1 



C70 FOltKION NOTICES. 



rol-cigi) TYoiice^. 



Great ExnrnmoN ix Russia. — That system of holding great public meetings for the purpose 

 of exhibiting Horticultural produce, which originated more than tliirty years ago with the Hor- 

 ticultural Society of London, after crossing the Atlantic, and spreading through all the more civ- 

 ilized Continental States, has at length reached Paissia. It appears that in the year 1850 the 

 first meeting in that country was held at St. Petersburgli by the Imperial Economical Society, 

 und-T the presidencj' of the Prince Duke of Oldenbliig and Prince Bash, Dolgoroi;kv, on which 

 occasion prizes were distributed to the amount of something more than 10,000 roubles, (1,000/). 

 Since that time these assemblages seem to have become fasliionable, for we hear of one at Tiflis, 

 formed by Prince Woroxzoff; and of another at Moscow, in 1853. An account has been given 

 by M. Masson, from whose report we collect the following interesting facts: 



The exhibition in question lasted for a fortnight ; on every alternate day it was opened gra- 

 tuitously, on the others admission was obtained by payment. Each free day witnessed the pres- 

 ence of from 30,000 to 35,000 visitors. The place in which the meeting was held was the Gov- 

 ernment riding school, a building some hundred yards long. The objects of exhibition were so 

 disposed in the interior that the visitors were able to enter at one door and depart at another, 

 inspecting every thing in their passage without ever passing twice over the same giound. The 

 exliibition was classified by the inspector of the Imperial Agricultural School, and each separate 

 division was placed in the charge of one of the pupils of the school. 



Two parallel rows of tables extended from end to end of the building, and were occupied by 

 what may be called industrial produce. In the center was placed a collection of agricidtural 

 implements, exhibiting the most rude and primitive by the side of machines of the newest and 

 most improved construction. 



In the middle of the whole stood a " monumental clock" which indicated at the same moment 

 the hour of the day at each of .the four extreme points of the vast Russian empire. Tliis cff/ 

 (Tceiivre of clock-work was embosomed in a rich collection of exotics of various kinds, skillfully 

 grouped and furnished by M Fintelmann, one of the principal Ilorticulturiits of Moscow. Ad- 

 joining the mass thus produced stood groups of plants from all countries, cleverly set off with 

 Dahlias in pots. Among them were some extraordinary specimens of Strelitzias, Dracscnas, Pan- 

 danus, Musa, <fec., together with finely grown Orange trees, and a Sweet Bay with a single clean 

 stem supporting a head 8 yard; round. "Never," says iL Masson, "in all my travels did I be- 

 hold such a magnificent specimen as this." 



At the four angles of the central square, which was filled with ornamental plants, were placed 

 four laige gilt frames, each enclosing about eight square yards of .sjiace. Two of the frames con- 

 tained, arranged with great taste, the most remarkable specimens of kitchen garden produce then 

 in season ; the two other frames were in like manner filled with very fine collections of fruit. 

 Among these fruits were magnificent specimens of the beautiful transparent Apples of the Cri- 

 mea, and many varieties of Pears, the size of whicli was surprising when it is considered that, i>" 

 the climate of Moscow, the Pear tree is a greenhouse plant. These exhibitions of fruits and veg- 

 etables were the admiration of every body; and the plan, M. Massox tliinks, might be advanta- 

 geously introduced into France. That they were really arranged with great taste we can read- 

 ily believe, when we call to mind the skill with which the Russian agricultural produce was dis- 

 played in our own Great Exhibition in Hyde Park. 



The whole exhibition at Moscow was bordered by a line of fruit trees and ornamental plants, 

 such as grow out of doors in France, but must be cased up in a Muscovite winter. Among them 

 were Plum, Pear, and Cherry trees pruned and trained like Orange trees, and most especially 



