1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 387 



be the case with the Royal Horticultural Society 1 The local authori- 

 ties could give their undivided attention and energies to furthering 

 the interests of their horticultural visitors ; the inhabitants would 

 have one instead of two great exhibitions to look through, to the posi- 

 tive injury of one of them ; the courtesies of the local government 

 would be sure to be forthcoming ; there would be a manifest and most 

 important gain in the way of prestige to the Society ; and Horticulture, 

 instead of being overshadowed by the colossal stature and extensive 

 ramifications of a great Agricultural Show held contemporaneously 

 with it, would shine with undimmed lustre, and without a rival near 

 it to cause it any disquiet, or rob it of that dearly-coveted and indis- 

 pensable appanage, a financial success. R. D. 



NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



The Horticultural Congress held at Oxford in connection with the 

 provincial show of the Royal Horticultural Society appears to have 

 been very successful. Some good and interesting papers were read, 

 and a little discussion was indulged in at the termination of one or 

 two of them. The quality of the papers was generally high, the men 

 deputed to read them unexceptionable; they were also varied in 

 character, and full of interest. The one most likely to create discus- 

 sion is that by Dr Hogg on "Judging Fruits." In order that our 

 readers may have an opportunity of learning Dr Hogg's opinions on 

 this matter, we print his paper in another page. The idea of a horti- 

 cultural congress is a thoroughly good one, and when judiciously 

 managed, as this appears to have been, may be made productive of 

 certain practical good. Scarcely enough prominence is given to it, 

 and so a somewhat scanty attendance results. On general grounds it 

 would be best that a large tent be erected close by those containing 

 the plants, as a place in which the Congress is to assemble. Placards 

 should be posted about the show-ground announcing the time at which 

 it is intended to hold the meeting, the papers to be read, and the 

 readers thereof : by such means a greater degree of popular interest 

 would be enlisted. At Manchester, and again at Oxford, the Congress 

 appeared — though never intended to assume such an aspect — to be an 

 affair of the few, and not one of the many, no doubt through lack of 

 publicity. On these occasions horticulturists come from distant parts, 

 and there are old friends to meet and new acquaintances to be made, 

 and general fraternal greetings to be exchanged, and the somewhat 

 sparingly-announced Congress gets overlooked. If, another season, the 



