516 Provincial Horticultural Societies. — YorJfshire. 



beauty of Mr. Baines's hardy bouquets, but we think we never before saw 

 one so rich in the quality, the number, and the variety of its flowers. 

 Returning along the opposite or left side of the square, vegetables of the 

 finest kind were displayed upon one half of it ; and the other part, to its 

 junction with the front table, was occupied with plates of fruit. Another 

 cross table was placed immediately in front of the orchestra, below the 

 chairman, on which fruit and vegetables were exhibited. The front of the 

 orchestra was ornamented with three large and elegant bouquets, one of 

 which was furnished by Messrs. Rigg, near this city. Several beautiful 

 exotics, in bottles, were also arrangecT between these bouquets, upon the 

 base of the open work which forms the orchestra front. Before the large 

 doors, which form the entrance from tlie Concert Room to the Great 

 Assembly Room, was a novel and very beautiful object. This was a little 

 green-house, heated by steam, for the exhibition of small plants, of which 

 it contained a curious variety. This elegant, simple, and novel contrivance 

 is the production and workmanship of the gardener of Mrs. Salmond, and 

 reflects much credit upon his ingenuity. In passing from this pleasing and 

 ornamental green-house, along the lower end of the room was arranged 

 the fine display of rare exotics, in pots, which had been sent for the pur- 

 pose of decorating the room, and adding to the interest of the exhibition. 

 These, in the variety of their foliage, some displaying their broad gigantic 

 leaves, in contrast with the small creeping tendrils of others turning round 

 the pillars of the gallery; and some, again, showing their rich scarlet 

 flowers, called the attention of the spectators to the wonders of foreign 

 climes. Amongst these were the Beaufortza decussata, from the gardens of 

 Major Yarburgh, and a splendid Amaryllis, from the collection of William 

 Oldfield, Esq. The following were sent from the garden of J. Smith, Esq., 

 of Hungate, in this city: — Musa coccinea, paradisiaca, and rosacea; Pancra- 

 tium fragrans, KempfasVcr rotunda, ^*rum od6rura,bulbiferum,and Colocasia; 

 Cactus tetragona, Royeni, heptagona, brasili^nsis, and spinosissima ; ^'loe 

 lingua (true), Dracse^na f^rrea, Colebrookia thyrsifelia, Caladiuvi bicolor, 

 .^sclepias curassavica, Stapeh'« variegata and glauca, iSolanum flavispinum, 

 Cyperus alternifolia, Phoe'nix dactyllfera, Spilanthes oleracea, Maranta 

 bicolor, Canna glauca, Thunbergk fragrans, Yucca aloefolia. Cyclamen 

 72ederasf61ium. 



Before the chair was taken, a most respectable company, amongst which 

 were many elegantly dressed ladies, had assembled; though these, perhaps, 

 were not so numerous as they would have been, had the day been more 

 favourable, showers falling at intervals until the time appointed for the 

 Meeting. The sun being clouded, also occasionally detracted from the 

 splendid appearance the rich colours of the flowers presented when illumi- 

 nated by its beams. 



About half past two o'clock, on the motion of F. Cholmley, Esq., of 

 Bransby, the Rev. T. C. R. Read, of Sand-Hutton, took the chair, and 

 briefly addressed the Meeting. He said that he unfortunately was again 

 called to preside. The object of the Society, however, when stated, would, 

 he trusted, compensate for his inability. That object was, to reward such 

 gardeners as, by their skill and science, should excel in the practice of hor- 

 ticulture. Competent judges had been appointed, who had examined the 

 fruits, flowers, and vegetables, and who had, he doubted not, formed correct 

 decisions as to the merit of the diiferent competitors for the prizes. In his 

 opinion, much advantage and knowledge would be derived from the success- 

 ful candidates informing the Meeting of the methods adopted by them to 

 bring the various flowers, &c., to perfection. None would, he thought, be 

 so narrow-minded as to withhold what were termed the secrets of the 

 trade : it could be no detriment to them, those who attended there being 

 principally the gardeners of gentlemen. Market-gardeners were differently 

 cii'cumstanced ; but amongst them, he was convinced, a liberal feeling 



