition of 1862. 

 The building designed for its accommodation is to cover an area of three acres, and, 

 instead of the crowded and formal aiTangemenis which mostly prevail at exhibi- 

 cions of this sort, the space is to be laid out as an ornamental garden, the plants and 

 other objects of exhibition being disposed with a view to picturesque effect, fehould 

 the Fjies be propitious, the lovers of these pleasant horticultural gatherings may 

 look forward to hoid, next May, such a feast of flowers as has not hitherto been 

 consummated, at least in this country. The amount of the prizes offered by the 

 Committee is £250U, to which the Society of Arts add £bO. The banquet, to be 

 held in connection witli the exhibition, will take place in iheGuildliall of the City of 

 London, which has been generously granted for the purpose by tlie Corporation. 



The EDUcArioN of Gaiideneks is the subject o^' an elaborate report lately 

 presented to the Council of the Eoyal Horticukuial Society, by a committee ap- 

 pointed to make an inquiry and prepare a recommendation. The council have 

 adopted in great part the recommendaiions of the committee, and the result is, that 

 preparations are being made at Chisuick to render the Society's garden suitable as 

 a school for gardeners. Pupils will be received for one, two, or three years ; they 

 must be over twenty years of age, and have had three years' experience in good 

 gardens. During tlieir term of probation they will receive from 12s. to 14s. a week 

 as wages. We cannot help thinliing the sclieme tar too complicated to serve the 

 purpose intended, for the rate of wages paid to gardeners is too low to justify the 

 sacrifices required in the course of eciucation prescribed, and Chiswick can scarcely 

 be made fit to serve as a scliool for gardeners witnout an outlay considerably 

 larger than the council intend to incur tor it, and the exhibition there of much 

 higiier talent in the direction of gardeii-woik than the Society can command, 

 under present circumstances. 



The VicroRiA Nurseky of Mr. B. S. Williams, near the Archway Tavern, 

 Higbgate, is now completed, and the public are invited to inspect the extensive and 



