162 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Aug. 



admission of the public generally, was two o'clock, 

 but fit half past one, when I arrived, there were thou- 

 sands of people assembled around the entrance gates, 

 and a mile long of the most fashionable public and 

 private carriages awaiting an opportunity of getting 

 near the gales. Hundreds of police Avere stationed 

 along in the vicinity to maintain order, keep the pas- 

 sages clear, and give to each carriage its due prece- 

 dence ; and so well did they manage their business, 

 that, in all that immense array of people and carri- 

 aires, not a single collision occurred, nor a loud or 

 disagreeable word to be heard. By and by the gates 

 were opened. In each one two persons were sta- 

 tioned, one in the outside of the passage and one on 

 the inside. The first took the tickets, tore them in 

 two, kept one half and returned the other, which was 

 handed to the next. This was done so rapidly, that, 

 when I reached the inside of the gate, in about ten 

 minutes after it was opened, the grounds, in every 

 part, acres in extent, seemed swarming with people. 



Within the entrance, and at various points through 

 out the grounds, were guide-boards, in different lan- 

 guages, directing visitors to the various departments 

 of the show and of the grounds, so that strangers 

 were at once able to direct their course to that which 

 most interested them, instead of having to wander 

 about in search of it, or make inquiries of those who 

 were probably as ignorant as themselves. The arti- 

 cles were exhibited in long tents, wide enough to 

 contain a stage in the centre for the plants, fcc, and 

 a walk on each side for the visitors. There were 

 some five or six tents for the plants, and several for 

 visitors to rest or find shelter in if it rained. Seats 

 were scattered pi ofusely through the grounds, and a 

 large tent was appropriated to refreshments. This 

 was also controlled and managed by the Society — 

 two officers were stationed near the tables to sell 

 tickets — no money was taken at the tables, and each 

 ticket specified what it was to purchase; so that eve- 

 rything was done without any needless question or 

 explanation, or, indeed, without any. 



I have seen a great many large gatherings of peo- 

 ple on similar occasions, but never one that ap- 

 proached this in excellence of arrangement. There 

 were probably 15,000 people, or more, present, and 

 from beginning to end, not a loud word, an uncivil 

 expression, or a rude vulgar laugh or jest was to be 

 heard. Neither was there anything reserved or un- 

 social in people's manner, for all were engaged in 

 the tents, examining and discussing with animation 

 the merits of the articles, or, in groups over the 

 grounds, admiring the rare and beautiful trees, and 

 brilliant masses of flowers with which it was studded. 



There is, after all, something in the refined and 

 polished manners of the better class of English so- 

 ciety thut commands our admiration. This 15,000 

 people were composed principally of what are termed 

 the aristocracy. Judging from appearance, (which, 

 in this casf, is pretty good evidence,) there were but 

 few working people in the assemblage, and these 

 were the better class of gardeners interested in the 

 show. There was nothing of the flash of dress, or 

 affectation of manner, that in all countries character- 

 ise the ignorant upstart. Throughout, in both sexes, 

 there was a richness and chastencss of dress, an ab- 

 sence of glitter, an ease and gracefulness of manner, 

 and a refined, free and intellectual conversation, that, 

 to my mind, constituted the rarest exhibition of hu- 

 mun cultxire I have ever before witnessed. 



The regulationt of the Society and the high prices 



of admission ($1 50,) exclude the more humble clas- 

 ses, and maintain that selectness bo remarkable to us, 

 who are unaccustomed to such a state of society. 

 If these exhibitions were quite accessible to all, the 

 Society would not be able to accommodate them, for 

 thousands would come in from idle curiosity to see 

 and be seen. As it is now, those only come who are 

 enthusiastically fond of horticultural pursuits, and 

 anxious to promote their interests. It is some satis- 

 faction for a gardener to present to such an audience 

 the result of his "labors, for they are appreciated. 



From what I have said, I would not wish it to be 

 inferred that I entertain the slightest partiality for 

 aristocratic distmction. I intend simply to express 

 my admiration of personal and mental graces and 

 accomplishments, without regard to class or caste. 

 In the English aristocracy there are as ignorant, dis- 

 sipated, and vulgar specimens to be found, as are 

 elsewhere in the world. These are to be seen at the 

 theatres, horse-races, gaming-houses, and similar re- 

 treats ; but I do not believe they frequent Jloral 

 fetes ; these entertainments are too simple, moral, 

 and refined, not boisterous or excitable enough. 

 They have a parallel in our mixed society — those 

 who would prefer the exhibition of a negro dance or 

 melody, or a low theatre comedy, to any exhibition 

 of earth's most beautiful productions. What a dif- 

 ference in the personal appearance of these English 

 people and Americans of the same class. With 

 scarcely a solitary exception, they are stout, well 

 built, fleshy, florid people. A lean, bony subject like 

 your humble servant, is quite a rarity, and when one 

 is seen, he is suspected of being an exotic. The 

 ladies, in this respect, contrast very strongly with 

 Americans. They are almost without an exception, 

 robust, fleshy, with much color in the face, and as 

 fresh and fair at forty as American ladies at twenty- 

 five or thirty. But, as a general thing, they are not 

 BO handsome, their features are more masculine and 

 less calculated to awaken passionate sentiments of 

 regard in the opposite sex. But their beauty, such 

 as it is, is more permanent. 



I have, perhaps, dwelt too long upon the prelimi- 

 nary matters, but they are points that left an im- 

 pression on my mind, and I write to give you my 

 impressions, right or wrong. I now proceed to no- 

 tice briefly the articles exhibited. 



Fruits. — No kind of fruit has yet ripened here in 

 the open air, and consequently all that were exhibi- 

 ted were forced under glass. Strawberries, Grapes, 

 Peaches, Pine Apples and JSIelons, a very few of each, 

 constituted tlie whole fruH department. The straw- 

 berries were almost exclusively of the Keen^s Seed- 

 ling and British Quern, both of which are esteemed 

 for forcing. The Queen were the largest specimens 

 1 have ever seen. Peaches were of Royal George 

 and Early Violet (violet hat.ive). The Royal George 

 wrre of monstrous size, nearly double the dimensions 

 it attains under our orchard culture. Pine Apples 

 were of the Providence and Queen, principally, 

 some of the former exceeding six pounds in weight. 



The Grapes were chiefly Black Hamburg and 

 .Muscadine, very good, but not remarkable specimenf, 

 — the bunches, generally, were not over medium 

 size, but they were well colored and perfect. Of 

 melons there were but few. I observed that meagre 

 as was the show of fruits, it yet attracted more at- 

 tention than any other part. From the opening, un- 

 til late in the evening, it was surrounded by such a 

 crowd of persons that it was impossible to see the 



il 



