HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
479 
IV.—SOCIETIES. 
SHEFFIELD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
On Wednesday the 25th of September, the last exhibition of the Sheffield Horticultural Soci¬ 
ety was held in the Music-Hall at that place, in the presence of the most numerous and res¬ 
pectable company ever witnessed on a similar occasion. The floral part of the show consisted of 
Dahlias, and a more extensive or superb collection has not, we believe, been brought together 
in any part of the country. The principal contributors were amateurs, resident in the town 
and neighbourhood, by whom most of the prizes were carried off. The greater part of the 
fruit and vegetables were from the gardens and conservatories of His Grace the Duke of De¬ 
vonshire, the Earl of Surrey, Earl Fitzwilliam, Lord Wharncliffe, and of the neighbouring 
gentry. The greatest rarity in fruits was an Ispahan melon from Chatsworth, the flavour of 
which was most delicious. The pines and grapes were particularly fine, and so were the chief 
part of the vegetables, especially the cucumbers, endive, celery, &c. There was a good collec¬ 
tion of choice greenhouse plants, but we have not space for particulars. The exhibition was a 
great improvement upon those of past years, and considering that the formation of the Society 
took place so recently as 1830, we were both surprized and gratified in witnessing its marked 
success. It is now able to compete with the first societies of a similar kind in the Kingdom , 
and we confidently anticipate a growing prosperity. The scene on entering the Hall was, on 
this occasion, most splendid and attractive, the general arrangement of the different articles 
was excellent, and the elegantly attired company were delighted by the presence of the West- 
Riding Yeomanry Band, in full uniform, playing favourite airs. After closing the exhibition, 
about eighty gentlemen, members and friends of the society, dined together at the Tontine Inn, 
under the presidency of the Right Hon. Lord Wharncliffe, who intimated that His Grace the 
Duke of Devonshire would have been present at the show, if not at the dinner, had his health 
permitted. The absence of Earl Fitzwilliam was occasioned by his having to preside over the 
meeting of a similar institution. Lord Wharncliffe was supported by Jno, Parker, Esq. M. P. 
and Dr. Younge, as Vice-Presidents. Amongst the company we observed, in addition to those 
already mentioned, the Hon. J. S. Wortley, H. Gaily Knight, Esq. Dr. Corbett, Dr. Milner, 
Col. Fenton, the Master Cutler, M. Ellison, Esq. and B. Hounsfield, Esq. The company did 
not separate until a late hour, and a more agreeable meeting we scarcely ever witnessed. We 
regret that our limits forbid us to give more than this brief and imperfect sketch of so interest¬ 
ing an event. 
V.—MONTHLY HORTICULTURAL CALENDAR. 
FOB OCTOBER. 
FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 
Apples should now be gathered in fine days, and carefully placed in the fruit room, packed 
in earthen jars and placed in a dry cellar, or pitted after the manner of potatoes. 
Cherry Trees , which have been infested during the summer with the black louse, Aphis 
Cerasi, should have a good syringing with a mixture of good soap-suds and tobacco-water, or 
the recipe recommended, p. 264, should be adopted. 
Fig Trees.— About the end of the month, Fig trees, on the open walls, may be pruned and 
nailed. Cut away all those old shoots that have gained the top of the wall, on purpose to give 
place to the last year’s shoots that are in the rear. 
Gooseberry and Cun-ant Trees may be pruned when the leaves have fallen. Leave a good 
supply of young wood from the bottom. 
Grapes. —Vines in pots being brought into the Vinery, will ripen their fruit in February. 
Those forced early, if the wood be ripe, should be exposed to the open air, to prepare them for 
forcing again. 
Peach and Nectarine Trees on the walls will begin to cast their leaves towards the end, 
and it will be an advantage slightly to brush them upwards with a small birch or ling 
wisk, to clear the leaves from the branches. Keep them close nailed to the wall this month, 
or they will be liable to be broken by the wind. If the wood be unripe, and the walls against 
which they are trained be flued, put in some tire to ripen the wood off, for on this depends the 
future crop. 
Planting. —Fruit Trees of all descriptions should be planted as early in the month as is con¬ 
venient, to establish them in their new situations before severe weather comes. After all 
the leaves have fallen, planting may cease until early in the spring. 
Raspberries. —Make new plantations of raspberries upon prepared ground, see page 395. 
Towards the end, manure the old stools. Pot a quantity for forcing, page 396. 
Strawberries, intended for forcing, should stand in a south aspect, if convenient. New beds 
may still be made, but it is better not to do this later than September; for when the plants are 
small and newly planted, the frost generally draws them out of the ground again. 
