OCTOBER. 
229 
white Grape was "White Nice (? Syrian), 11 lbs., 
from Mr. Fowler; Child of Hale, 8 lbs. 10 ozs., 
from Mr. Meredith, being second. For fla¬ 
vour, Duchess of Buccleuch and Muscat of 
Alexandria, from Mr. W. Thomson and Mr. 
Anderson, Torwoodlee, stood equal first 
among white kinds, and Muscat Hamburgh 
among the black. Pines were not remark¬ 
able either for number or size. A very large 
and handsome Queen, of 61 lbs., was shown 
by Mr. W. Thomson in a collection of fruit; 
also three fruiting plants in pots of Smooth¬ 
leaved Cayenne, with noble fruit, but not 
then ripe. Collections of fruit, consisting of 
twenty sorts, sixteen sorts, and six sorts, 
comprised several admirable exhibitions from 
Mr. W. Thomson, Mr. D. Thomson, Mr. Mel¬ 
ville, Dalmeny Park, and others; and among 
fruiterers Messrs. Carstairs and Mr. Brown, 
Edinburgh, contributed extensive collections. 
Of other fruit Melons, Peaches, Gooseberries, 
and Currants, Apples, and Pears, were well 
represented by numerous exhibitors. Among 
vegetables was a large and very productive 
Onion, from Mr. Stewart, gardener to the 
Bev. H. Vernon Harcourt, Nuneham Park. 
In the floral department of the show were 
good examples of Ferns and other ornamental- 
foliaged plants, Heaths, Fuchsias, and Gera¬ 
niums, together with some stove and green¬ 
house plants and Orchids. Among the latter 
was the rare Phalmnopsis Portei, with nearly 
twenty blooms. This was exhibited by Mr. 
Lees, Tynninghame, and was, we believe, 
sent to him by mistake for P. amabilis. In 
cut blooms Gladioli, from Messrs. Downie, 
Laird, & Laing, Messrs. Dickson, Newton- 
ards, Ireland, and Mr. Marshall, Sand House, 
Northumberland, were very fine, as were 
also Hollyhocks from Messrs. Downie & Co. 
Dahlias, both in the Nurserymen’s and Ama¬ 
teurs’ classes, were shown in great perfection. 
Messrs. Downie & Co.’s stand of twenty- 
four was remarkably fine, and consisted of 
Criterion, Anna Keynes, Harry, Alexandra, 
Baron Taunton, Willie Austin, Queen of 
Primroses, Favourite, Miss Henshaw, Lord 
Derby, Leah, Excelsior, Leopold, Delicata, 
Ne Plus Ultra, Miss Boberts, Imperial, Gari¬ 
baldi, Golden Admiration, Charlotte Dorling. 
Golden Gem, Scarlet Gem, Stella Colas, and 
Princess Alice. Mr. Harrison, Darlington, 
Mr. Thompson, Preston Tower, and Mr. 
Vair, Gogar Bank, likewise contributed ex¬ 
cellent blooms. Among miscellaneous sub¬ 
jects were cones of various Pinuses and other 
Coniferoe from Mr. Bobson, gardener to Vis¬ 
count Holmesdale, M.P., Linton Park, 
Staplehurst, and ornamental fruit of various 
kinds of Pyrus and Crataegus, from Messrs. 
Osborn, Fulham. 
In the evening a dinner, served in the first 
style, was given at the Douglas Hotel, St. 
Andrew’s Square, Sir William Gibson Craig, 
of Kiccarton, in the chair. About two hun¬ 
dred sat down, among whom were Messrs. 
W. Paul, Moore, Standish, Turner, H. Veitch, 
Fortune, Williams, Parker, and other English 
horticulturists. 
International Horticultural Exhibi¬ 
tion and Botanical Congress. —It affords 
us great pleasure to announce that her Ma¬ 
jesty the Queen has graciously signified her 
intention of becoming the Patroness of this 
important national undertaking, and has also 
subscribed the handsome sum of fifty guineas 
to the fund now forming in aid of carrying 
out the designs of the promoters. His Boyal 
Highness the Prince of Wales has also con¬ 
sented to become a Patron, and in earnest of 
his good wishes towards, and kindly interest 
in, the undertaking, has subscribed the sum 
of thirty pounds towards its realisation. 
With such distinguished patronage, backed 
as it is by generous public support, the 
scheme cannot fail to become a great success. 
[C. D., Leamington.—We may state that 
the schedule of prizes of the projected Inter¬ 
national Exhibition is already compiled, and 
that on a most liberal basis ; but it is waiting 
the fixture of the exact date for ho Iding the 
exhibition previous to being put into circula¬ 
tion. The fixture of the date is regulated by 
circumstances over which the promoters have 
no direct control. This also replies to the 
queries of It. IT., Eye, and W. Smith , Truro.] 
Directorship of Kew Gardens. — The 
appointment of Dr. Joseph D. Hooker to this 
important post will be received with general 
satisfaction. His great botanical attainments 
and the experience which he has gained in 
connection with these gardens, at once pointed 
him out as the most fitting successor to his 
father. 
Presentation to Mr. W. Thomson of 
Dalkeith. —On the occasion of the above 
Show, nine of those who had been foremen to 
Mr. Thomson, but are now head gardeners 
themselves, presented him with a testimonial 
of their regard in the shape of a very hand¬ 
some gold watch, on the back of which was 
this inscription—“ Presented to Mr. William 
Thomson, by nine of his late foremen.” 
Incorporated with the surrounding decoration, 
were the initials of the donors, who were— 
Mr. H. Bose, Floors Castle, N.B.; Mr. Dell, 
Stoke Bochford, Grantham; Mr. D. Brown, 
Corehouse, N.B.; Mr. John McIntosh, late 
of Baby Castle; Mr. W. Prentice, Shug- 
borough Hall, Bugeley; Mr. William Dick, 
Wynyard Park, Durham; Mr. James Mor¬ 
rison, Aucbincruive, N.B.; Mr. Harry Knight, 
Chateau Pontchartrain, near Paris ; Mr. John 
Simpson, Wortley Hall. The subscription 
was strictly confined to those who had served 
as Mr. Thomson’s foremen, though many 
others would gladly have availed themselves 
of the opportunity of joining in such a tribute 
of respect. 
