Notices. — Ireland. 457 



rennet, strawberry, and Tom apple. There were also some specimens of the 

 Tom apple (we hope we have not mistaken the name) which had been kept two 

 years. On the 1st of July a number of prizes were given for pinks, straw- 

 berries, and melons ; and on the 5th of August for carnations, gooseberries, and 

 cherries. {Com. by Mr. Grierson.) On this day was shown a beautiful speci- 

 men of the Magnolia fuscata, a shrub indigenous in China, produced in the 

 garden of Mr. Johnston of Carnsalloch. The leaves are similar to those of the 

 bay tree, but the flower is rich beyond description. It is of light cream colour, 

 with the soft appearance of velvet, and has a pleasant fragrance of lemon. This' 

 perhaps, is a solitary instance of this shrub flowering in Scotland, and may be 

 attributed to the extraordinary heat of the summer, aided by the attention of 

 Mr. Porter, the gardener at Carnsalloch, who is, with great reason, proud of 

 having been able to bring his foreign nursling to such perfection. (Dumfries 

 Journ. ) 



The Fourteenth Anniversary Meeting of the Dumfries and Galloway Horti- 

 cultural- Society was held in the Assembly Rooms in Dumfries, on the 31st of 

 August. ^ The Rev. J. Wightman, chaplain, presided. The office-bearers for 

 the ensuing year were chosen, and the Treasurer, Mr. Primrose, produced a 

 statement of his accounts, with a report, which proved highly satisfactory to the 

 meeting. 



It was proposed to publish the new Prize List about Christmas, and the mem- 

 bers were requested to send in a list to the secretary of such articles as they would 

 recommend for coinpetition, between this and that time. 



The meeting recommended to the attention of the members, the Gardener's 

 Magazine, (conducted by Mr. Loudon, and published quarterly in London) as a 

 work likely to be eminently useful both to the amateur and the practical gardener. 

 The meeting regretted that the important object of the formation of an experi- 

 mental garden has not been attended to, notwithstanding the recommendation of 

 the general meetings for some years past, and several noblemen and gentlemen 

 having already subscribed towards the expense of it, and others having signified 

 their readiness to contribute to the undertaking, by subscribing for shares at the 

 rate of 51. each, as formerly proposed, on the principle of the Caledonian Garden, 

 which is now in a very forward state. In order, therefore, to give full effect to 

 this important object, the meeting appointed a special committee to make such 

 arrangements, and adopt such measures, as to them may seem best calculated to 

 promote the formation of the experimental garden. 



Thirty-three prizes were awarded for apples, pears, plums, peaches, nectarines, 

 black grapes, green grapes, pine apples, melons, figs, salad, (?) cauliflower, 

 green peas, carrots, Malta turnips, retarded gooseberries, dahlias, New Zealand 

 spinage, and home-made wine. 



Two fine rose plants were produced by R. Ross, from seed which he had re- 

 ceived from Teneriffe and the Cape. 



After the meeting, the members and friends of the Society sat down to dinner 

 in the Dumfries and Galloway Hotel. 



The dessert was most sumptuous j perhaps a finer variety of excellent fruit 

 never graced a table in Scotland. The company enjoyed the pleasures of the 

 evening to a late hour, and parted much delighted with the important object of 

 the meeting. (Dumfries Jour. Sept. 5.) 



IRELAND. 



Horticultural Society of Ireland. On July, 31st, this Society held its show of fruit 

 and flowers, at the Rotunda. The stages erected in the centre of the great room were, 

 we think, rather larger than usual ; but they were amply furnished, and in their ap- 

 pearance combined richness of effect with neatness of arrangement. Although the 

 show took place fourteen days earlier than the corresponding one of last year, yet, 

 owing to the continued heat and drought of the season, the flowers exhibited for 

 prizes were not as fresh-looking as on former occasions, and the small fruits were 

 over ripe. The only fruits which had not attained their full ripeness were the green 

 gage plums, from which, in consequence of that circumstance, the premium was 

 withheld. The grapes were extremely fine — both those exhibited for weight and 



