528 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



Liverpool, who thought they had done these things, were probably mistaken. 

 They raised something — some sort of Fern — but we are persuaded that the 

 supposed result was owing to one of those accidents which all who are 

 conversant witii great gardens know to their cost are so common, or rather 

 so inevitable, in such establishments. We found this opinion upon the gen- 

 eral want of success which has attended attempts in this country to repeat 

 the Liverpool and Berlin experiments. Some years ago the late Mr. George 

 Loddiges sowed the seeds of some hundred of Ferns preserved in an herba- 

 rium, and if any one could have raised them he was the man. But the at- 

 tempt was a complete failure ; the seeds would not grow. 



We do not mean to say that Fern seeds taken from plants recently de- 

 posited in an herbarium will never grow. Probably they will. But it can- 

 not be denied that success is uncertain, and it is far less trouble for a trav- 

 eller to secure seeds in the way proposed by Mr. Wilson Saunders, and 

 successfully adopted by Mr. Wallace, than to dry specimens for the pur- 

 pose, even if, when dried, it were perfectly certain that they would grow. 

 Many sorts might, at a pinch, be sent home in the same vial, either mixed 

 together or separated by some little contrivance, and thus half a dozen bot- 

 tles which would travel in a coat pocket would do well a duty which a 

 bulky package of dried plants would certainly do ill, if at all. — [Gard. 

 Chron., 1856, p. G27.) 



'Otieties. 



JJEW YORK STATE AGRICCLTCRAL. 



The Sixteenth Annual Exhibition of this Society was held in Watertown, 

 N. Y., on the 3,0th of September, and 1st, 2d, and 3d of October, 1856. 



Owing to unavoidable engagements it was not in our power to be present. 

 The previous week we had attended the pomological meeting at Rochester, 

 and could not prolong our visit till the fair at Watertown. The weather, 

 unfortunately, was very unfavorable. A storm prostrated the floral tent, 

 intended for the exhibition of fruits and flowers, and the first two days were 

 rainy. By the exertions of the managers, however, everything was put in 

 order on the third day, when there was an immense attendance, the number 

 which entered the grounds being estimated as high as 20,000. Taken as a 

 whole, the exhibition has probably never been excelled, and, had the 

 weather been fair throughout, it is believed that 50,000 persons would 

 have been present. 



The entire list of premiums is published in the Society's Journal, and we 

 copy a portion of the awards in the fruit department. 



PROFESSIONAL LIST. 



Apples. — For the best twenty varieties, to EUwanger & Barry, silver 

 plate, ;|!l0. 



