728 Provincial Horticultural Societies : — Bedfordshire, 



America into the collection of the Society, under the name of English 

 golden pippin ; Pomme violette, White paradise, Court of Wick, Martin 

 nonpareil ; Burn's seedling, a very handsome apple, and of good quality for 

 its size ; Citron des Carmes, Margil, Padley's pippin. Yellow bellefleur, 

 Blenheim pippin, Fearn's pippin, Beauty of Kent; White nonpareil, a 

 very good early nonpareil ; Monstrous pippin, Barcelona pearmain, Baxter's 

 pearmain, Winter queening, and Petworth seedling. Pears : Beurre Diel, 

 from standards; Chaumontelle, from quenouille training; Duchesse d'An- 

 gouleme, and the same off a tree on a hawthorn stock; Passe-Colmar; 

 Forelle, a vigorous tree as a standard, and bears well ; Bezi de la Motte, 

 Bezi de Caissoy ; Bezi d'Henri, a stewing pear, and a very abundant bearer 

 as a standard ; Bergamotte Cadet, Napoleon, Urbaniste ; Bon Chretien 

 Turc and Bequene musque, both stewing pears; Nelis d'Hiver, one of 

 he very best pears, ripened on a wall, and is earlier than usual ; it will also 

 succeed as a standard. Of the pears, many sorts have come earlier to 

 maturity than usual, probably in consequence of the dry season ; for 

 instance, Passe-Colmar, Beurre Diel, Forelle, Nelis d'Hiver, &c. 



Art. VIII. Notices of Provincial Horticultural Societies for 1833. 



We find, from the increase in the number of newspapers sent us during 

 the past year, as well as from information procured during our late tour, 

 that provincial botanical and horticultural societies are steadily increasing 

 throughout the country. We ai*e exceedingly glad of this ; because these 

 societies will diffuse generally a taste for one of the most agreeable and 

 humanising of pursuits, spread improved varieties of culinary vegetables 

 and fruits, and bring into general culture many of the beautiful new hardy 

 plants and shrubs which have been lately introduced from North America 

 and other parts of the world. There is yet another good which will result 

 from the meetings of these societies ; and that is, the bringing into personal 

 communication many individuals, gardeners and others, who, but for 

 assemblages of this sort, might have for ever remained unknown to one 

 another. In general, whatever has a tendency to bring men together, so 

 as to enable them to think and act in masses, is favourable to human 

 improvement. The farmer confined to his farm, and the gardener within 

 the walls of his garden, could never have any influence on society, either 

 in the way of disseminating agricultural or horticultural improvement ; 

 or in amelioi'ating the condition or manners of the two classes ; but let 

 them meet together two or three times a year, no matter for what purpose, 

 and first thought, and afterwards action, will be the result. In cooperation 

 with these horticultural meetings, it is gratifying to observe the universal 

 circulation of the penny periodicals. Without saying any thing as to the 

 direct value of the matter contained in these publications, it is sufficient 

 for us that their tendency is to create a taste for reading : a taste which 

 no less an authority than Sir John Herschel has observed is, of all others, 

 the best " which can possibly be imagined for a hard-working countryman 

 after his daily toil, or in its intervals." (See the Penny Magazine for 

 Sept. 28. 1833.) An idea so gratifying has not been presented to us 

 since we commenced the Garde7ier's Magazine. 



We are happy to find that an increased attention is paid generally to 

 the gardens of cottagers. The emulation excited by the prizes given to 

 this class can hardly fail in producing the happiest results. We have 

 already mentioned (Vol. VIII. p. 626.) the practice of giving silver spoons, 

 clocks, &c., instead of medals, as one which we highly approved of; but 

 we cannot say so much in favour of a practice which we see has been 

 adopted in some places ; viz., that of giving as prizes, shoes, coats, and other 



