Provincial Societies. 473 



were given for auriculas, green, grey, and white-edged, and self-coloured 

 alpines and seedlings, eight for polyanthuses, three for green-house plants, 

 two for cucumbers, and one for grapes, asparagus, mushrooms, sea-kale, 

 rhubarb, and potatoes. {Lancaster Gaz. May 5.) 



An Amateur Prize Show of Auriculas and Polyanthuses was held at Lan- 

 caster on May 5th, when six prizes were awarded for the following flowers: — 

 Barlow's King, Privateer, Pillar of Beauty, True Blue, and Captain Frazer, 

 auriculas ; and Fletcher's Defiance, polyanthus. {Ibid.) 



Lancaster Florists' and Horticultural Society, May 26. — At the tulip 

 show sixty prizes were given for tulips, four for geraniums, the property of 

 ladies, four for green-house plants, two for hardy plants, two for bouquets 

 from the open garden, and one for grapes, oranges, citrons, lemons, potatoes, 

 lettuces. {Id. June 2.) 



Preston Florists' Society, April 25. Auricula Show. — Many gay speci- 

 mens were displayed ; but, in consequence of the sudden change and 

 remarkable severity of the weather, the plants were by no means so nu- 

 merous as was expected. There were also a half-dozen fine polyanthus 

 flowers exhibited. Of rare green-house and other plants there was a great 

 variety, whilst the show of asparagus, broccoli, cucumbers, mushrooms, 

 French beans, early potatoes, and even grapes, at so early a period of the 

 season, appeared to excite general attention. Twenty-four prizes were 

 given for auriculas, six for polyanthuses, nine for green-house plants, eight 

 for hardy plants, and twelve for fruits and culinary articles. {J.Holland, Sec.) 



May 25. the Tulip Show. — The display of tulips, green-house plants, 

 and early fruits and vegetables, at the Bull Inn, was equal, if not superior, 

 to any we have ever seen ; and, notwithstanding the very unfavourable state 

 of the weather, the company assembled was quite as numerous and respect- 

 able as on any former occasion. Thirty-six prizes were given for tulips, 

 three for geraniums with white grounds, three forgeraniums with red grounds, 

 and three for geraniums with purple grounds. Seven prizes were given for 

 green-house plants, seven for hardy plants, two for grapes, one for the best 

 pine-apple, for cucumbers, strawberries, broccoli, potatoes, peas, rhubarb, 

 gooseberries, cabbages, asparagus, and for the best lettuce, which measured 

 a yard in circumference, and weighed 2 lbs : it grew in the garden of George 

 Jackson, Esq. {Preston Pilot, May 29.) 



Ipswich Horticultural Society, May 26. — Some amateur horticultu- 

 rists, who established a Gooseberry Society at Ipswich about three years 

 since, having met, it was resolved to adopt the name of " Ipswich Horti- 

 cultural Society," in consequence of the increased number of subscribers, 

 and that there should be at least two exhibitions of fruit and horticultural 

 productions every year. The first show was fixed for Monday, 30th July 

 next, when prizes will be offered to the four heaviest gooseberries, the best 

 seedling, the best -flavoured plate of fruit, the largest white and red cur- 

 rants, as well as other prizes to such fruits and vegetables as may be deemed 

 of sufficient merit. It is also intended to have a second meeting in the 

 autumn, when prizes will be offered for the fruits then in season; and, if the 

 funds will allow, it is contemplated that a third show may be held, later in 

 the year, for winter fruits. {E. R. B., Stow Market, May 29.) 



Florists' Meetings at Worcester, in former times. — A correspondent has 

 sent us some accounts of these, dated so far back as 1777, at which time it 

 appears that prizes, from 10s. 6d. to 2l. 2s., were given for carnations; and 

 that silver medals, at different periods from and before 1777 till 1784, were 

 awarded for florists' flowers, chiefly carnations. Our correspondent deplores 

 the non-existence of such societies about Worcester in the present day, 

 remarking that " the mind of man, rushing from the toils of business to 

 relaxation, eagerly courts some pursuit which he may take up without much 

 exertion ; and happy is he who, avoiding the baneful effects of drinking, has 



