238 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



[ October, 



f ru its the Grape. The miscellaneous collections were worthy of the highest commendation. In 



the larger class 20 sorts — in which six competed, the battle for position lay between Stevens 



of Trentham, Johnstone of Glamis Castle, Thomson of Dalkeith, and Ingram of Alnwick; 

 while in collections of 16 sorts, Mathieson of Tullieallan, Lees of Tynninghame, and Temple 

 of Balbirnie took precedence. The post of honour must, however, be assigned to Mr. George 

 Johnstone, who won easily the principal Grape prize of the day, and who was first in 10 other 

 of the Grape classes, amidst a host of competitors! This unparalleled success goes to show 

 what can be done with young Vines and well-made borders, under skilful management. The 

 effect of the show was greatly heightened by the admirable manner in which the flowering 

 and decorative plants were arranged in the adjacent hall. 



. ^he International Horticultural Exhibition opened at Hamburgh on 



the 2nd of September has proved to be successful. The park in which the show- 

 was held, some 20 to 30 acres in extent, is beautifully situated on the old glacis, 

 and was admirably adapted for such a purpose, though the show was organized on so extensive 

 a scale that even this space did not suffice. The valley was laid out with winding walks, 

 and groups of trees, shrubs, and flower-beds, the Conifers, Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, &c, 

 being skilfully dispersed so as to give it rather the appearance of a beautiful garden, than of 

 an exhibition-ground. There were many noble specimens of Palms and Cycads ; tho Bronze 

 Pelargoniums from England were pre-eminent ; there was a fine collection of Cactuses, and a 

 splendid assortment of bouquets and cut flowers of various kinds. The fruit department was, 

 however, by far the most interesting section, and here there was nothing to come at all near 

 the British Grapes of Mr. Meredith, who won the Queen's Cup, and of Mr. W. Thomson, who 

 obtained a gold medal, and whose three bunches of Grapes were quite ^wonderful. We heartily 

 congratulate these gentlemen on their success, notwithstanding that it would appear that the 

 eup°at least was intended for other hands,— a laxity of principle in the management which 

 deserves severe reprehension. Mr. Meredith's collection consisted of three very large bunches 

 of Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat, a beautiful set of three bunches of Black Hamburgh, perfect 

 in every respect, with Muscat of Alexandria, Lady Downe's Seedling, Trentham Black, 

 Muscat Hamburgh, &c, all really excellent examples. Mr. Thomson competed with a most 

 perfect bunch of Chasselas Napoleon, weighing 41b. ; a very large bunch of Muscat of Alexan- 

 dria, weighing 5|lb., but somewhat green ; and a Black Hamburgh, of 3£lb., not quite up in 

 colour, and with the drawback of having been bruised before it was staged. The collection of 

 Apples and Pears was excellent, and there were many good Pines and Melons. The number 

 of visitors is said to have been enormous. 



2£he Gardeners' Examinations of the Royal Horticultural Society in 



July last, gave the following results : — 



&N illustration of the depth to which the roots of plants penetrate 

 was furnished at the show of the Highland and Agricultural Society, at 

 Edinburgh, in July last. The Marquis of Tweeddale exhibited a sample of Oats 

 "rowing in earth, contained in a glazed case, G ft. in depth, the upper 3 ft. consisting of 

 ordinary surface soil, and the lower 3 ft. of subsoil. The top and root progress of these oats 

 was as follows: — April 20th, the points of leaves just appeared above the surface of soil;, 

 roots' 1 in. down. April 22nd, leaves 1 in. high; roots 5 in. down. May 12th, leaves 3 in. 

 lono-; roots 12 in. down. May 24th, scarcely any increase in the length of the leaves ; roots 

 2 ft. 9 in. long. On the 7th of June, the portion of the box containing the subsoil was added. 

 June 16th, roots 4 ft. deep, and extending at the rate of 1 in. in 24 hours. June 20th, roots 

 4 ft. 6 in. deep; plants 15-| in. high. July 7th, roots entering the ground on which the case 

 stood, therefore 6 ft. long. 



