Ijorticulhiral ^orittics. 



BnodKi.YN TIoRTicri,TrRAL SociETV. — This flonrisliing cojninunity held their third and last 

 general meeting on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of f5ei)tember, when upwards of $520 were 

 distributed in prizes. 



To any person acquainted with horticulture, and wlio has closely observed the improve- 

 ment in culture which has been successively presented here, and likewise instilled into the 

 surrounding neighborhood, the encouraging and judicif)us action of tliis Society is readily 

 seen. Some of tlie wealthy and most influential men in the locality, have, from the commence- 

 ment, assisted, not only by their money and personal attention during the exhibitions, but 

 by unremitted exertions in obtaining the needful funds from, and iiatrouizing attendance 

 of, their numerous friends. This same body has also considered that the more practical 

 memlH?rs were the best suited for carrying out the general arrangements ; consequently, 

 this part has been almost entirely under the control of the latter. Owing to such a policy, 

 all has most unprecedentedly prospered hitherto, and as the same support is, and likely will 

 continue to be guaranteed, wo would advise the Committee of Arrangements to be careful 

 that no discrepancies occur, on their part, to mar so noble an institution. 



Considering the lateness in the season, the plants and flowers were very numerous, and 

 finely grown. J. E. Ranch, of Brooklyn, to whom was awarded the first premium for " col- 

 lection," had many novelties amongst his well arranged stand of over 150 kinds. L. Menand, 

 of Albany, had also an extensive assortment of fine and rare quality, amongst which were 

 some most beautiful ferns and lycopods, many of them natives. He also won tlie first for 

 six plants, with admirably grown specimens, and the premium single plant, with Erica 

 transparens,/o«r/ec< in diameter, and jive feet hif/h, well bloomed. WlioVill say, after this, 

 that heaths cannot be grown in America ? Other flowers and plants woi'thy of notice, were 

 seedlings of Lilium lancifolium, white and spotted, by J. B. Mantel, of Astoria, remarkable 

 for the immense number of flowers on a stem. If this character should hold permanent, 

 they will be a great acquisition, but we are inclined to think it is nothing more than present 

 exuberant growth. The lovely Swan Flower (Cycnoches ventricosa), by Mrs. Ilolbrook, of 

 Eighteenth Street, New York. A fine specimen of Ixora javanica, by Alexander Gordon, gar- 

 dener to — Hoit, Esq., of Astoria. Sequoia gigantea, alias Washingtonia, a/i'as Wellingtonia 

 (the Big Tree of California), was in two collections, about one foot high. A stand of seed- 

 ling Dahlias, by Mr. Burgess, of Glencove, Long Island, all good ; one, a very dark maroon, 

 possessed all the perfection of the most stringent rules of the florist. An ornamental design, 

 by H. A. Graef and Sons, of Brooklyn, representing a series of cornucopocias, filled with 

 flowers and fruit. A noble Cissus discolor, by Martin CoUopy, gardener to — Prentice, Esq., 

 Brooklyn. Bouquets, baskets of flowers, &c., were numerous and well arranged, the hand- 

 somest on the table being a basket of wild flowers, by Henry Tanner. Fruit was abundant, 

 and mostly of good quality. The first collection of apples was shown by your correspondent, 

 Dr. J. M. Ward, of Newark, New Jersey ; he had also a good variety of fine pears. D. J. 

 Mannice, Esq., of Bushville, Long Island, took the premium for the greatest number of pears 

 with 163 varieties ; these, however, were only middling (juality. The smaller lots of pears 

 were exceedingly fine, particularly the first six, by Alexander Gordon, and best twelve by 

 Thos. Duncan, gardener to — Wolsey, Esq. Grapes, both foreign and native, were good and 

 plenty ; Thos. Duncan had the best six, and Wm. Grant, gardener to Vandeventer, Astoria, 

 the best three varieties. Henry Hudson, gardener to F. Griffin, Esq., Brooklyn, showed 

 Black Hamburg and Frankenthal (?) well ripened out of doors. There was also what was 

 understood to be a native seedling, called Rebecca, from Mr. W. Brocksbank, of the Prospect 

 Hill Nursery, which in flavor is equal to a Froutignan, entirely free from the usual hard pulp, 

 the foxy smell nearly extinct, and answers to the following description : Bunch rather small, 

 without shoulders ; berries numerous, close set, medium size, roundish oval, whitish amber 

 green, sweet and rich. If a few leaves had accompanied the bunches exhibited, there would 

 have been a better chance of determining as to its origin ; but, if it really be as represented, 

 quite hardy, and ten days earlier than Isabella, it ought to be in every garden. 



Taken collectively, the exhibition was very good, and the over-crowded rooms showed 

 that so rich a treat was duly appreciated. W. C. 



