Provincial Societies. 471 



The only other plants which Mr. Goldham grows are carnations and auri- 

 culas ; all other flowers he looks upon as weeds, and though he has a very 

 complete green-house nearly one hundred feet in length, he only makes use 

 of it as a potting shed, and for blooming the two last-mentioned flowers in 

 a wet season. 



The Tulip Bed of Mr. Strong at Shepherd's Bush is said to contain more 

 choice and valuable sorts than any in the neighbourhood of London. The 

 spare roots were sold this season by auction for about 500/. One poor- 

 looking man gave 18/. for one bulb ! Both Mr. Goldham and Mr. Strong 

 have raised some very fine carnations ; and Mr. Strong's High Admiral, 

 Princess Vitoria, Lord Holland, and King, tulips, are some of the finest in 

 culture. A number of other tulip beds we have not found leisure to visit, 

 but we are happy to learn that the taste is increasing ; and this we are, not 

 altogether for its own sake, for we cannot help considering it lower in the 

 scale of elegant recreation, than a taste for plants as parts of a grand sys- 

 tem, but because we like to see every body fond of something, to see every 

 taste pushed as far as it will go, and hope for improvement in all tastes. 



Yorkshire Horticultural Society, May 2. — The spring meeting of this 

 society was held at Kirkstall Hotel, on Wednesday. The chair was taken 

 at half past one o'clock, by the Rev. S. A. Rhodes, of Hornsforth Hall. In 

 opening the business of the meeting, the chairman said, that after a winter 

 of extreme severity and difficulty, the meeting had the pleasure and satis- 

 faction to behold the products of the skill and industry of the gardener. 

 Some of the specimens exhibited possessed great merit ; and the more so, 

 because of the difficulty which had attended their being brought to perfec- 

 tion, owing to the state of the weather. If so much had been done by art, 

 what might they not expect, at the future meetings of this society during 

 the year, when nature would afford more ample aid ; but the fact that so 

 much had been done, was an encouraging proof of the triumph of their 

 science. Several of the gentry in Yorkshire had signified their approbation 

 of the objects of the society, and they had been requested to hold a meeting 

 in some other place, which might open a new field for extensive usefulness. 

 York had been named as the most suitable; and with their concurrence 

 the July meeting should be held there. They made that arrangement 

 with the assurance, that the society would have the support of several 

 gentlemen in that neighbourhood ; and he had no doubt it would promote 

 their object more than by being two distinct committees. Great advan- 

 tages would result from the adoption of that measure, by exciting exertion 

 among gardeners in a wider sphere, and by increasing the general usefulness 

 of the society, which was the grand object they had in view. He was 

 happy to announce, as a sample of the respectability of the subscribers 

 lately obtained, the name of Sir F. L. Wood, Bart, and the Hon. E. Petre. 

 {York Courant, May 1.) 



York Florists' Society, April 30. — The ancient Society of York Florists 

 held their annual show of spring flowers, at Baynes's Hotel, in Petergate, 

 Mr. Wilson was presented with an elegant piece of plate for winning the 

 greatest number of first prizes of auriculas, tulips, &c. during the year 

 1826 ; and Mr. Parker with another, for winning the greatest number of first 

 prizes of geraniums in the same period. Twenty-five premiums were 

 awarded for auriculas, green, grey, and China edged ; selfs, and alpines ; five 

 for polyanthuses ; five for hyacinths ; three for geraniums with coloured 



f rounds ; and three for geraniums with white grounds. ( York Courant, 

 lay 29.) 

 Botanical and Horticidtural Society of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, May 11. — 

 The following prizes were awarded : — The Society's silver medal to Mr. 

 M'Queen, gardener to S. W. Parker, Esq. Scot's House, for the best 

 auricula (Gorton's Champion of England). The bronze medal to James 



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