4 
THE FLORIST. 
the general visitor, must be abandoned. Some very pertinent remarks 
on this subject will be found at page 239 of our last year’s volume, 
and we hope to see something done this ensuing season towards breaking 
up the old system of exhibiting, towards which, indeed, the Royal 
Botanic Society have already taken steps (as we understand), and we 
refer the subject to the consideration of Messrs. Eyles and M‘Ewen, 
who have the arrangements of the Crystal Palace and Horticultural 
Society’s shows. 
If the metropolitan exhibitions have kept good their ground, local 
exhibitions have manifestly progressed. At Manchester, where large 
horticultural exhibitions have been held this last year, influenced in 
some degree by the Fine Arts Exhibition at the same place, we were 
surprised at the number of well cultivated plants furnished by growers 
in the neighbourhood. The liberal prizes offered at these exhibitions 
induced some of the London growers to send their plants, and contri¬ 
butions not for competition were sent from Exeter by Messrs. Pince, 
and Veitch and Son, which made the great exhibition worthy of the 
capital of the manufacturing districts, and must have proved a source 
of congratulation to the very liberal council who conducted them to 
such a successful termination. 
Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Salisbury, Handsworth, Here¬ 
ford, Bishop Auckland, Colchester, Norwich, Clilton, Reading, &c., have 
each a horticultural society, most of which are flourishing, and 
effecting a vast amount of good by encouraging plant and fruit culti¬ 
vation. Indeed, we may say the above and the other numerous local 
societies throughout the country form so many centres around which— 
owing to the example set by their promoters—a widely increasing taste 
for the cultivation of flowers and garden produce is growing up. Nor 
should we at this stage of our notice forget the important change these 
societies have made in cottage garden culture by offering prizes for 
their productions. Of all the means suggested for improving the cotter’s 
position and increasing his comforts and resources, none offers so 
completely to realise this good work as that of offering an inducement 
through the exercise of his industry and skill, to benefit himself by 
means which bind him more closely to his home. 
In Scotland and Ireland there has been no lack of energy and 
progress. The numerous horticultural societies have helped to bring 
about this cheering state of things. In the latter country, the Royal 
Horticultural Society of Dublin must be congratulated for the high 
position it has held, and for the good it has done. In Scotland, our 
friends have worked successfully to the same end, with a less favour¬ 
able climate, as must be admitted by those who have witnessed the 
beautiful and interesting productions at the several great exhibitions of 
horticultural and floricultural produce. Of Ireland, we may here 
observe that, in time, we expect to see great things from her fine 
climate and fertile soil, more particularly as regards the middle and 
southern parts of the island. We know the suitability of her climate 
for the production of our best kinds of fruits and vegetables, having 
witnessed such Peaches, Apricots, and Pears in Ireland as we believe 
