Provincial Horticultural Societies. 255 



Mrs. Hill, Llandaff. Baking Pears, Mrs. Hill, Llandaff. Table Apples, Mrs. Head Deacon 

 Baking Apples, Hon. W. B. Grey. — Culinary Vegetables. Asparagus, Hon. W. B Grev Sea' 

 kale, Hon. VV. B. Grey. Broccoli, Mr. Moggridge. Celery, Mr. E. P. Richards. Parsneps Mr 

 Moggndge. Onions, Mr. Thomas Minnett. Early Potatoes, forced (not offsets) Mr Hill' 

 Rhubarb, Rev. J. M. Traherne. Radishes, Mrs. m\\.— Extra-Prizes. Baking Apple' Mrs Hill 

 and Hon. W. B. Grey. Beet Root, Mr. Head Deacon. Broccoli, Hon. W. B. Grey' — Cottage 

 Prizes. Apples, E. Williams, Llandaff. Onions, Thomas Perry, Cardiff. Basket of Veeetawa. 

 six sorts, D. Williams, Duffryn. vL^idDies, 



The grapes, sent by the Hon. W. B. Grey, retained the delicious flavour of an early autumn 

 growth. A variety of the Newtown pippin, brought by Sir Charles Morgan, was of the amazing 

 size of 13 in. in circumference, and weighed nearly 16 oz. The committee and gentlemen present 

 were more particularly pleased with an extraordinary fine trace or rope of onions called the 

 Tripoli, the property of Colonel Morgan, of Landough Castle. This onion is not so well known 

 as it ought to be : it attains a large size, is remarkable for its beautiful white colour and verv mild 

 flavour. ( The Cambrian, Jan. 9. 1830.) 



Herefordshire. 



Herefordshire Horticultural Society. — The Hereford Florists' Register, con- 

 taining a brief account of the meetings of the Hereford Horticultural Society, by W Godsall 

 acting secretary, Hereford, ISmo, has been sent us, and also the rules of the Society for 18°9 and 

 a schedule and " particulars " for'prizes for that year. In the preface to the little book we observe 

 with pleasure, that five sovereigns will be awarded by the Society every fifth year " to the gar' 

 dener of any member, for long servitude, general good conduct, attention to, and knowledge of 

 his business." With the warmest feelings towards this Society, from seeing among its members 

 so many respectable names, so considerable a portion of ladies, and above all from greatly admir 

 ing the style of country about Hereford, Foxley, Moccas Court, the Holme, &c, at all which 



number of prizes given away in these three years being 544 to 73 persons, surely one fifth to one 

 individual, and he a patron of gardening rather than an amateur, is too much. No other indivi- 

 dual appears to have obtained half so many. The name of the gardener of Sir J. G. Cotterell as 

 far as we can discover, is not in the book. A good many of the prizes are awarded to ladies and 

 this we are delighted to see, whether their gardeners are named or not. The cares of gardening 

 are worthy of, and suitable for, ladies of every rank, from the cottage to the palace. There is 

 nothing unfeminine in them, and as the resources for enjoyment of ladies residing in the country 

 is limited compared with those of men under the same circumstances, we are happy to see that 

 they avail themselves of such as are within their reach. We cannot, however, so easily enterinto 

 the idea of a country gentleman of property competing for prizes of fruits and flowers, when there 

 are so many important duties and elevated recreations to which he is called upon to attend and 

 might enjoy. Still less can we conceive what inward satisfaction it can be to a man to receive a 

 prize for a production which, personally, he has had no hand whatever in producing. If prize 

 shows of fruits and flowers are to be considered in the light of prize cock-fights or boxing- 

 matches, and merely criticised like any other species of gambling amusement, that is another 

 matter ; and in that case we certainly greatly prefer gambling in fruits and flowers to any other 

 species of gambling; but if, on the other hand, the object of Provincial Horticultural Societies be 

 to improve the knowledge of gardeners in their art, and to disseminate improved gardening pro- 

 ductions, then surely these objects will be best effected, or rather can only be effected, by raising 

 the character of the practical gardener. The patrons of gardening are expected only to act as 

 patrons, and not as operatives. Knowing nothing of Sir J. G. Cotterel personally, and not even 

 the name or place of his estate, we trust no personal motive will be supposed to have occasioned 

 these remarks. — Cond. 



Northumberland and Durham. 



Botanical and Horticultural Society of Durham, Northumberland, and Newcastle 

 upon Tyne. — The First Exhibition for this year of this Society was held on the ]9th of February 

 when prizes were adjudged as follows: — 



Dessert pears, a silver medal to Mr. Jos. Cook, gardener to Miss Simpson of Bradley Hall. 

 A silver medal was also awarded to him for some beautiful and ingenious plans and models of a 

 new method of forcing sea-kale and rhubarb, which seem admirably adapted for the purpose, and 

 may be inspected by the subscribers at the Society's library in Dean Street. Asparagus, a silver 

 medal to Mr. John Ward, gardener to C. J. Clavering, Esq., Axwell Park. Double hyacinth 

 (Waterloo), a silver medal to Mr. Win, Kelly, gardener to Armorer Donkin, Esq., Jesmond. 

 Single hyacinth (Grand Vainqueur), a silver medal to Mr. Adam Hogg, at Mr. Falla's, Gateshead! 

 Sea-kale, a bronze medal to Mr. Thomas Cook, gardener to T. W. Beaumont, Esq., M. P., Bywell 

 Hall. Kidneybeans, a bronze medal to J. C. Lamb, Esq., Ryton. Bouquet of flowers, a silver 

 medal; and Brussels sprouts, a bronze medal ; to Mr. James Scott, gardener to Edward Charlton, 

 Esq., Sandoe. Exotic plant in flower (double white Camellia japonica), a silver medal to Mr. 

 Christopher Robson, gardener to Dr. Headlam, Jesmond Dene. Red gooseberry wine, a silver 

 medal to Mr. Dunlop, Newcastle. This being the first time that any prize has been given for 

 wines made from British fruits, there was a great deal of competition, and one bottle was exhibited 

 of the extraordinary age of twenty-eight year«, and made wholly without the addition of spirit of 

 any kind. Collection of seedling apples, consisting of twelve different varieties, a silver medal to 

 Mr. Michael Hall, of Beacon Lough, near Gateshead. . . 



Among the gratuitous exhibitions were the following : — Grapes, consisting of Black Hamburgh, 

 Grizzly Frontignac, and White Sweet Water, from James G. Clarke, Esq., Fenham. Cauli- 

 flowers, preserved through winter, from the garden of Mrs. Bewicke, of Close House. Cam<jlh'« 

 Sasanqua fl. rosea, in full flower, and blanched striped Chiccory, from E. Charlton, Esq., of 

 Sandoe. Double red Camellia japonica, in full flower, from David Cram, Esq., Newcastle. Sarra- 

 ccjiim flava, in full blow, from M r - Falla, Gateshead. Apples of great beauty, and in fine preser- 

 vation, called " Pomme de Gris," from Mr. T. Hedley, Newcastle, which had been sent to him 

 from Montreal. 



The large silver medal of the London Horticultural Society, which, at the Anniversary Meeting 

 was awarded to Mr. Jos. Clarke, gardener to Mrs. Bewicke of Close House, was this day pre- 

 sented to him. {Newcastle Courant, Feb. 20.) 



