1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 379 



Napier. In the class for scarlet-fleshed Melons, a small fruit of Scarlet Gem, very 

 fine in flavour, contributed by Mr J. Cross, gardener to Sir F. H. Goldsmid, 

 Bart., was placed first ; the next best being Meredith's Hybrid Cashmere, exhi- 

 bited by Mr Burnett ; while the third prize was taken by Mr Banting, gardener 

 to Lady Pringle, Bonchurch, Isle of "Wight, with Queen Victoria. A small 

 round Melon, named Marquis of Ailsa, shown by Mr T. Crane, was the best in 

 the class for green-fleshed varieties ; a medium-sized fruit of Dr Hogg, shown by 

 Mr W. Gardiner, taking second honours. Neither class was at all well repre- 

 sented. For the best 12 lb. of Black Grapes, Mr G. Ward came first, Mr W. 

 Davis second, and Messrs Standish & Co. third ; the former with excellent exam- 

 ples of Black Hamburgh, and the latter with Royal Ascot, good on all points. 

 Iu the corresponding class for White Grapes, fair specimens of Muscat of Alex- 

 andria were contributed by Mr G. Osborn, Kay's Nursery, Finchley, and Mr W. 

 Davis, New Lodge, Whetstone, the prizes being awarded in the order named. 

 Mr C. Penford, gardener to Earl Radnor, sent the best dish of Black Hamburgh, 

 the bunches being large, well-shouldered, and good in berry and colour. Messrs 

 Standish & Co. sent Golden Champion, produced by a last year's graft on the 

 Royal Ascot, which partakes very much of the flavour of that variety. 



The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. — The above society held 

 its summer exhibition on the 13th of last month, in the Music Hall, George 

 Street. This year the exhibition was held later than usual, in order to give it 

 the character of a Rose show, and we cannot help thinking that it was rather a 

 pity to have it and a similar show in Glasgow on the same day. 



The general character of the exhibition, as regards plants, fruit, and flowers, 

 was much the same as on previous occasions. The Roses, being in great force, 

 gave it an added interest over other years, and this the public seemed thoroughly 

 to appreciate, for on no previous occasion have we seen so large a gathering of 

 visitors at a midsummer exhibition in Edinburgh. The Roses seemed to have 

 many admirers. This was especially evident in the neighbourhood of the splendid 

 stand of 36 blooms, from Hugh Dickson, Belmont Nursery, Belfast. These were 

 magnificent examples of Rose culture, quite equal to the high standard attained to 

 by the great English growers, and we trust they are a mark at which the Scotch 

 growers will aim against another such exhibition. Amongst his handsome collec- 

 tion, we noted, as extraordinary examples of fine growth, Baroness Rothschild, 

 Horace Vernet, Mdlle. Marguerite Dombrain, Abel Grand, Madam Chas. Wood, 

 Senateur Vaisse, Chas. Lefebvre, Mdlle. Marie Rady, Anna de Diesbach, and 

 Prince De Porcia. Many of the other stands by both nurserymen and garden- 

 ers were fine, though a long way in the rear of that we have specially referred 

 to. 



The various Edinburgh nurserymen had their usual stands filled with pretty 

 saleable plants. Amongst those sent by Messrs Lawson & Sons we noted some 

 very pretty variegated shrubs and trees, such as Acer Japonica variegata, Abies 

 Albertina variegata, Cupressus Lawsoniana variegata elegantissima, Hedera 

 helix variegata. This very pretty variegated variety of the common wood 

 Ivy is calculated to be very useful as a decorative plant in the flower-garden. 

 They had also the same Ivy in its tree form, that would make beautiful edgings 

 in a flower-garden. The same firm filled the orchestra with palms and other 

 showy plants. Amongst the numerous plants contributed by Mr Methven, we 

 noticed a large collection of cut Roses ; and perhaps the most remarkable plant in 

 the room, quite unique in character and appearance — we refer to Sedum spectabile 

 irregulare variegatum. This plant stood 29° of frost in the open border last year, 



