Provincial Horticultural Societies. 1 73 



" The Committee have great pleasure in announcing, that the Rev. R. 

 Lascelles, of Duxford, has proposed to offer two half-guinea prizes, awarded 

 to him for carnations at the show in July last, to any two cottagers living 

 in Cambridgeshire, and not receiving parochial relief, nor being practical 

 gardeners, one of whom shall, at the August show in 1827, produce the 

 best carnation ; and the other the best plate of gooseberries, at the same 

 show ; both being in their own possession, and of their own growth, and 

 cultivated for six months previous to the exhibition; and to be certified as 

 such by a member of the Society. 



" There cannot be a question that by this means great encouragement 

 will be given to horticultural pursuits amongst our poorer neighbours ; and 

 that an occasional repetition of such liberal conduct will, in no slight 

 degree, contribute to maintain a spirit of independent feeling on the part 

 of those who may fall within the contemplated benefit. The Committee, 

 therefore, the more strongly urge those who feel an interest in bettering 

 the condition of cottagers, to follow the excellent example of the gentle- 

 man above mentioned. 



" The Committee deem it right to record that the thanks of this Society 

 were publicly voted and presented to Mr. Lascelles, at the general show in 

 December last, for his liberal and considerate attention in the encourage- 

 ment which he has given to promote the cultivation of gardens by cot- 

 tagei's." 



In the second Report notice is given that a form of certificate, for those 

 who obtain smaller prizes than medals, such as small sums, or books, seeds, 

 &c., is in preparation ; and in the third Report it is stated to be completed. 

 The idea is good : we should think a letter, with a handsome vignette, such 

 as a cottager might frame ; or, what would be better, a vignette and letter, 

 framed and glazed to his hand, would be a gratifying prize to such persons ; 

 it would form an honourable part of ornamental furniture for the cottager's 

 room or the gardener's shed. 



The Society give medals for communications, some of" which have been 

 published in the Transactions efthe London Horticultural Society, and show 

 equal merit to any that have appeared in that work. A library is also com- 

 menced, which, among other books, contains the Transactions and other 

 publications of the Horticultural Society of London, presented by the 

 Society. We are persuaded there are few ways in which these Trans- 

 actions could be disposed of, so as to do more good than they will in the 

 hands of the practical members of provincial societies. A very likely 

 means for a society to do good is now and then, without neglecting general 

 objects, to direct their attention powerfully to a single point. We are 

 anxious to direct the attention of this, and every other horticultural 

 society, to the subject of winter salading ; and especially to raising blanched 

 succory, on a large scale, and bringing it to market at such a price as 

 could be afforded by every one who now buys potatoes and cabbages. 



In the list of prizes for 1828, the Society's silver medal, a guinea and a 

 half, 15s., half a guinea, and 75., are ofifered for thirteen articles to be shown 

 in March, twenty-one to be shown in April, twenty in May, nineteen in 

 June, twenty-six in August, twenty-two in September, ten in October, and 

 twelve in December. The fruit is to be weighed by troy weight. 



Chelmsford and Essex Horticidtural and Florists' Society, March 21. — 

 At an open Committee of this Society, held to elect officers, and to arrange 

 the business of the Society for the ensuing season. Dr. Forster was in the 

 chair ; and after a favourable report of the increase of the funds of the 

 Society, he addressed the meeting as follows : — " Gentlemen, Since our 

 last meeting an event has occurred which will be much regretted by men of 

 science throughout Europe, but particularly botanists ; I allude to the death 

 of the president of the Linnean Society of London, Sir James Edward 

 Smith, a man eminently distinguished through life for his unremitted atten- 



