630 Provincial Ilori. Socidies .- — LancasJiire, Kmfullc, 



Lancashire. 



Lancnslcr Floral and Horticultiircil Sociefi/. — A])ril 20. Tlic auriculas 

 and polyanthuses, as well as vcL'ctables and fruits, were fine ami in good 

 order. Among the hardy |)lants were, that elegant shrub lii/)i:<t sanguiueuni 

 in most excellent flower, (rcnUtiiifi verna, and a large bunch of" wild tulips 

 grown in our inuuediate neighbourhood. As usual, a number of prizes were 

 given. (Lancn.sffr Herald, IMay 28.) 



Mai/ 18. The exhibition of flowers was better than had lieen antici- 

 pated from the weather. The tulips were in good colour, and very nume- 

 rous. There were several excellent pelargoniums, green-house plants, Cape 

 heaths, hardy plants, and rare natives ; w hite and black grapes, strawber- 

 ries, pears, apples, and gooseberries. This Society, we hear, intends to form 

 a fund, to be called " The Cottager's Fund;" the oiyect of which is to 

 enable the Society to grant prizes to the labouring poor not receiving 

 parochial relief, and who cultivate their ganiens without hired labour. We 

 need scarcely express an approval of this measure, because but one opi- 

 nion on the subject can be entertained. {Il)id., May 19.) 



June 18. The pinks, thougli few in number, were very fine; and the 

 ranunculuses both numerous and good. There was but a poor collection 

 of green-house plants, owing, probabl}', to the extreme wetness of the 

 morning, and the distance from the town at which several subscribers anil 

 contributors live, tlie risk of injury to plants being thus considerably 

 increased. The grapes and strawberries were very fine ; but the most 

 extraordinary proiluction was a bunch of rhubarb, consisting of eight stalks, 

 which weighed 13 lbs. The circumference of one of these stalks was 9 in. 

 (lOid.yJimc 23.) 



Norfolk. 



Diss Horliciiltiiral Socicti/. — April 12. Numerous prizes were given for 

 green-house |)lants, polyanthuses, dessert apples and pears, and forced 

 culinary productions. A yellow seedling polyanthus was considered by the 

 judges to be a most beautiful specimen. It was raised by Mr. llort of 

 VVortham, named llort's Lady Maria Keppel, and purchased at a very high 

 price by Messrs. Bircham and llednall, florists, Holton, near Halesworth. 

 Numerous cottagers' prizes were given, which we are always, and in all 

 places, happy to see. (East Aii^lia/i, April 24.) 



June 21. Owing to the backwarilness of the season, the exhibition of 

 fruit was small ; there being only six tlishes of strawberries, and one small 

 plate of cherries, the last, aud two of the former, the productions of cot- 

 tagers ; and a fine melon, sent by Mr. Flower of Eccles. Of the vegetables, 

 those from the garden of Mrs. llarrisun of St. John's bore the palm. A 

 brace of cuciunbers, a new sort raised by Mr. (iirling of Stowmarket, were 

 remarkable for size and quality. A bunch of seventeen stalks of rhubarb 

 was exhibited by Mr. C. IL Browne, which weighed 9 lbs. 2oz., and seve- 

 ral of them n)easured 17 in. and 28 in. in length. The show of flowers was 

 very good. Mr. Taylor's pelargoniums were splentlid; the Kev. (J. H, 

 Leathes sent a very fine specimen of Lo[)hospernuun erubcscens, two 

 varieties of cactus, and other rare plants ; Sir E. Kerrison, a beautiful 

 cactus and some choice pelargoniums ; and the bouquet exhibiteil by the 

 Misses Brown of Diss was universally admired, for the beauty of the flowers 

 and the exijuisite taste of its arraugeuu'nt. The ranunculuses were lew, 

 but excellent. The cottagers' table was completely covered with excel- 

 lent productions. (Xorwir/i Aftrciiri/, June 23.) 



Norfolk and Noricieli llorlicnlliiral Soric/i/. — Aj>ril 18. Numerous prizes 

 were given for fruits anil vegetables ; for Elford rhubarb blanched in 

 decayed sawdust; and for very large leeks grown in trenches like celery, 

 as in France, where the leek is considered an indispensable ingredient in 

 certain soups. The show of flowering plants was particularly brilliant. 



