Fire and Water as applied to Plant Cidture, 623 



which so generally pervades, at the present time, all classes of the community. 

 I cannot help congratulating the Northern Horticultural Society on the inte- 

 resting exhibition of Friday ; when, notwithstanding the backwardness of the 

 season, and the trying severity of the late winter, so much was presented that 

 was creditable and interesting. The arrangements for facilitating adjudication, 

 as well as displaying to the public the numerous productions of the season, 

 were, as usual, highly creditable and satisfactory. The stove and green-house 

 plants were, in general, remarkably well-grown, and the species select and well- 

 chosen. The prize groups of pelargoniums were particularly so ; but the man- 

 ner in which the second prize six were flowered deserves especial notice, and 

 these, but for a very fine single truss of the gem,' in the next group, would have 

 obtained the first prize. In the exhibition of these very beautiful show-plants, 

 an improvement may be suggested, in point oi classification of colours. Passing 

 over the numerous minor groups of ornamental plants, and florists' flovvers, 

 which were all more or less creditable to the respective candidates, it is with 

 peculiar satisfaction that mention is made of the excellent selection of vege- 

 tables that graced the upper end of the long exhibition table. The cucum- 

 bers were, certainly, more numerous and finer than any thing I ever before 

 witnessed. Nor can I refrain from stating that a gentleman, who had, a few 

 days before, witnessed the London Society's exhibition at Chiswick, stated 

 that they were far superior to any thing he had seen there. The prize baskets 

 of asparagus were, also, very fine ; and, what added not a little to the general 

 interest of the show, were the neatly put up and excellent specimens of various 

 agricultural productions, such as vetches, rye-grass, &:c. The fruits and 

 cut flowers, from cottage gardens, were, also, creditable productions. Much 

 improvement may be accomplished in the arrangement and form of the bou- 

 quets exhibited; namely, instead of such large, unwieldy, stiiF, pyramidal 

 masses of flowers, handsome vase or basket specimens would be much more 

 likely to suit the present taste, as well as to obtain the prizes. It may, like- 

 wise, be suggested, that prizes for choice herbaceous plants should also be 

 introduced, a class of plants of very general interest and beauty. These ob- 

 servations and suggestions I submit, at the request of some of the officers of 

 the Society, with much respect; happy in thus having had another opportunity 

 of witnessing so much of improvement, and zealous honourable competition." 

 (^Nortliern Whig, June 5. ; and Ulster Times, June 14.) 



Practical Horticultural and Floricullural Society. — July 12. Principally for 

 pinks and roses. 



Louth Floricullural and Horticultural Society. — July 31. A very interesting 

 exhibition. 



Cork Horticultural Society. — May 3. A very excellent exhibition. 



Art. V. On the Effects of Fire and Water, as apjjlied to Plant 

 Cidture under Glass ; including the Subject of covering Vine 

 Borders ; the different Systems of Heating by Flues and by Hot 

 Water ; Remarks on managing Hot -house Fires, Sfc. By Alex. 

 Forsyth. 



As fire and water are two of the most influential elements that 

 are brought to bear upon garden productions, I beg leave to 

 offer the following remarks upon their application to gardening 

 under glass. 



Now, let us take, for example, a vinery ; and, leaving out 

 what such a structure frequently is and has been, I will come at 

 once to what I think it ought to be. A vinery, in my opinion, 

 ought to be a house and border, where the vines should luxuriate 



