656 MONTHLY SUMMARY. 



the Horticultural Societies of Belgium has promised a large named 

 collection of the apples and fruits cultivated in that country, and 

 offers besides grafts and cuttings of those kinds of fruit trees which 

 this Society does not possess. The Horticultural Society of Middle- 

 hurg, in like manner, will send named specimens of the apples 

 and pears grown in the island of Walcheren. The government of 

 Sweden has interested itself directly in the object, and pays all 

 the charges of forwarding the collections. Norway is also to be 

 represented. The Austrian government has promised a contri- 

 bution which cannot fail to be interesting, from the extent and 

 variety of the countries from which it will be drawn. From 

 Italy, collections will be sent from Turin. It is hoped that 

 France and Algeria will be worthily represented. From Nice, 

 gourds and roots are expected. But for that most distracting 

 frenzy of their own, which for the time has clearly banished all 

 thoughts of horticulture and pacific occupations from their minds, 

 an important collection would have been sent by the United States. 

 The assurances received from their representatives were every- 

 thing that could be desired, and at some future time, when peace 

 shall have been restored, and commerce roll in its wonted 

 channels, some future Exhibition will benefit by the steps now 

 taken. Canada will not be unrepresented, but the returns from 

 that country will be inferior to what they would have been had 

 the show been later in the year. Few of the fruits in that 

 country are ripe by the middle of September, which is the season 

 when the fruit must be gathered to allow of its reaching this 

 country in time for the show, and those fruits which do ripen so 

 early, do not keep, and will not bear carriage. Notwithstanding 

 these drawbacks, more than one collection is expected from Canada. 

 From Halifax, Nova Scotia, Judge Haliburton, perhaps even better 

 known by his pseudo-name of " Sam Slick," writes : 



*' Being desirous of having the province (Nova Scotia) represented at the 

 International EshiLition of Fruit, I brought the matter to the notice of the 

 provincial government as a matter of importance to this province, in making 

 it known and inducing emigration, but the government did not feel inclined 

 to take any action in the matter. I then had a public m^^eting called, 

 Avhere a committee was appointed, of which I am secretary. *VVe anticipate 

 sending to your show a variety of specimens of fruits, cereals, &c., but we 

 are much inconvenienced by the time when the show is to be held : 1st— 

 Because many of our fruits and most of our roots do not arrive at maturity 

 until much later in the year. 2nd— Because the fortnightly Cunard 

 steamer leaves at a most inconvenient time for sending specimens to your 

 show. If we send by the last September steamer, the fruit, &c., will have 

 to be collected and sent in the middle of this month (a fortnight hence). 



