Provincial Horticultural Societies. _ 16-9 



has a very fine appearance. The different sorts appear not less different 

 in the earliness or lateness of their foliation and inflorescence, than in the 

 leaves and shoots. In autumn the different tints of their leaves, and the 

 various sizes, forms, and colours of the fruits will be still more interesting. 

 In short, this single row of pear trees is one of the most interesting features 

 of the garden. The shoots of the current year are bent down, when 

 fully grown, about the end of July, and fixed in a pendent position by 

 shreds of bass ; in the course of the winter these shreds are removed, to 

 admit of pruning, when the shoots are found to have taken a set ; in the 

 course of the summer, such as grow too vigorously are again tied, the object 

 being to check the vigour of the young shoots, and, by impeding the return 

 of the sap, to cause it to expend itself in these young shoots in the form- 

 ation of blossom buds. 



In the plant stoves, Oncidium liiridum, Calanthe weratrifolia, Cymbi- 

 dium aloefolium, and some other handsome orchideous epiphytes, are in 

 flower; also O'xalis floribunda (Vol. II. p. 432.), a handsome stove annual 

 which flowers all the winter, and that splendid liliaceous plant Crinum 

 amabile. 



Art. V. Provincial Horticultural Societies. 



The Durham, Northumberland, and Newcastle upon Tyne Botanical and 

 Horticultural Society held their second General Meeting for this year on 

 April 18th. Among the most prominent articles of exhibition were a num- 

 ber of bouquets, chiefly from the gardens of Dr. Headlam, of Jesmond ; 

 Matthew Bell, Esq. M.P., Woolsington; Edward Charlton, Esq., Sandoej 

 and the Rev, C. Thorp, M.A., Ryton Rectory; which consisted of a great 

 variety of beautiful specimens of hardy and exotic flowers, and, at this early 

 season of the year, excited the universal attention and unqualified admi- 

 ration of a numerous assemblage of ladies and gentlemen. The Committee 

 deserve great praise for the very neat vases they have adopted for the re- 

 ception of the bouquets exhibited. Two very fine shaddocks were also 

 exhibited, from the garden of Charles Bacon, Esq., Styford Hall; and a 

 treat to the members present was afforded by the distribution of 125 pack- 

 ages of seeds of new vegetables, sent to the secretaries for the purpose, by 

 the London Horticultural Society. The prizes awarded by the judges were 

 as follow, viz. : — For the best dish of dessert apples, and the best six 

 heads of purple broccoli, the silver and bronze medals to Mr. Jos. Clarke, 

 gardener at Mrs. Bewicke's, Close House. For the best brace of early cu- 

 cumbers, the silver medal to Mr. Hugh Robson, gardener to C. Bacon, Esq, 

 For the best quart of early potatoes, the silver medal to Mr. James Scott, 

 gardener to Edward Charlton, Esq. For the best six heads of white spring 

 broccoli, the bronze medal to Mr. Thomas Pearson, gardener to IsaacCook-' 

 son, Esq. jun., Gateshead Park House. For the best six early cabbages, the 

 bronze medal to Mr. Thomas Cook, gardener to T. W. Beaumont, Esq. M.P., 

 Bradley Hall. For the best bouquet of early flowers, the silver medal to 

 Mr. Christopher Robson, gardener to Dr. Headlam. {Newcastle Courant^ 

 April 19.) 



The London Horticidtural Society's large Silver Medal, to be awarded to 

 the member of the Newcastle Society who shall be thought most deserving, 

 for his exhibitions, writings, &c., was, on the 22d of February, awarded by 

 the Committee to Mr. Thomas Cook, gardener to T. W. Beaumont, Esq, 

 MP., Bradley Hall, Durham, — W. F.jun. March 20. 



At a subsequent Meeting, held on April 24., it was resolved that a Bo- 

 tanical and Horticidtural Library be estai>'-' '..„J by this Society. — That 50/. 



