474 Foreign Notices: — Australia. 



every where else ; and, whether it be a taste for flowers, the establishment of 

 railroads, or a desire for post-office reform, it is speedily echoed throughout 

 the whole civilised world. We cannot help here participating in the regret 

 expressed by the writer in the Sydney newspaper, that our esteemed friend, 

 Alexander M'Leay, Esq., F. L. S., is not at the head of this Society. Surely 

 there can be no greater friend in Australia to botany and horticulture, both 

 theoretically and by example, than Mr. M'Leay. 



We give the article exactly as it stands in the Sydney Monitor ; but, in 

 future, we shall, of course, abridge accounts of this kind : — 



If the Floral Society has not, as we understand is the case, exceeded all 

 expectation in its rapid increase, the present half-yearly show-meeting certainly 

 has. And, as in human affairs, you cannot stand still, but must either go for- 

 wards or backwards, the managers of this Society must do more for the crowd- 

 ing visitors the next half year, than they were either prepared or able to do at 

 the late show. 



The saloon of the Royal Hotel is large enough, but the show-tables must not 

 be placed any more in the centre of the room. Boards covered with green 

 baize (not too wide) must be arranged next the walls around the room, at the 

 next show, and in the recesses of the windows ; and on these must be placed 

 the flowers and fruits. The centre of the room will then be free for the com- 

 pany to move about in, freely and without fatigue. On Wednesday you could 

 not move with ladies without great trouble ; and the weather being hot, elbow- 

 ing your way was fatiguing to ladies. Many, therefore, took but a slight view 

 of one side of the show-tables, and not finding seats left. It was, indeed, 

 necessary that many should thus leave early, in order to make room for the 

 crowds which poured in about twelve o'clock. 



The colonial wines should not be introduced at the February show. It is 

 too hot to taste them. The spring show is the best time for tasting our 

 colonial wines. The corks, too, of the sample bottles should all be ready 

 drawn, and plenty of wine glasses should be at hand. Two of the committee 

 (elders) should be in attendance on the sample bottles. The gentlemen of 

 the committee should all be in attendance with ribbons at their coat breasts, 

 wands of office in their hands, and devote themselves to the business of the 

 day, and facilitate the intention and objects of the meeting, especially in seeing 

 that the ladies are accommodated with seats, and in all other respects. All 

 the fruits and flowers should have labels inscribed in a legible hand, with 

 the name of the fruit or flower, and the name of the grower. Without the 

 grower's name, it is nothing. 



For want of knowing the names of the growers, as well as the names of the 

 fruits and flowers, the greater portion of the interest and pleasure of such 

 a show is lost. To see a beautiful and surpassing fruit or flower, is instantly 

 followed by three questions, — what is the name? who grew it? where did it 

 come from ? The grapes should be distinguished on the labels, between wine 

 grapes and table grapes. 



In short, as the public is evidently desirous to patronise these shows, and to 

 attend them in great numbers, such desire on their part must be met by corre- 

 sponding trouble and expense on the part of the Society. 



The stewards for the day should comprise a dozen youths of from 15 to 18 

 years of age. They could be got from the schools and colleges. These 

 should be constituted the stewards for the day, subject, however, to the advice 

 and direction of two gentlemen, of at least twice their age, and as much older 

 as may be. A dozen youths, of good manners, should thus take charge of the 

 fruits and flowers, and answer the interrogations of the company. Such a 

 duty, with a corresponding dress, and the wand of office, would be an object 

 of an innocent, if not laudable, ambition of our college students. It is a 

 national object, and worth a holiday. Previously to opening the doors, each 

 youth should be at his post, and each should have a portion of the covered 

 table allotted to his particular superintendance. Each youthful steward 

 should be perfectly master of the names of the fruits or flowers under his 



