PRIZES AT OUR HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 



ted in each class, and the Society allows the nurseryman to compete with the amateur and 

 gardener, therefore a gardener who grows fifty plants has no chance with a nurseryman, 

 who grows a thousand. Again, there is no distinction as to what are required — the " best 

 colhction," leaves you at liberty to furnish what kind of plants you like. I am growing 

 a few greenhouse plants and they may be good — my neighbor, who has a little more con- 

 venience than nie, when competing, may add an exotic or two, or an Orchidse, and if so 

 my plants are thrown in the shade and unnoticed, and then I go away determined not 

 to exhibit any more. Now were our society to establish a classified arrangement, and were 

 each class to have three or four prizes, stating the number of plants required to each 

 class thus: Pelargoniums, for the best 12 in 8 inch pots, 3 prizes; for the best 8 in 8 inch 

 pots, 3 prizes; for the best G in 6 inch pots, 3 prizes; for the best single specimen in 10 

 inch pot, 3 prizes ; and in like manner with fruit and vegetables, as well as plants, every man 

 would stand an equal chance, and we should have better plant growing, more plant selling — 

 more competition, altogether more satisfaction. The saloons would also be better filled 

 with flowering plants. If my memory serves me correctly, our society intend to offer a 

 premium, in 1852, for the best forty Dahlias. Now what chance will an amateur or gar- 

 dener have for that prize? It is not very probable that the best cultivator will get it, but he 

 who grows the greatest quantity — and I think to large growers, they would have found 

 24 sufficient, and there would be double the competition. We ought to have a chance at 12 

 and 6, with the best single specimen of any color, and to run out in classes as before 

 mentioned. This would increase the sale, the quantity to be exhibited, a love to culti- 

 vate and improve. In like manner does the whole schedule require a proper classifica- 

 tion, in order that each subscribing gardener may have a chance to display his ability. 



I feel perfectly convinced that if gardeners had any means of bringing their ideas be- 

 fore the committee, those gentlemen would gladly accede to anything that would tend to 

 improvement, and I think there is great room. " Floral Designs" seem to be the principal 

 feature at the annual meeting; $2,0 and $40 are given for the first and second best de- 

 sign, a thing in my opinion not at all connected with Horticulture, but which any weaver 

 may devise. [We quite agree with our correspondent about the tastefulness of these 

 designs, and the folly of paying for them. Ed.] I was told that the Secretary actually 

 paid ^'30 for a design in the September meeting, that I think was a most excellent repre- 

 sentation of a toad stool, by the side of which perhaps stood a specimen plant that had taken 

 months to grow it, and all the vigilance and care it is possible for man to bestow on it, in 

 keeping in perfection for the specified time, and all for one dollar; or perhaps "a collec- 

 tion," for a little more. Is there no alteration required in this respect? 



The above remarks are not written from any party feeling, but purely for the benefit of 

 all, believing such an arrangement would best suit the necessities of exhibitors. 



Yours very respectfully, 



A WoKKiNG Gardener. 



Near Philadelphia, Dec. 2., 1851. 



