468 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



subject ; and as gardeners, like otlier men, require some recreative 

 study which unites pleasure with profit, we think there could not be 

 a better than this science of colour, which has a rare capacity for add- 

 ing both to our professional and intellectual enjoyment. 



W. Forbes. 



THE MATsTCHESTER INTERNATIONAL HORTICUL- 

 TURAL EXHIBITION. 



August 24-27. 



It was generally anticipated that a grand display of plants, fruits, and vege- 

 tables would be brought together in response to the liberal schedule of prizes 

 offered by the council of the Manchester Royal Botanic Society ; but the re- 

 sults apparently exceeded the most sanguine expectations. Larger and more 

 varied exhibitions of plants are occasionally held ; but it is doubtful if the 

 Manchester display of fruit and vegetables was ever equalled. The council, 

 and Mr Bruce Findlay, the respected and energetic curator and secretary of 

 the above Society, are therefore to be congratulated upon the result of their 

 labours with regard to the extent of the exhibition. Unfortunately the 

 weather was uncontrollable, and on at least two days of the four advertised 

 exhibition days, rain constantly fell in torrents, water at times flowing down 

 the tent pathway in great streams. This, as might be expected, frightened 

 away thousands of intending visitors ; the consequence being, to a great extent, 

 financial failure. Fortunately the prize fund was principally previously 

 subscribed, the original intention of the organisers being to devote the gate- 

 money to the rebuilding of a range of glass houses. This much needed re- 

 storation would be a very satisfactory outcome of the "Jubilee Exhibition," 

 both to Mr Findlay and all interested in the Manchester Botanic Gardens, and 

 it is to be hoped will yet be executed. 



Manchester being comparatively a central spot, is equally convenient to 

 northern as well as southern exhibitors, and both were remarkably well repre- 

 sented, notably in the fruit classes ; and as these classes invariably prove most 

 attractive to gardeners, we propose to discuss them more fully than our limited 

 space will warrant in the case of the other sections of the show — good as all 

 undoubtedly were. For the same reason (limited space), no attempt will be 

 made to enumerate one-half of the prize-winners, and where mentioned, the 

 gardener's name only will be given. In what may justly be termed the 

 premier class — viz., that for a collection of fifteen kinds of fruits, there were 

 four entries, all staging high-class fruit. Mr Coleman of Eastnor Castle secured 

 the first prize with excellent examples of Black Hamburg, Muscat of Alex- 

 andria, Gros Maroc, and Madresfield Court Grapes ; good smooth Cayenne and 

 Queen Pines ; Blenheim Orange and Eastnor Castle Melons ; a dish each of 

 highly-coloured Chancellor and Bellegarde Peaches, Elruge, and Lord Napier 

 Nectarines ; Brown Turkey Figs, Moorpark Apricots, and fine fruits of Pit- 

 maston Duchesse Pear. MrM'Indoe, Hutton Hall, Guisborough, was awarded 

 the second prize for a good collection, in which w^ere excellent examples of 

 Barbarossa and Black Hamburg Grapes, highly-coloured fruits of Humboldt 

 Nectarines, and a fine dish of Beurre Superfine Pears. In the third prize col- 

 lection, staged by Mr Roberts, Gunnersbury, were creditable examples of Madres- 

 field Court and Black Hamburg Grapes, Smooth Cayenne and Queen Pines, and 



