622 Provincial Horticultural Societies : — Ireland. 



those of any preceding spring show. The auriculas, primroses, hyacinths, 

 narcissus, and other plants which must come to perfection without peculiar 

 artificial means, were, of course, from the backward nature of the season, 

 deficient ; but the new potatoes (some specimens large and fine), sea-kale, 

 asparagus, mushrooms, lettuces, early cabbages, 6ic., exhibited, were all excel- 

 lent, and proved how far skill and care will, in some measure, overcome the 

 opposition of a backward spring. A very beautiful bouquet, from the gardens 

 of Mr. M'Calmont of Abbeylands, attracted much admiration, and shed lustre 

 and brilliancy around that part of the room which it adorned. The green- 

 house plants from Ardoyne were exceedingly beautiful ; and one of them, 

 Clianthus puniceus, a splendid plant, full 6 ft. high, and covered with flowers, 

 very deservedly obtained the prize of the silver cup, which was got up for 

 private competitors. A great variety of pelargoniums from Abbeylands 

 (Campbell, gardener), and a number of valuable and peculiarly fine plants 

 from Purd}sburn (Walker, gardener), and from Shane's Castle (Mr. Hume), 

 deservedly obtained premiums. The nursery grounds of Mr. Farrell produced 

 their accustomed portion of very excellent plants (particularly a variety of the 

 Camellia japonica), which were deservedly rewarded with premiums. The 

 fruits were in admirable preservation ; and, altogether, it was a very superior 

 and very choice exhibition, and such as reflects honour on the skill and enter- 

 prise of our northern gardeners. Besides the usual kinds of articles, prizes 

 were given for agricultural productions. Mangel wurtzel, for the best 

 three roots, F. D. Finlay, Esq. ; rye-grass (sheaf, six inches round), for the 

 best, Robert Grimshaw, Esq. ; clover (sheaf, six inches round), for the 

 best, H. M'Calmont, Esq.; vetches (sheaf, six inches round), for the best, 

 James M'Calmont, Esq. ; rape : for the best three plants, Alexander Mont- 

 gomery, Esq. ; turnips, for the best three Swedish, of any sort, W. A. 

 Moore, Esq. Subscription silver cup, for the best green-house plant (to be 

 won twice), adjudged to Michael Andrews, Esq., Ardoyne; first time of 

 winning, for Clianthus puniceus. {Xorthern Whig, April 21.) 



June 1. Prizes were given for stove plants: for the best six, Hugh 

 M'Calmont, Esq., Abbeylands, (gardener, Alexander Campbell,) for Calanthe 

 ?;eratrif61ia. Cactus Jenkinsoni?', Blet;'a Tankervilli^s, Epidendrum cochleatum, 

 Gesner« Cooperw, and Onculium ampliatum : for the best three, Michael 

 Andrews, Esq., Ardoyne, (gardener, Patrick Campbell,) for Ardisia crenulata, 

 Opuntia vulgaris, and Sinning/rt guttata. Green-house plants (not compre- 

 hended in any other class : for the best six, Hugh M'Calmont, Esq., for 

 Anthrocercis viscosus, Banksi« formosa, Chorozema ovatum, Diosma fragrans, 

 Kennedy« ovata, and Loasa lateritia. Pelargoniums : for the best six, Hugh 

 M'Calmont, Esq., for Admiral Nelson, eclipse, gem, General Washington, Hec- 

 tor, and perfection ; the best three, William G. Johnson, Esq., for Diomede, 

 gem, and Gowerii ; for the best seedling, there were five specimens, but the 

 judges considered them all deficient in merit. Calceolarias : for the best 

 six, Hugh M'Calmont, Esq., for British queen. Earl of Dalhousie, Miss Glad- 

 stone, Purpurea picta, Rugosa, Coccinea, and Queen Mary. Tender heaths : 

 for the best six, Robert Langtry, Esq., for Odora rosea, Perspicua, Rubricalyx, 

 Shanonii var. tricolor major, and Vernix coccinea. Fuchsias : for the 

 best four, W^illiam G. Johnson, Esq., for Atkins's F. gigantea, gracilis, glo- 

 bosa, and microphjUa. 



The following sketch of the exhibition, by one of the judges, Mr. Nivcn of 

 Glassnevin, may be useful to the Society, and interesting to the public at 

 large. He states : " It is always pleasing to have an opportunity of witnessing 

 the progressive advances that may be making in any of the institutions, con- 

 nected with the improvement of our country. There is, perhaps, none that 

 indicates more the nicrease of social happiness and civilisation, than those 

 connected with her agricultural and horticultural interests. It is, therefore, with 

 no small satisfaction, that the establishment of horticultural societies is received 

 throughout the land. The Northern Society, as one of the parent societies 

 in Ireland, has, consequently, done much towards the diffusion of that taste. 



