September 9, 1869. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



203 



become green-leaved, but what surprises me most is Pelargo- 

 nium Bijou, some plants of which appear determined to become 

 Tom Thumbs over again. I knew a gentleman who used to 

 say he did not like those sicily-looking plants called variegated 

 — the variegation was only the result of disease. I think them 

 very useful and effective when they are what they ought to be. 

 Mrs. Pollock Pelargonium has likewise changed from its usual 

 character, and some of the plants would not be recognised as 

 Mrs. Pollock. It would almost appear that variegated plants 

 are a degenerating race, and when they assume an appearance 

 different from that which they are expected to present, they 

 destroy the effect they are intended to produce. The only 

 remedy I can suggest is to discard those which do not exhibit 

 a fixed character, and to select for propagation those in which 

 the variegation is best defined. — M. H., Acklam Hall, Middles- 

 brough-on-Tecs. 



THE INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL 

 EXHIBITION AT HAMBURG. 



Hamburg, or Hamburgh as we are accustomed to call it in 

 England, the very ancient, prosperous, free city, and general 

 seaport for the whole of northern Germany, is just now hold- 

 ing high holiday with one of the most varied and extensive 

 horticultural exhibitions that has yet been seen. This great 

 Show, which was opened on Thursday last with all due for- 

 mality, will continue until Saturday next. 



As an exhibition of horticulture it is in many senses a 

 great one. Far finer examples of cultivation we are accustomed 

 to see in this country in almost every particular, but aa a 

 general exhibition of horticulture, embracing as it does almost 

 every article connected with gardening — as a beautiful and a 

 pleasing sight, for which no expense has been spared, it is 

 certainly deserving of our highest praise, and unhesitatingly 

 W3 say it is one of the greatest exhibitions that has come 

 under our notice. 



The promoters of this great Exhibition have had a most 

 herculean task before them. The time they must have sacri- 

 ficed, the trouble they have undergone, the great fatigue, and 

 the immense expense involved, are little thought of now that 

 it is all crowned by a triumphant success. Wo must congra- 

 tulate them on the happy result. No little of the credit is due 

 to the untiring exertions of its esteemed President, Syndic Dr. 

 Merck, and its zealous Secretaries, Dr. Gii'ze and Dr. Don- 

 nenberg. The most unbounded praise is also due to the able 

 designer of the beautiful grounds, Herr Jiirgens, the architect. 

 Dr. Halle, and M. Kramer. 



The Jury, which numbered nearly two hundred, consisted of 

 some of the leading horticulturists from all countries. It was 

 presided over by the Burgomeister of Hamburg; this country 

 being represented by the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, from the Govern- 

 ment, Messrs. Harry J. Veitch, Thomas Osborn, Fulham, and 

 A. F. Birron, Cliiswick. The judging of the numerous classes 

 occupied the greater part of three days. At the termination of 

 their labours, the Jury, Committee, Town Councillors, &c., 

 were entertained at a magnificent banquet. The beaatiful 

 Zoological Gardens were also thrown open to the Jurors, and a 

 grand concert and Ulumination took place on Saturday evening. 

 Horticultural Congress Meetings are also held every day, when 

 discussions are held, and trips by steamboat to Blankenose, the 

 beautiful suburb of Hamburg, on the Elbe. Everthing is con- 

 ducted on a magnificent scale. 



To give any adequate idea of the beauty of the situation, or 

 of the labour that has been bestowed upon it to render it as it 

 now appears, is quite impossible. It is on the north bank 

 of the Elbe. Six months ago, or even less, it was an unculti- 

 vated valley, with steep rough banks on either side, and a 

 dirty, weedy, piece of water at the bottom — a portion of the old 

 moat which surrounded the city ; now, under the hands of Herr 

 Jiirgens, the able landscape gardener, it has assumed a most 

 fairy-like aspect. The ground is of a rather irregular oblong 

 shape, one end of the valley opening on the river, and might 

 measure over 20 acres, the otherend is on the main street joining 

 Altona and Hamburg. The situation and grounds are naturally 

 beautiful, and the very excellent manner in which they have 

 been laid out for the display of the different subjects render 

 the grounds themselves quite an exhibition. The whole place 

 has been remodelled, the piece of water much improved and 

 enlarged. It lacks, however, gracefulness of form, and the 

 steep banks on each side nicely moulded down are covered 

 with a fine herbage, which is very remarkable considering that 

 it was only sown about six weeks ago. It looks to the eye as 



if it had been so tor years. The walks are judiciously planned, 

 and the various groups of trees, shrubs, and flowers very well 

 placed. To this are added some fancy bridges, islands, temples, 

 pieces of rockwork, &c., here and there, and at the river end 

 a graceful suspension bridge, 50 feet high, connecting the one 

 side with the other. A pretty whole is produced. 



