Huniingdonshire, Kent, Lancashire. 653 



gooseberries, 32 in number. Among the fruit shown, the heaviest goose- 

 berry was leader, by Mr. Giddings, weighing 21 dwt. llgr. The heaviest 

 red gooseberry was the roaring lion, shown by Mr. Fordlam, and weighing 

 20 dwt. 6gr. The heaviest red currants were 16 bunches to the pound; 

 and the heaviest white, 27. Both were shown by Mr. Giddings. 



Kent. — * Dover Horticultural Society. ■ — Mai/ 27. This was the first meet- 

 ing of the Society. The backwardness of the season precluded the display of 

 hardy plants ; but this was amply compensated by the beautiful pelargoniums 

 from Mr. Rice, and some rare exotics from the collection of Mr. George Jen- 

 nings, who obtained the first prizes for flowers. In fruits and vegetables, the 

 Earl Guilford and Mr. Fector were the successful competitors. It was a sub- 

 ject of regret that no cottagers' prizes could be given, as only one nosegay 

 was placed for competition. In the absence of Countess Guilford (from in- 

 disposition), Mrs. E. Rice gracefully distributed the prizes. A vote of thanks 

 to her was proposed by Mr. Knocker ; after which Mr. Rice rose to acknow- 

 ledge the compliment, and, in an able and appropriate manner, congratulated 

 the Society on the beauty and excellence of the display before them ; conclud- 

 ing his speech with a vote of thanks to the judges. Mr. Masters briefly re- 

 turned thanks for himself and brother judges, and warmly congratulated the 

 present meeting on the success of this their first exhibition ; and gave his 

 opinion that proximity to the sea, or insalubrity of climate, was rather an ad- 

 vantage than otherwise to the pursuit of horticulture, since greater stimulus 

 was afforded. He adduced Scotland as an instance, which has always pro- 

 duced the most clever and experienced practical gardeners, from the skill and 

 perseverance necessary to be exerted to overcome the natural obstacles of 

 temperature and situation. {Kentish Chronicle, May 31.) 



* Wingham Horticutural and Floral Society. — May 20. A very good display 

 was made of flowers, fruit, and vegetables. Among the last, Mr. Charles 

 Harrison exhibited 30 heads of asparagus, which weighed 4 lb. Mr. Masters 

 sent a beautiful collection of plants, in addition to those which entered into 

 competition for the prizes. {Ibid., May 24.) 



Lancashire. — Bolton Floral and Horticultural Society. — July 6. This 

 meeting was for the show of pinks, roses ; stove, green-house, and herbaceous 

 plants ; fruits, &c. Every thing was beautifully arranged, and the room 

 was very respectably attended. The band of the 48th regiment, as usual, was 

 present, and played a number of delightful airs. Mr. Wm. Lodge, E. Ash- 

 worth, Esq., and Mr. Thomas Walsh were the most successful competitors. 

 {Manchester Courier, July 9.) 



Lancaster Floral and Horticultural Society. — Sept 27. The dahlias were 

 remarkably fine, and very numerous. A very great variety of apples and 

 pears were exhibited; many of the very first-rate sorts. We noticed, 

 in the collections of the Rev. T. Mackreth and Mr. Saul, the beurre 

 d'Aremberg. The specimens were rather small, but we found upon enquiry, 

 that they were from very young standard trees. We also noticed, amongst 

 Mr. Mackreth's collection, very fine specimens of the beurre Diel, Duchesse 

 d'Angouleme, and that decidedly the best of all the late keeping-pears, the 

 Easter beurre. There was a very fine plate of the Marie-Louise pear, from 

 John Swainson, Esq., Halton Hall. They were grown, we understood, upon 

 the wall : but it may be useful to some of our readers to be informed (and we 

 have the best authority for the information), that this most valuable of our 

 autumn- pears bears equally well as a standard, and appears capable of afford- 

 ing a certain crop, under whatever circumstances it may be placed. The 

 Duchess of Hamilton honoured the Society by sending from the gardens at 

 Ashton some very fine pine-apples, and also a small, though very choice, 

 collection of apples and pears. Our respected member Mr. Greene sent 

 from his gardens at Whittington Hall a very fine plant of the Gladiolus 

 psittacina, and some remarkably fine China asters, and French and American 

 marygolds. We noticed in the room two iron garden chairs, invented by 

 our ingenious townsman, Mr. M. Saul of Sulyard Street. The seat repre- 



