FAMILIAR GOSSIP, ETC. 



air, were very creditable. Where was the produce of .the many glass structures 

 which have been erected of late years ? 



It may be thought that the more delicate culture of flowers does not come within 

 the scope of an agricultural society, and consequently a fair display was not to be 

 expected, but giving every allowance that can be justly made, so long as a list of 

 prizes was offered, we may say that this portion was poor in the extreme. 



A word about general arrangement, and we have done. It should be understood 

 by the committees of these exhibitions that, if the various classes be placed distinct, 

 yet approximate to each other according to the schedule, and the different competi- 

 tors' produce in each division put side by side, the decision of the judges would be 

 more correctly arrived at, and after disputes prevented; besides which, it would fa- 

 cilitate their work ; would enable the public to see at a glance the relative quality, 

 and intending planters to select more surely the best varieties. This want of sys- 

 tem was much felt at this meeting ; it is not mentioned here, however, for the pur- 

 pose of censure, but as a gentle hint to all societies, many of which commit the same 

 error. Altogether the exhibition seemed to go off very well, and gave much gratifi- 

 cation to the numerous visitors. 



There was also exhibited a hand-glass by Flood and Rimmington, of Brooklyn, 

 that deserves mention, as it will supply a want long felt by propagators in particular, 

 and gardeners generally. It is of the old-fashioned, lead-jointed construction, but 

 with a pillar in the upper centre, which forms a support to the moveable top, and 

 which ean be lifted and made firm to any height, or lowered to the will of the ope- 

 rator, merely by the thumb and fore-finger ; such a contrivance has long been wanted, 

 and the wonder is how it is possible that we who "know something" have plodded 

 along so far and none of us have seen the sim^ilicity sooner. 



The BroohJyn Horticultural Society held one of its more than usually successful 

 meetings on the 19th and 20th September, and I have no hesitation in stating that 

 there was here collected into one room the most select, well-grown and choice collec- 

 tions of plants that it has been my good fortune to see in America. Louis Menand's 

 lot showed an advance beyond his former reputation ; amongst his numerous varieties 

 was Gongora maculata, Zygopetalum mackayii. Erica vulgaris, (the true heather 

 bell), cerinthoides, mammosa, blanda, and mollis, Bilbergia thyrsoidcs, Aphelandra 

 Leopoldii, many rare Ferns, and their allies the Lycopodiums. Mr. Ranch, of 

 Brooklyn, had also a most splendid, extensive, and choice lot, in which was the 

 pretty Caladium pictum ; Mr. CoUopy, gardener to Mr. Prentice, had Cissus discolor 

 trained as a pillar seven feet high, and an Achimenes grandiflora from Mr. Edward 

 Decker, gardener to J. Q. Jones, Esq., was three feet across; Mr. Poynter showed a 

 collection of Gloxinias that were really superb in quality, amongst which were Rosa- 

 mond, Torenia, Klugii, Hackeyana, coelestinum, mignon. Our native and much ne 

 glected side-saddle flower (Sarracennia purpurea,) also looked no mean representative. 

 Goff & Day showed a collection of the plants of commerce which were interesting if 

 not beautiful, but I would advise such contributors not again to make the common 

 green curled endive into the true chicory, and recollect that if thd throng passes by 



