Provincial Horticultural Societies. 643 



the rows which, in summer, require the shade; as spinach, lettuce, 

 small salading, &c. The nonsuch, or Woodford marrow, and 

 the new grotto marrow, are good varieties; and the dwarf green 

 Knight's marrow is held in much estimation. 



Tubers and Boots. — Mr. Charlwood remarks that salsify, 

 scorzonera, and skirret are not nearly so much cultivated as 

 they used to be; a circumstance to be regretted, because they 

 make excellent side dishes and stews in the winter season, when 

 the stalks and leaves of vegetables are in many places scarce, 

 on account of the inclemency of the season. With respect to 

 potatoes, the quality of that tuber seems to depend much more 

 on the climate and soil in which it is grown, than on the variety 

 cultivated. We have never yet tasted any potatoes, either of 

 Scotch, Irish, or English growth, equal to those that are grown 

 in the immediate neighbourhood of Prescot, in Lancashire ; but, 

 unfortunately, they are never to be found in the London market. 

 A dry soil and a moist climate seem essential in bringing the 

 potato to perfection, either in point of size or flavour ; for which 

 reason, in the south of France, and in Spain and Italy, little is 

 to be expected from them, except when grown on the moun- 

 tains. 



(To be continued.^ 



Art. IV. Provincial Horticultural Societies. 



The most remarkal)le feature in the horticultural societies of 

 the present year is, the increasing attention which has been 

 paid throughout the country to the exhibitions of the poor. 

 The produce of the cottagers' gardens has been generally ad- 

 mired ; and the influence which these exhibitions are likely to 

 have on the condition of the cottager is most important, and 

 demands the serious attention of every person who wishes to 

 promote the welfare of his poorer compatriots. It is gratifying 

 to see the rich sympathising with the poor, as in nature and 

 reason they ought to do ; and this must, in the end, lead to the 

 moral and intellectual elevation of the former. We are happy 

 to see several gentlemen giving up the prizes they have obtained 

 to the general funds of the society ; and others giving them to 

 the fund for cottagers' prizes. 



Mr. Niven of the Glasgow Botanic Garden has thrown out 

 the following very judicious suggestions : — " That all plants, 

 fruits, or flowers exhibited should be correctly named, or, if not 

 so, disqualified for competition; that a prize, or prizes, might 

 be awarded for the encouragement of botanical science^ a most 

 important branch of the education of every practical man." In 

 a preceding page, we have suggested the idea of offering prizes 

 for the culture of trees and shrubs, with a view to the more 



