AUGUST. 
247 
We may take this opportunity of remarking that the show of 
implements and other manufactured articles held in connection with 
the June display of plants and fruit at Chiswick was extremely 
interesting, and perfectly successful. Neat examples of glass 
houses were furnished by several of the principal builders of such 
erections; boilers and heating apparatuses were numerous ; garden 
engines; liquid manure distributors and syringes were present in every 
possible shape; and of ordinary garden tools there were large collections. 
Four or five firms showed mowing machines, a trial of which ended 
in favour of Messrs. Green’s, of Leeds ; and among transplanting 
apparatus Mr. McGlashan exhibited his now well-known ingenious 
appliances. Nor were garden seats, vases, fountains, aqaria, and things of 
an ornamental description omitted; on the contrary, these were present 
in abundance, as were also pumps, tents, protecting material, and 
wire-work. Of all these, and of many more things not here enume¬ 
rated, we had intended to have furnished a lengthened account this 
month; the publicity, however, which has already been given to this 
department of the exhibition, not only in the shape of a special catalogue 
on the subject published by the Society, but also through the columns 
of our weekly contemporaries, has led us to believe that any such 
account given now could only be in a great measure a repetition of 
matters with which our readers are already familiar; we therefore 
prefer reserving the limited space at our command for other subjects of 
a more pressing character. Permit us, however, to mention one 
article alike useful to the amateur and gentleman’s gardener, viz., the 
Canterbury hoe. This is a three-tined drag hoe, with a head about 
six inches square, and a handle four feet six inches in length. It is a 
clean working tool, which for stirring the soil among growing crops 
must be found of the utmost service. It is, in short, an implement 
that cannot be too highly recommended. This was shown by Mr. 
Thornton, of Turnham Green. 
WHY ARE NOT AMERICAN PLANTS MORE GENERALLY 
GROWN ? 
I ASK the question, for I see but comparatively small numbers of them 
planted. Perhaps, however, I may be misunderstood by using the 
word American plants, for my present question has reference only to 
the Rhododendron, and of those only to two species and their varieties, 
viz., ponticum and catawbiense. I will, therefore, if you please, Mr. 
Editor, put in claim for these two, and particularly for the ponticum,' 
which I believe to be the most really useful evergreen ornamental plant 
we have, and I should like to see it growing in every wood, plantation, 
and shrubbery in the three kingdoms, as frequently as the Laurel, to 
which I contend it is a superior plant, hardier, easier to keep in order, 
and very nearly as cheap at first cost. 
Is it that there still lingers an opinion that these bog plants, as they 
are sometimes called, will not grow without bog, peat, or heath soil ? I 
expect there is, for on my recommending a gentleman the other day to 
