73 4« Provincial Horticultural Societies : — 



and of Mr. T. French), some of which measured 6 in, in circumference : 

 several plates of ripe currants and raspberries were exhibited, some of 

 which deservedly gained extra prizes. The vegetables surpassed any we 

 remember to have seen at former shows; a convincing proof that societies 

 of this nature tend to improve the culture and quality of these necessary 

 productions, by exciting a spirit of emulation among the cultivators. 

 There were three cottagers' prizes. {Cheltenham Journal, July 1.) 



July 23. Carnations, picotees, and georginas were the principal articles 

 exhibited. {lind., July 25.) 



Sejit. 17. This was the best show of the season. The display of fruit 

 was beyond all praise, and we question whether finer pines, melons, grapes, 

 peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, and pears have been exhibited by any 

 similar society in the kingdom. The stove and green-house plants and 

 annuals were also remarkably fine. Nearly 2000 specimens were exhibited, 

 and numerous prizes were awarded. {Cheltenham Chronicle, Sept. 19.) 



Herefordshire. — Hereford Horticultural Society. April 30. Many 

 beautiful seedling auriculas and polyanthuses, flowers of Wistaria Conse- 

 (^yxana, and a plant in pot of Magn61f« conspicua, in fragrant bloom, graced 

 the florists' department, in addition to the usual supply of well-known 

 prize flowers of auricula, polyanthus, hyacinth, pansy, &c. In vegetables, a 

 subscriber exhibited an ingenious method of raising early peas, by sowing them 

 in a little soil between tiles, and keeping them under glass till the weather 

 admits of their being transplanted into the open ground, which is done with 

 facility i the plants shown were in a growing state, 18 in. high, supported 

 by sticks, fully exemplifying the plan, which the subscriber stated he had 

 practised some years, with invariable success. A subscriber also exhibited 

 in a pot a strong plant of O'xalis crenata, about a foot high. The apples 

 were beyond all praise; the white broccoli was the largest and best ever 

 exhibited here, particularly the brace to which the first prize Vv^as awarded, 

 being about 9 in. in diametei*, and in the nicest epicurean state. The other 

 broccoli were excellent, as were also the cucumbers, cabbage, potatoes, 

 French beans, rhubarb, sea-kale, lettuces, &c. Numerous prizes were dis- 

 tributed for auriculas, polyanthuses, hyacinths, &c.,but we did not observe 

 any cottagers' prizes. {Herefoi^d Journal, May 8.) 



May 21. The tulips were excellent, and some of them, although asto- 

 nishingly large, were finely broken. Among the other classes appeared a full 

 supplyof stove, green-house plants, &c., ericas, Cereus Jenkinsom, calceola- 

 rias, seedling pelargoniums, Vieusseiixia giaucopis, new white giant stock, 

 -,^'sculus ?-6sea, new scarlet thorn, &c. &c. ; and, although last, not least, 

 but of tremendous size. Daily's new giant rhubarb. Among tlie prizes for 

 tulips, we observed most frequently the names of R. J. Powell, Esq., and 

 Mr. P. Baylis. {Ibid., May 29.) 



June 25. Several very beautiful varieties of Calceolaria, Schizanthus, 

 &c., were exhibited. That universal favourite and queen of flowers, the 

 rose, appeared in its'wonted splendour, fragrance, and quantity ; and, among 

 the numerous specimens of pinks, many of the choicest description were 

 shown ; but, of ranunculuses, only two blooms were sent in, and those of 

 an inferior kind ; indeed, the ranunculuses failed generally throughout the 

 kingdom this season, which was the case also two years ago. The prize 

 pine-apple was a fine specimen of the Providence variet3^ The melons 

 were high-flavoured, though not numerous. The strawberries were abun- 

 dant. The vegetable department was not fully supplied; but premiums 

 were only offered for cauliflowers, at this exhibition. {Ibid., July 3.) 



Sept. 24. The grand stand was decorated with a beautiful display of 

 green-house and other plants. The stage for fruit and vegetables was 

 remarkable for the variety and excellence of the apples and pears ; of the 

 former 100 plates of different kinds, comprising culinary and dessert fruits ; 

 and about 30 plates of the latter, all of the finest sorts, were exhibited, 



