jExhihitions of Horticultural Societies. 471 



The premium was awarded to Nicholas Biddle, Esq., for the best 

 grapes produced under glass: the plants were in the hest possible condi- 

 tion, lull of fruit and quite ripe, and being interspersed up and down 

 "the room, had a fine eti'ect. The best gra|)e.s, produced in the open air, 

 ■were exhibited by James Laws, Northern Liberties; theyl were the 

 Hanstoretto, the black Hamburgh, the Royal Chasselas, ^Elsinburgh, 

 &,c.; the bunches were large, and the fruit fully ripe, and of the 

 best flavor. On visiting Mr. Laws's grapery, I was much surprised to 

 see so much done in so small a s])ace; the vines were healthy, and in 

 iine bearing, being full of the finest graj)es I have ever seen,^having no 

 conception that there were so many fine grajjes produced, comparative- 

 ly, in the heart of our city; there were many of the finest varieties, be- 

 sides those I have enumerated, but recently planted. I tasted a glass of 

 wine made from the Isabella grape three years ago, and a finer flavor- 

 ed wine I would not wish to drink. Mr. L. deserves the greatest praise 

 for his assiduity in bringing to perfection so many fine grapes; and is a 

 strong iixlucement to every amateur to cultivate the vine. From;_his 

 ifentlemaniy conduct, and urbanity of manner, I am certain he would 

 freely impart any knowledge in its cultivation. His residence is in 

 INorth Seventh street, above Callowhill. 



The premium watermelons of Mr. Hatch, Camden, N. J., were very 

 superior and very larg-e. So were those of Mr. Wilson, Buriiuiiton, N. 

 J. Mr, Cammack's cantelopes were uncommonly large, and line fla- 

 vored. Mr. Pepper's grapes and butter pears were very fine; so were 

 the plKRis of Thomas Fisher, and the peaches of Joseph Price were 

 large and of the finest flavor. 



I noticed some plants of cotton that were raised by Thomas G. Per- 

 ■cival, Esq., in his garden, in flowers and in pod. Some of the cotton 

 was tolerably matured, and others had ripened. The dahlias exhibited 

 by Mr. Buist, Mackenzie & Buchanan, Mr. Parker, Mr. Hancock, Mr. 

 Landpeth, and Mrs. Hibbert, were uncommonly fine, considering the 

 season. No premium was awarded for the dahlias that evening, part 

 having it for that night two weeks, when there appeared many conqjeti- 

 tors, and the flowers were very fine. The first prize vvas awarded to 

 George C. Thorburn, New York, who exhibited Middlesex Rival, 

 Kingscofe Rival, Exemplar, Smith's Napoleon, Girlinsr's Topaz, War- 

 vninster Rival, Widnall's Rienzi, Widnall's Reliance, 'Zitella, Wells's 

 ietitia, Springfield Major, and Conqueror of Euro})e. 



The -above new ones are a great acquisition to the amateur, as thev 

 are of the very best kinds, the finest forms and colors, The second 

 prize vvas given to Thomas Heiskell, Bristol. We noticed some verv 

 i<up;^rii}r ones from the garden of Thomas Hancock, Burlington, N. S. 

 He had a flower of Smith's Napoleon, which exceeded any thing we 

 have ever seen. — Yours, G. IVatson, Philadelphia, Nov. 21, 1838. 



Monthly meeting, Nov. ^Oth — The rpj)ort of this meeting we were, 

 in part, pronn'sed by Mr. Burrows, the secretary, but it has not yet 

 reached us. We were in the city and present at tin's meeting, but did not 

 take a>;iy notes, having had the promise above named. We will state, 

 however, that the meeting was well attended, and the exhibition very 

 good. The flowers were mostly chrysanthenmms; besides these, there 

 was iMt much of note, except some s|)!cndid plants of E[)iphyllum trun- 

 catum, grafted on the Cereus triangularis. The largest of them belong- 

 ed to Mr. Pepper, and is probably one of the most magnificent objects 

 ever seen. A correspondent of ours has noticed this plant, at p. 28. The 

 jijraftis inserted in a stem about five feet high, and the plant forms a head 

 five or six feet in circumference, with from two hundred to three hundred 

 ilowcrs fully expanded. The graft is oidy three years from the inser- 

 tion. About seventy plants of seedling chrysanthemums were shown 



