DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



241 



sorr, Mrs. R. Bich nan, Mr. Sayf.rs and Mr. 

 Ferre , — for their tine collection* of Roses, Dah- 

 lias, icr.; the whole forming a most beautiful 

 display, rising from the sides to the centre. 



Beyond the end of this table was situated the 

 chaste and tasty Floral Cottage, by J. Hoffner, 

 Esq., which excited more general attention than 

 any other object in the hall. It was a bower or 

 temple, some six feet square, and eight or nine 

 feet high, covered with a variety of running 

 plants iii full bloom, ami otherwise decorated, and 

 surrounded with marble statuary, vases, &.c.;of 

 the former, placed at each corner, representing 

 the lour seasons, of spring, summer, fall and win- 

 ter, with two snow white lambs — one on either 

 side of the entrance. The interior decorations 

 consisted of seats, with a centre table, appropri- 

 ated to bouquets, surrounding a glass globe with 

 gold fish, which seemed to participate in the joy- 

 ous occasion, — with a moss carpet, and two beau- 

 tiful little Misses, dressed in white, whose ollicc 

 was to sell the bouquets to the admiring multi- 

 tude. From the ceiling was suspended a plant of 

 Stanhopeu tiquidra, of the family of Orchids, in 

 full bloom. This remarkable plant attracted much 

 attention. Mr. Hoff>er is, I believe, the first 

 who introduced and bloomed it in the west. For 

 the ingenuity of this structure, Mr. Hoffner 

 and his gardener, Mr. Ross, deserve much credit. 

 The vines were all grown and trained to it in his 

 garden, and thus brought to the hall in a grow- 

 ing condition, — throwing out a continued suc- 

 cession of bloom. 



Immediately in the rear of this, and covering 

 the farther end of the hall, was appropriated to 

 extensive groups of a great variety of valuable 

 green-house plants, many of very large size and 

 rare, mostly belonging to Mr. Hoffner. These 

 were so arranged as to raise one .above the other, 

 with walks between, which gave the groups a 

 most imposing and interesting appearance. From 

 these groups rose two columns, at equal distances 

 from the sides of the hall, covered with running 

 vines, and festooned from column to column, and 

 so to the side wails, with wreaths of flowers and 

 evergreens. This also extended along the centre 

 of the hall, from chandelier to chandelier. 



The entire extent of the hall, on either side, be- 

 tween the groups, was covered with tables live 

 feet wide. That on the north, to various rural 

 designs; among which was a large cornucopia, 

 ingeniously prepared by the Misses Orange, pour- 

 ing out its ample supply of everythii g pleasant to 

 the eye and good for the taste. To plants, bou- 

 quets, specimen flowers, among which were splen- 

 did Dahlias, Roses, &c, mostly from Messrs. 

 Jackson, Heaver and Resorr. 



The table on the south was devoted to veu' ta- 

 bles, plants, &c. ; of the former, there were very 

 fair specimens, though it is much to be regretted 

 that so few of our vegetable gardeners seem to 

 feel interested in these exhibitions. A much bet- 

 ter display could and should have been made. 



The plants on this table, many of which were 

 large and tine, were mostly from the garden of N. 



LONGWORTH. F.M|. 



The promenade, formed between the centre 

 t;thle and those on the Bides, was partly occupied 

 by rural structures. That on the south toalloral 

 temple, by .Mis. Heaver; tin- was a structure on 



a sqaare base, six feel over, and eighteen feet 



high, with turrets on each corner of the main 

 body, with one rising from the centre above the 

 rest. The whole was covered with moss, and 



beautifully ornamented with various flowers. The 

 interior arrangements were very chaste; the car- 



peting was mostly of Dahlias of various colours, 

 tastefully arranged, and, when brilliantly lit up, 

 produced a fine effect. The only objectionable 

 feature was the rich papering of the walls; this 

 should have been of a material more in harmony 

 with the design of horticulture; although, how- 

 ever, it reflected much credit on the good taste 

 and ingenuity of Mrs. Hea%'er, which was fully 

 awarded to her by the universal approbation of 

 the visitors. 



East of this structure, in the same promenade, 

 was placed a most beautiful floral basket, some 

 five feet over and four high, composed of native 

 vines and flowers, with a splendid pyramidal bou- 

 quet of roses occupying the centre. This was 

 most tastefully arranged by the inmates of the 

 Scarlet Oaks, the residence of Dr. Warder. 



In the north promenade rose, in majestic style, 

 a splendid Gothic monument, by S. S. Jackson. 

 This rested on a base five feet over, and rising 

 some twenty-four, eight square, formed in regular 

 divisions or offsets, one rising above the other, 

 and terminating in a spire. This was also covered 

 with moss, and tastefully decorated with various 

 coloured Dahlias and other flowers, forming a 

 most beautiful and well proportioned structure, 

 which fully sustained the good taste for which 

 Mr. Jackson is noted in his floral arrangements j 

 this his numerous admirers, as all others, did not 

 fail to express on the occasion. 



Beyond this, in the same range, stood a taste- 

 fid moss vase, four feet high, and two over, with 

 a well proportioned bouquet, of many varieties of 

 flowers, handsomely arranged, three feet high, 

 resting in the same, by Mrs.D.McAvov. of the Gar- 

 den of Eden: to whose good taste and liberal sup- 

 ply of beautifully arranged bouquets and garlands, 

 the hall was much indebted for its richness in that 

 lino. 



It will not be expected that I should, in such 

 an article, enumerate all the contributors, or 

 those who otherwise extended valuable aid in the 

 arrangement and decorations. For this. I must 

 refer you to the official report; a copy of which I 

 will send you as soon as published! 



The supply of peaches was very limited, but 

 the specimens were n inarkably tine. Of pears 

 and grape.-, there were but few. Of apples, there 

 was a better supply, but by no means so abundant 

 or line as on former occasions. The display of 



