Hampshire, Devonshire, Dumfriesshire. 125 



DEVONSHIRE. !?"- 



A new Horticultural Society. — A prospectus has been issued of a plan for the establishment of 

 a Society at Plymouth for the improvement of horticulture in the southern parts of Devon and 

 Cornwall, to be called " The South of Devon, Cornwall, Plymouth, Devonport, and Stonehouse 

 Horticultural Society," from which we make the following extract, as likely to be generally 

 useful : — 



" The inconveniences to be apprehended from the scantiness of the funds during the infancy of 

 the Society might be obviated by borrowing a hint from the economical plan of the Dumfermline 

 Florists' Society detailed in the October Number of the Gardener's Magazine for the present year 

 (p. 618.), which consists in adjudging numerical in place of pecuniary prizes, at the several exhi- 

 bitions ; and, at the close of the year, distributing the sum allotted' for prizes to the successful 

 candidates in the ratio of their numbers. For example : — Suppose six prizes to be contended for 

 at each exhibition, let these be entered in the prize-book in the following method, with numbers 

 annexed to them in an inverse order: 1st Prize, No. 6; 2d, No. 5; 3d, No. 4; 4th, No. 3; Sth 

 No. 2 ; 6th, No. 1. All numbers under 12 to be disregarded. Now let six candidates, A, B,C, D 

 E, and F, get numbers to the following amount, — A, 21; B, 21; C,20; D, 18 ; E, 16; andF'20- 

 in all 108 ; and the sum for distribution be 29/. 14*. : divide this sum by 108, the proportion for each 

 108th share would be 5s. 6d. ; of which shares A will be entitled to 21, or 51. 15s. 6d. ; B to the 

 same ; C to 51. 10s..; D to 41. 19s. ; E to il. 8s. ; and F to 31. 6s. ; in all 29/. 14s., the sum tojie dis- 

 tributed. By this means, not only will the prizes be more equally proportioned to the respective 

 merits of the competitors, but the competition be kept alive to the end of the season, with a com- 

 paratively small fund ; since the most successful competitor, at the first, or even second exhibition 

 may, without a steady continuance of exertion to the end of the season, be distanced by those who 

 were far behind him at the first, and possibly thrown out altogether at the end ; while much more 

 emulation may be excited by a small fund in this, than by a much richer one in any other, mode 

 of distribution." 



An outline of the plan, and farther particulars, may be obtained from Messrs. Pontey, nursery 

 andjseedsmen, Cornwall Street, Plymouth ; or Mr. Banks, lecturer on botany, &c., No. 45, St. 

 Aubyn Street, Devonport. The plan seems judicious, and we hope its projectors will be enabled 

 to carry it into execution. Our indefatigable correspondent. Dr. Hamilton, will be an invaluable 

 officer in such a Society : no man is more unceasingly active in his endeavours to do good. — Cotid. 



DUMFRIESSHIRE. 



' Dumfries and Galloway Horticultural Society. — The Seventh Anniversary Meeting of this So- 

 ciety was held on Sept. 17. On no former occasion was there ever so fine a show of fruit produced ; 

 the quantity was large, and the quality very superior. The peaches and nectarines were excellent, 

 but the plums in sorts, and apples, were much admired, and evinced the great improvement which 

 has taken place in the quality of fruit since the institution of the Society. Premiums were awarded 

 as follows : — 



An extra-premium was awarded to James Hennan, Drumlanrig, gardener to His Grace the 

 Duke of Buccleugh and Queensberry, for peaches. (The competition was confined to him and 

 James Younger, gardener to W. Younger, Esq., of Craiglands, in consequence of their having been 

 equal last year for that article.) 



Flowers. Double and Dwarf Georginas, Thos Kennedy, gardener, Nithbank. Hollyhock, W. 

 Crosbie, gardener, Dabton. — Fruit. Peaches : 1. A. M'Gillivray, gardener to C. G. S. Menteath, 

 Esq. ; 2. W. Moffat, gardener, Barjarg. Nectarines : 1. A. M'Gillivray ; 2. R. Clark, gardener, Rae.. 

 hills. Grapes, Red : 1. James Webster, gardener, Munshes ; 2. R. Clark. Plums. Green Gage : 

 1. W. Moffat ; 2. James Webster. Best variety : 1. R. Ross, gardener, Mount-Annan ; 2. James 

 Hennan ; 3. James Younger, gardener, Craiglands. Pine-apple, R. Clark, Raehills. Melon, Jas. 

 Younger. Pears, from the wall : 1. James Hennan, Drumlanrig; 2. A. M'Gillivray. From stand- 

 ards, John Learmont. Apples. From the wall : 1. A. M'Gillivray ; 2. James Hennan. From stand- 

 ards : 1. James Webster; 2. W. Moffat; 3. R. Carson, gardener, Palmerston. — Culinary Vegetables. 

 Celery, R. Clark. Green Peas, J. Learmont. Red Beet, James Webster. 



Extra-Premiums. Silver Beet, James Webster. Magnolia grandiflbra, Mr. Porter, gardener 

 to P. Johnston, Esq., of Carnsalloch. Currant Wine, Mrs. Jardine, Assembly Street. A fine new 

 apple, named the Nithbank Pearmain, T. Kennedy, gardener. (Dumfries and Galloway Courier, 

 Sept. 22.) 



The following address was delivered by the secretary, Mr. Grierson : — 



" Since the institution of the Dumfries and Galloway Horticultural Society, in 1813, great has 

 been the improvement in horticulture in all parts of the kingdom, to which the formation of 

 similar societies has materially contributed. At the formation of our Society, very few provincial 

 societies existed ; and we had no small degree of merit in starting so early in so important an 

 undertaking, and in attaining a degree of respectability which has rendered our Institution an 

 object of imitation ; and I have the satisfaction to say, that the Dumfries and Galloway Society 

 has received the approbation of eminent horticulturists in various quarters ; and we have the 

 assurance of their countenance and support to stimulate us to new and continued exertions. It is 

 fortunate that horticulture has attracted such general notice : it is one of those sciences which 

 require zeal and perseverance to bring forward their advantages to view ; as the stores of nature are 

 unbounded, so is the progress of improvement, when skill and attention are applied to cultivation. 

 It has been said, that he who causes two blades of grass to grow, where only one was produced 

 before, is a patriot to his country. Such is the happy result of horticulture properly understood : 

 not only the increase of quantity, but the improvement in quality ; and not confined to quantity and 

 quality, but the endless new varieties of produce which the persevering skill of the horticulturist 

 may discover. 



" The happy effects of the great attention bestowed on horticulture of late years, now begin to 

 appear all over the country. To the late Sir Joseph Banks, the father of many important improve- 

 ments, we are indebted for the progress of horticulture as a science : by his indefatigable zeal and 

 abilities, many new plants were discovered, and introduced into cultivation in this country. 

 Humble as the pretensions of our Society were at its institution, it did not escape his notice and 

 approbation. To diffuse the advantages of his knowledge and industry, I believe, the London 

 Horticultural Society was formed ; and, from its extensive influence, persevering labours, and 

 liberal views, the advantages of that Society are now extended, not only over our own country, bnt 

 have attracted the attention of all Europe ; and from every part of the world are the rich stores of 



