704 Provincial Hort. Societies : — Somersetshire, 



Somersetshire. — Bath Royal Horticultural and Floral Society. Dah- 

 lia Show. Sept. 17. The first object which met the view was a most sin- 

 gular figure on the right-hand lawn : it was that of a Mexican chief, holding 

 a basket of flowers: the whole figure was composed of dahlias, which, as our 

 readers well know, came originally from that country; and, difficult as the task 

 must have been, even the features of the countenance were very ingeniously 

 delineated. This figure exhibited not less than 150 varieties of the dahlias in 

 every imaginable tint, and of every gradation of size. A little beyond was the 

 branch of a tree of considerable size, the trunk, and every part, being also co- 

 vered with dahlias of an equal number of varieties, and equally diversified in 

 the colour and size of the flowers. These, together with two stands of dahlias, 

 comprising 100 varieties, were sent by Mr. Salter of Kensington Nursery ; whose 

 very numerous contributions of beautiful plants were at this, as at all pre- 

 ceding exhibitions, sent, not for prizes, but to aid and ornament the Society's 

 shows. A superb Erythrina Crista-galli, sent by J. Newby, Esq., of Upper 

 East Hayes, and a most brilliant scarlet egg plant, and a noble thunbergia, 

 trained upwards of 10 ft. high, sent by H. Nugent, Esq., were also much ad- 

 mired. There was also a numerous and brilliant collection of cut specimens 

 of zinnias (splendidly bright, and comprising many new varieties), German asters, 

 and dahlias, most liberally sent, for exhibition only, by Mr. Veitch of Exeter. 

 Among the other plants worthy of notice were, a large collection of beautiful 

 crinums, allowed to be remarkably fine ; cockscombs of prodigious size ; a 



superb Thunbergia leucantha, sent by Jarrett, Esq.,eLigenias, Ixora crocata 



in full flower, a great variety of egg plants with fruits of every hue and size, to- 

 gether with a remarkably fine basket of balsams, all sent by Batsford, Esq., 



of Weston Lane ; a great number of varieties of amaryllis, exquisitely beauti- 

 ful, by A. C. Boode, Esq., of Lucknam; and some very fine ericas, by A. Whit- 

 taker, Esq., of Frorae. .The fruit comprised pines of various sorts; the edible 

 passion flower (fruit and flower), of which superb specimens were sent by Mr. 

 Miller of Bristol; melons of every species and growth, some distinguished for 

 flavour, others for size, and others for the mode of culture (among the two 

 latter were the melo chamberi, of enormous size, and two others grown in a 

 cold frame, without any artificial heat whatever) ; plums of every sort, of which 

 the most striking were the " Fonthills," grown by Col. Houlton ; peaches, 

 nectarines, grapes cut and in pots, of various sorts; figs, pears, apples, cherries, 

 currants, filberts, Spanish nuts, tomatoes, capsicums, chilis, &c. The bloom and 

 freshness in the appearance of the fruit were heightened from the circumstance 

 of many of the dishes being garnished with the ice plant. The vegetables were 

 greatly admired ; also spinach (new sort) ; and among them we observed 

 O'xalis crenata. On the opposite side were specimens of the same description 

 of vegetables, together with some apples of enormous size, sent by the com- 

 petitors for the cottage prizes, which reflected the highest credit on their cul- 

 ture. A collection of botanical specimens, found in the neighbourhood of Bath, 

 was sent by Mr. Kitley of Pulteney Road. There was also an exhibition of 

 drawings of flowers, originals and copies, for which the Society this year had 

 decreed prizes, all which were allowed to possess great merit; but the first prize 

 was gained by Miss M. Rosenberg of Walcot Parade, for a cabbage leaf with 

 currants white and red, exquisitely painted (original). The second prize 

 was awarded to Mrs. H. St. John Maule, the lady of the honorary secretary, 

 for a highly finished drawing of a prize carnation (copy). Mr. King of the 

 market-place exhibited a number of tasteful, ingenious, and improved flower- 

 stands, garden chairs, garden implements, models of conservatories, green- 

 houses, hot-houses, &c. Mr. Smith of Union Passage also sent to the exhi- 

 bition specimens of various kinds of rustic chairs, garden seats, &c. {Bath and 

 Cheltenham Gazette, Sept. 22.) 



Taunton and West Somerset Horticultural Society. — May 13. The first 

 prize for exotic plants was awarded to R. M. King, Esq., for a " new plant 

 from New Zealand, of the Edwardsza genus ;" no doubt, the Clianthus puniceus. 



