222 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



THE GENESEE VALLEY HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY, 



The Summer ExMbition of the Genesee Yalley 

 Horticultural Society was held in this city, June 24. 

 Although somewhat too early in the season for 

 Strawberries and Cherries, still the show of those 

 fruits was very large and excellent, while the dis- 

 jday of flowers was superior to that of any previ- 

 ous exhibition. The attendance was good, and we 

 are happy to see that these magnificent expositions 

 are attracting more attention from our citizens, as 

 well as from persons residing in adjoining counties. 

 "We noticed gentlemen present from the counties of 

 Otsego, Cayuga, "Wayne, "Wyoming, Orleans and 

 Genesee. "We can not but rejoice that this old So- 

 ciety is renewing its youth, under its present able 

 management, and is making such vigorous and well 

 directed efforts to advance that taste for horticul- 

 tural improvement which ought to characterize the 

 far-famed "Valley of the Genesee. 



Let us take a look at the exhibition. This Hall 

 in which it is held will seat twelve hundred per- 

 sons, yet it is none too large for the proper display 

 of the flowers and fruits entered for exhibition — in 

 fact, hardly large enough. Here, as we enter, are 

 several rows of tables, running the entire length of 

 the room, filled with flowers from the celebrated 

 Mount Hope Nurseries of Ellwangek & Baeet. 

 "What a gorgeous display of roses ! Three hundred 

 and eighty-six varieties of the Queen of Flowers 

 from this one establishment! This collection re- 

 ceived, and is worthy of, the premium. It contains 

 48 new varieties, never before exhibited. Here, 

 too, is a magnificent collection of 360 varieties of 

 roses from A. Fkost & Co., including 47 new vari- 

 ties imported last winter from France, and never be- 

 fore exhibited. To one of these is awarded the prize 

 for the best new rose. Here, too, is a choice col- 

 leiction of roses, containing 183 varieties, exhibited 

 by A, LooMis, of Batavia, They are "specially 

 commended" by the committee, and deserve to be. 

 "What a fine display of pseonies ! And here is a 

 fanner, (Col. Beooks, of "Wyoming,) noting down 

 a few of the best varieties, in order that he may be 

 able, in purchasing, to make a judicious selection. 

 "Who says these exhibitions are of no benefit to the 

 nurserymen ? 



"We caunot stop to examine this splendid collec- 

 tion of greenhouse plants, exhibited by John Hamp- 

 ton, gardener to S. Mathews, Esq. ; but who can 

 look without a feeling of pleasure on these large 

 pyramidal fuchsias, drooping under their graceful 

 load of floral ear-rings, gorgeous and beautiful, — or 

 on these fine geraniums, with their profuse display 

 of dazzling flowers ! 



Such an exhibition of flowering shrubs has never 

 been made before in Rochester, if in any other city 

 in the United States. Ellwangee & Baeey alone 

 exhibited 102 different kinds. 



Of strawberries, there is a magnificent show, 

 though not quite equal to tliat of last year. Here 

 are the two prize dishes — one in the Nurserymen's 

 and the other in the Amateurs' class ; the former 

 grown by H. E. Hooker & Co., the latter by H. 

 N. Langwoetiit. The variety receiving this high 

 honor is, in both cases, the HooTcer. Here, by the 

 side of the HooTcer^ is a dish of WiUoTi's Albany. 

 These two varieties are destined to be the most 

 popular market kinds we have. Both are stami- 

 nates, and, unlike the Hovey^ need no other kinds 

 to fertilize them. They are both of a rich dark 

 color, very large and handsome, and gi-eat bearers. 

 This dish of McAvoy^ Snjierior, shown by Hook- 

 EE, Faelet, & Co., is exceedingly handsome. If 

 this variety was always as well formed as these 

 specimens, it would have few superiors. Unfortu- 

 nately, in this section at least, the berries are apt 

 to be very imperfect. Among the great numb^ 

 of varieties here exhibited, Sir Charles N^apier, 

 TriompJie de Gand^ and Trollope'^s Victoria, attract 

 attention from their large size. 



"What have we here?" 



" A dish of wax peaches ; well done, and no 

 mistake." 



"There is a slight *■ inistaTce.^ They are not wax 

 at all, but genuine Oeorge IV. peaches, raised in the 

 greenhouse of Selah Mathews, Esq., President of 

 the society. Just see how doliciously fragrant they 

 are ; a smell of such peaches, at this season of the 

 year, as Secretary Seelte says, is ' worth the price 

 of the entrance ticket.' " 



Here, by the side of these ripe peaches and 

 strawberries, are some preserved peaches and 

 strawberries, as well as pears, quinces and toma- 

 toes, exhibited by Hon. T. G. Yeomans, of Wal- 

 worth, N. Y., whose " fruit bottle," with the rim 

 for preventing the cork from being pressed into the 

 bottle when the air is exhausted, is a decided im- 

 provement. 



The show of cherries is not as large as usual. It 

 is a little too early for them, but those that are 

 shown are pretty good specimens. The trees in this 

 section never before presented such a sorry appear- 

 ance as at this time. Many trees are completely 



