Reyifre'wshire, Stirlingshire, Ireland. 749 



quality ; and the fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, and strawberries, were 

 very superior both in appearance and flavour. The prizes were awarded 

 chiefly for ranunculuses, roses, anemones, and other flowers of the season. 

 (^Glasgow Free Press, June 22.) 



_ Stirlingshire. — 52!ir/ing Horticultural Society. Mayl. Prizes were 

 given for auriculas, hyacinths, and other spring flowers ; there were also 

 many green-house and stove plants exhibited, and, being splendid speci- 

 mens, the plants in full flower, and, in general, properly named, they gave 

 much interest to the show. {Ibid.) 



July 4. — Besides the prizes distributed for the usual articles, the 

 directors having offered a silver medal, with an inscription (to the person, 

 whether a member of the Society or not), for the best model of a moss or 

 heath house, and a premium for the best. rustic chair to be produced at 

 this meeting, a spirited competition took place, when the result was as un- 

 der: Moss house, 1st, James Henderson (aged 16), son of Mr. William Hen- 

 derson, gardener, Gartur ; 2d, James Faichney, journeyman gardener, 

 Airthrey Castle ; 3d, Michael Carmichael, apprentice gardener, Polmaise. 

 Besides these, there appeared in competition two models from Blair Drum- 

 mond, one from Kippenross, and one from Westertown. Rustic chair, 

 1st, James Clow, Westertown; 2d, John MacKenzie, Blairdrummond ; 

 3d, George Gow, Wester Livilands. Alexander Gow, Wester Livilands, a 

 rustic bridge, formed over a chasm of rockwork, studded with wild plants. 

 The principal object of attraction, on this occasion, was this admirable collec- 

 tion of moss houses, which occupied a large table, placed on the terrace con- 

 tiguous to the hall : it, being appropriately overhung with indigenous shrubs, 

 produced an effect novel and imposing. All the specimens in this depart- 

 ment were particularly admired, and reflected the highest credit on the 

 ingenuity and taste of the juvenile constructors. Displays of these useful 

 decorations, so much connected with the improvement of our flower-gar- 

 dens and rural scenery, are a new feature in the exhibitions of horticultural 

 societies, and are as yet peculiar to Stirling alone. The subject is certainly 

 deserving of the highest encouragement, and there can be no doubt that 

 the example will be followed in other districts. {Ibid,, July 12.) 



[We like much the idea of inducing young men to compose rustic 

 structures, combining rockwork and vegetation, because we think it will 

 improve their taste in landscape-gardening. We recommend the idea to 

 be pushed farther, and encouragement to be given for models of plantations, 

 grouped in the natiu-al manner. A board might be adopted as the surface 

 of a park or lawn, and sprigs might be stuck into it in imitation of trees; 

 water, rocks, roads, and walks might also be introduced.] 



Sept. 12. — This exhibition was for georginas, hollyhocks, &c., and 

 autumnal fruits and vegetables. Numerous fine specimens were shown, 

 and many prizes were awarded, {Ibid., Sept. 20.) 



IRELAND. 



Belfast Horticultural Society. — May 21. Among the flowers, the tulips 

 were, of course, at this season the greatest attraction. The anemones 

 and ranunculuses were not equal to what we have seen on former occa- 

 sions. Some tender heaths, of great beauty, were exhibited, which very 

 deservedly obtained a prize. The China roses were particularly remark- 

 able for their rarity ; some very uncommon kinds having been produced 

 for the first time. Many of the pelargoniums were new varieties, and they 

 presented a splendid appearance : as a whole, they were decidedly a mag- 

 nificent collection, and prove what skill and care were used by the compe- 

 titors. The double stock gillyflowers were not fine. Two beautiful plants 

 of the cactus tribe excited the admiration of the meeting : Cactus trium- 

 phans (the finer of the two by far), Mr. Scott ; and Cereus speciosissimus, 



