SEPTEMBER 



111 



Smooth Cayenne, and Brown Antigua. Mi-. Robinson, gardener to R. Benyon, Esq., Reading, 

 was first with a Providence Pine. Second, Mr. R. Smith, of Liverpool. With a fruit of 

 Queen Pine, Mr. Williams, of Whitehaven Castle, was first ; and Mr. Robinson and Mr. 

 Tillyard equal second. A good quantity of Melons were staged, both large and small ; many 

 of them were unnamed. Prizes were offered for Green and Scarlet-fleshed varieties. Mr. 

 Bailey was first with a King's Green-flesh, and Mr. Tegg second with one of a similar 

 character. Mr. Bailey was also first with Scarlet Gem. Mr. Hill, gardener to R. Sneyd, 

 Esq., was first with three bunches of Grapes — viz., Black Prince, Buckland Sweetwater, and 

 Black Hamburgh. Second, Mr. J. Embery, gardener to A. Moss, Esq., with Muscat of 

 Alexandria, Cannon Hall, Muscat, and Black Hamburgh. With 12 lbs. weight, Mr. Hen- 

 derson, Coleorton Hall, was first with Black Hamburghs ; second. Mr. W. Mead with the 

 same — both very fine and well ripened. Single dishes of Black Hamburghs, Black Prince, 

 and West's St. Peter's, were also shown well, as well as White Muscats, there being splendid 

 examples of the latter. In the classes for new Grapes, Mr. Standish had " Gros Colmar," 

 having very large black berries ; it will hang a long time after it is ripe. Mr. Constantino, 

 of Hiningden, had a white-berried variety named " Cavoush," stated, to be a free grower, 

 coming in a little later than Black Hamburgh, and succeeding in nearly the same tempera- 

 ture. The finest Peaches were Royal George and Galande ; and there were also fine fruit of 

 Elruge and Violette Hative Nectarines. Mr. J. Monroe was first with two dishes each of 

 Peaches and Nectarines, and Mr. S, Snow, Wrest Park, with one dish of each. Mr. Tillyard 

 had a dish of Plums, Mr. S. Snow a dish of Pigs ; and Cherries came from several exhibitors. 

 Mr. T. Bailey and Mr. Turner were both first with four dishes of Strawberries; Messrs. 

 Lydiard, of Bath, and Tillyard also showed in this class. There were fine fruit of Erogmore 

 Late Pine, Rifleman, Oscar, Sir C. Napier, Sir Harry, British Queen, Wonderful, and Eleanor. 

 Mr. Ingram, of Erogmore, also had a box of his seedling Strawberry John PoweU. 



The report of the J une Exhibition here should have contained a few words respecting the 

 fine exhibition of Rhododendrons contributed by Mr. John Waterer, of Bagshot. When 

 seen the first week in June they were at their best, and well repaid a visit. A tent filled 

 with Belgian Azaleas of all shades of gay colours, from snow white to crimson, was the 

 avenue of approach to the American tent, filled with the choicest specimens of this splendid 

 flower. There was the most delicate blush tinged with elaborate pencillings ; and then came 

 increasing depth of cokrar, till were seen vivid crimson flowers that glowed with a brilliancy 

 of colour, to which the subdued light of the monster tent seemed to impart a richness a 

 brighter glare would have neutralised. All is over now tiR next season — a farewell to the 

 exhibitions at the Regent's Park. Quo. 



AN AMERICAN PEACH ORCHARD. 



The 23rd August being a clear fine day, such as we consider in this countij reasonable, 

 thermometer about 90", I took the steamer early in the morning from this city to Alexandria, 

 seven miles farther down on the opposite (Vh-ginian) shore. The sail was delightful and 

 refreshing, the noble river being calm and placid, whilst the scenery on its b inks was ever 

 beautiful. Arrived at Alexandria, I again recrossed the river to the Maryland shore, when, 

 after a drive of about two miles, I reached the residence of my friend, Dr. John B. Kirby. 

 The house is on a moderate hill, the ground, from which gently undulates into the valleys on 

 either side; from it were enchanting views of the majestic Potomac meandering to the ocean, 

 the scenery on whose banks was most enchanting; but I must not digress too much. But to 

 return to the object of my visit — an inspection of his Peach orchard. The latter stood on the 

 sloping ground, west and north-west of his house, and must contain several thousand trees. On 

 entering this orchard I am free to say that I considered the view before me one of the most 

 beautiful my eyes ever rested upon in the way of fruit. Readers, you who have seen superb 

 Peaches grown on the garden walls of Old England, trained, pruned, or attended with care, or it 

 may be some Peaches grown in pots or in Peach-houses, stand with me for a moment in 

 imagination on the_ elevated ground in the orchard, and look down upon its thousand trees 

 fairly breaking, splitting under their weight of luscious fruit. Here are trees bending under 

 their weight of golden fruits ; these are Melacoton or yellow-fleshed Peaches. In front of us 

 are trees bearing fruit, with cheeks of brilliant crimson ; these are white-fleshed Peaches, 

 both freestone and cling, as G-eorge the Fourth, Old Mixon, clings. And on the other side 

 are varieties that have not attained maturity ; some are clings, as White Heath, Large White 

 Clings, with the late freestone Peaches, as Smock's Free, Reeve's Late, &c. The reader will 

 bear in mind that this region is eminently a land of Peaches. True it is that Peaches are largely 

 grown in some of the Northern States. New Jersey has long been celebrated for its crops of 

 this fruit shipped to New York and Philadelphia ; but the fruit is not so fine as Avhat are 

 grown in the States south of it. Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina are 