On the level sides at the top on each side of this valley, are 

 arranged in beds and groups in the open ground, such plants 

 as Coniferas, of which there are large exhibitions, Roses, Pelar- 

 goniums, Fuchsias, &c., and all such as are suited for the open 

 air, and by this means the grounds are lichly embellished with 

 some of the choicest ornaments of the show. On each side 

 are erected commodious, although not particularly handsome 

 skeleton houses, covered with canvas, for the accommodation 

 of all such plants, fruits, &c., as require it. On one fide there 

 is a large plan*, house, in which are exposed Palms, stove 

 and fine-foliaged plants, and another large circular building 

 for cut flowers and plants of smaller size. There is a great 

 degree of roughness and darkness throughout these buildings, 

 commodious and well adapted for their intended purposes as 

 they may otherwise be. On the opposite side is, first, a large 

 building devoted to vegetables, and another to what forms one 

 of the most interesting portions of the entire exhibition, and 

 in which the Germans seem far to excel us — viz., the exhibition 

 of bouquets of dried flowers, for which every flower almost ia 

 used, most magnificent bouquet-holders, preserved fruits, wines, 

 samples of seeds, &o. 



Connected with this first piece of ground, quite enough for 

 any ordinary show, is yet another portion of some acres. 

 Access is had by a substantial wooden bridge across the street. 

 Here are displayed the various pieces of machinery, garden im- 

 plements, tree-transplanters, &c., and at the farther end about 

 three-quarters of an acre devoted to the exhibition of specimens 

 of the different modes of training fruit trees, a very important 

 feature, and samples of general nursery stock. This portion is 

 well displayed, and extremely interesting. The leaves having 

 been all stripped from the trees, thus exhibiting but a lot of 

 naked stems, give the place rather a wintry aspect. 



Here, also, are two very long tents for the ftuit-exhibitors. 

 Apples and Pears occupy the greater space, an immense va- 

 riety being exhibited. Grapes, however, are the grand feature, 

 and these — the best examples, at least — come from our own 

 country, and are shown by our champion growers, Thomson and 

 Meredith, to the latter of whom the Queen's cup was awarded. 

 Pine Apples are very good. It is impossible, however, to over- 

 look the fact of the wretched and miserable appearance which 

 the fruit in these tents, taken as a whole, presents ; so much 

 decayed and imperfect fruit has rarely been gathered together 

 to greet the eyes at the opening of any exhibition. 



Having now taken a rapid survey of the chief features of this 

 great Show, we would, before proceeding to details, say a few 

 words on the administration. Nothing, we are sure, could 

 exceed the good intentions of its promoters and managers. We 

 ourselves have bad personal experience of this, and can truly 

 say, that individ\ially we have found them ever ready to assist 

 us. It is with extreme reluctance, therefore, that we make the 

 following remarks. In all great undertakings of this kind, in 

 which so many interests are involved, a certain set of rules 

 for guidance and management are established, which it is ex- 

 pected are to be equally binding on all parties, managers and 

 exhibitors. Here, however, although the rules have been laid 

 down clearly enough, we have been sorry to observe that in 

 many cases they have been totally disregarded. A painful 

 sense of shiftiness and vacillation is abundantly manifest. To 

 be particular, all plants for exhibition in the open ground, 

 implements, and machinery, had to be here not later than the 

 24th of August. Exhibitors from a distance complied with this 

 rule, whilst soma of those in the immediate neighbourhood 

 were introducing their subjects up to the very day of opening. 



Another serious ground of complaint is the cavalier way in 

 which all exhibitors who have put themselves to very consider- 

 able expense have been treated. It is customary to grant 

 passes of admission to exhibitors in accordance with their 

 articles, and to a show which lasts twelve days like this it is 

 abundantly necessary that exhibitors should be admitted. Not 

 so at Hamburg, however. Every exhibitor, no matter what his 

 contribution, or however mucii it may have added to the in- 

 terest of the exhibition, has to pay for his admission, and that, 

 too, at a high figure — about 18s. A strong protest signed by 

 most of the exhibitors native and foreign was sent in to the 

 Committee of Management against this rule : with no result, 

 however. Representatives of the press, excepting those o* 



