Prom7icial Horticultural Societies. 551 



the floor of a small stove. On the following day, at noon, I 

 was surprised to see all the young leaves of some vines under 

 the rafters appear as though scorched ; and, upon further ex*- 

 amination, I found many of the stove plants affected in the same 

 manner : the euphorbias, in a few days, lost nearly all their 

 leaves ; and the gesnerias, gloxinias, &c., though they did not 

 lose their leaves, yet presented a very unsightly appearance. I 

 immediately concluded that this was caused by the odour of the 

 laurel leaves, and instantly swept them all out of the house ; 

 but, to be sure of the matter, I took a plant of pelargonium 

 and placed it under a hand-glass with a quantity of the bruised 

 laurel leaves, and on the following morning it presented precisely 

 the same appearance as the plants in the stove; which satisfied 

 me of the injurious effects of the laurel leaves upon vegetation, 

 though, at the same time, they were incapable of destroying the 

 mealy bug, which was the insect I was chiefly annoyed with, I 

 send you this account, that you may, if you think fit, publish it 

 as a contradiction to the assertion, that the odour of laurel 

 leaves will not injure plants; and thus prevent other gardeners 

 from falling into the same error that I have done. 

 Bromleij^ Kent, Oct. 25. 1837. 



Art. IV. Provincial Horticultural Societies. 



Bedfordshire. — Bedfordshire Ojoen Horticultural Society. • — Mai/ 9. 

 Notwithstanding the hitherto unfavourable season for vegetation, the speci- 

 mens shown were extremely fine. One of the Brugmansm sanguinea was 

 much admired ; some sticks of rhubarb shown by Mr. Webster, about 2 ft. 

 long, also attracted considerable attention. The best auriculas were How- 

 land's Nelson, Surpass, and Ringleader, shown by Mr. H. Pullen, The best 

 hycacinth was the Groot Voorst shown by Mr. Barringer. {Huntingdon 

 Gazette, May 13. 1837.) 



Bedford Horticultural Society. — Aug. 4. The rich collection of plants, &c., 

 from the conservatory of W. H. Whitbread, Esq., attracted great admiration. 

 The dahlias in some instances were particularly fine ; as were the carnations. 

 Mr Giddings's seedling yellow picotee was named by the chairman, G. Livius, 

 Esq., the Marchioness of Tavistock ; and the best seedling ditto of Mr. True- 

 love, was named the Queen. The gooseberries were very fine. Among the 

 prizes, were for fruit, for the best pound of red currants, containing the least 

 number of bunches. Mi-. Giddings ( 21 bunches); the best pound of white 

 ditto. Ml-. Giddings (27 ditto) ; the best half-pound of black ditto, containing 

 the least number of berries, Miss Goulburn (141) ; the best half-pound of 

 raspberries, fewest in number, stems cut close to the calyx, INIi-. Pullen (57). 

 {The Beacon, Aug. 12. 1837.) 



Biggleswade Horticultural Society. — May S. This was the annual show 

 for auriculas and polyanthuses. The best auricula, Howard's Nelson, was shown 

 by Mr. Pullen ; and the best polyanthus, Alexander, by Mr. Garratt. {Hun- 

 tingdon Gazette, May 13. 1837.) 



Berkshire. — Reading Horticultitral Society. — May 18. Among the plants 

 exhibited were a very superb seedling scarlet rhododendron ; a fine plant of 

 the Clianthus puniceus, andoncof Tropse'olum tricol6rum,from the collection of 

 W. Stephens, Esq. ; and calceolarias fi-om Purley Hall, &c. The grapes from 



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