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THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE, 
nets over fruit busliea to keep oiF the birds, and give a little shade 
to keep a few bunches hanging for a late supply. Pat wasp-trapa 
about vines and peaches. INail in all good shoots on wall trees, 
that they may have the heat of the wall to ripen them. Encourao« 
in every possible way the ripening of the wood of the season. If any 
trees have been allowed to become crowded, thin them a little now 
to admit the sunshine amongst the well-placed shoots and spurs. 
AVindfalls to be sent into the house every morning for immediate 
use. Grather fruit in drj'- weather, and, as a rule, not till quite ripe. 
Plant strawberries where it is desired to form new beds ; lift the 
runners carefully, and after they are planted keep them well watered 
until they are nicely established. 
HORTICULTURAL APFAIRS. 
P^^^FOYAL horticultural society. — ExHrBTTiow op Pelargo- 
3 ^0^1 NitJMS, July 16 and 17 . — Upon this occasion the Societ}' offered prizes 
3 for collections of specimen zonal, nosegay, and {told, silver, and bronze 
zonal Pelargoniums, and in addition to these prizes were also offei-ed as 
follows : — By Dr. Denny, for varieties raised by himself, and distri- 
buted by Mr. W. Paul ; by Mr. George, of Putney, and Mr. Smith, of Tollington 
Park, for varieties raised by Mr. George ; by Mr. Pearson, of Chilwell, for varieties 
raised by himself ; and by Mr. II. Cannell, Station Road, Woolwich, for varieties 
not in commerce. The piLzes in all the classes were exceedingly well contested, 
and consequently all the classes for zonal ptJargoniums were well represented. 
Tire specimens staged in the principal collections were exceedingly good, and alto- 
gether it was the most successful and thoroughly representative affair of its kind 
that has yet been held, and a number of remarkably fine sorts were exhibited. 
Royai, Botanic Society, July 8. — The exliibition held in the gardens of this 
society on the above-mentioned date was very poor. Tiie table decorations were 
very good, and a few respectable collections of plants were shown. In connection 
with the exhibition an evening fete was held. The latter was well attended, and 
was unquestionably one of the prettiest sights yet witnessed in the metropolis. 'The 
weather was fine throughout, and not too warm, and th&fite was, as a whole, and 
in every particular, thoroughly successful. The gardens were brilliaBtlv illumi- 
nated with thousands of small oil-lamps, which were placed round the flower-beds 
and ornamental vases, and in every conceivable position throughout the grounds. 
From the anemometer tower on the mound Gramm s patent light, which h.as been 
recently tried at the Houses of Parliament, gave a most powerful illumination, while 
from seven other prominent parts of the gardens electric lights were displayed. At 
intervals the gardens were further illuminated by magnesium lights and various 
coloured fires, and at these periods the scene was the prettiest imaginable. Experi- 
ments with electric lights were also exhibited in the course of the evening in the 
summer-house near the principal gate, and Holmes’ patent danger signalswere prac- 
tically shown on the lake. The conservatory at the end of the principal avenue was 
lit up with magnesium burneis from the outside and with oil-lamps of varied colours 
within, and ia front was a dais for the President and the Uuebess of Tetk and their 
friends. 
The Rose Shows. — The exhibitions of roses held in various parts of the country 
during the season have been quite up to the average of former years. The earliest 
exhibitions, which were held at Bath and the Crystal Palace, were not so good as 
usual, for the flowers appeared to he wanting in substance, and the lighter varieties 
lacked freshness. At the exhibitions at Hereford, Oxford, Frome, and more espe- 
cially at that held in the Gardens of the Royal Horficultural Society, the majority 
of the blooms staged were remarkably good. Indeed the finest blooms at South 
Kensington have probably never been surpassed. To give a repoit of each of the' 
exhibitions in detail would occupy more space than can possibly be spared, and 
