206 
THE FLORIST. 
planted in baskets of soil, nnd started into growth in this tropical 
aquarium; then, as soon as they required more room, and the tempe¬ 
rature out of doors warm enough (the water was kept at about 80°), 
the baskets w’ere sunk in the places where they were intended to remain 
during the summer. 
“ There were many other points worthy of note in this garden, but 
time does not permit me to mention all. At the lower side of the 
garden was a terrace, overlooking the Spree, with its tall-masted 
shipping, the dome of the Schloss glittering in the distance. There were 
several beautiful fountains. There were some splendid standard 
Orange-trees, and some Portugal Laurels grown on the same plan, 
which looked even finer; and there was a standard Weeping Ash, the 
straight stem of which had been grafted at least thirty feet above the 
ground. I think, instead of writing more, the better plan would be to 
recommend all English lovers of gardening who should make an excur¬ 
sion to Berlin, to spare one afternoon (either on a Tuesday or Friday— 
the public days), for a visit to the garden of Herr Borsig at Moabit. 
There are omnibuses every hour, if a two-mile walk is thought too 
much beneath a Prussian sun ; I can assure them that they will not 
consider this the least pleasing way of spending a few holiday hours.” 
Delta. 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S OPENING 
FETE. 
The 5th of June having been appointed for the great inaugural fete of 
this society, the new gardens at South Kensington were formally opened 
by the President, H.R.H. the Prince Consort. The morning of the 
day did not give great promise of being fine, and during the forenoon a 
violent thunder-storm occurred, which deluged the ground wdth rain, 
but the whole passed away before the hour arrived at which the gates 
were to be opened for the admission of the public ; and the afternoon, 
though lowering at times, was dry, and enabled a large and highly 
distinguished company to visit the new gardens and the superb col¬ 
lections of horticultural skill which the occasion had collected together. 
From previous notices which had been issued by the society to 
the fellows and the public, before the day of meeting, they w^ere 
informed that the gardens would be in an unfinished state, a circum¬ 
stance we stated would be the case some time ago, after a personal 
visit; and although much—very much—has since then been done, yet 
there still appears to be a great amount of mason’s work to get through 
to complete the steps, fountains, canals, &c., and, so far as we could 
judge, the whole will not be finally finished before the autumn, when 
the general effect will-be more easily comprehended, and we therefore 
reserve our comments on the style and character of the gardens until 
that opportunity. 
To return to the exhibition : it contained, according to the best 
authorities on the subject, the finest specimens of plant and fruit culti¬ 
vation ever exhibited at one time. The new conservatory, or winter 
