334 
Horticultural and Floricultural Societies. 
^ DEVON AND EXETER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Ninth Exhibition of this Sr^iety, took place on Sept. 30th, at Con^rdon’s Public Room.s, 
Exeter. The Room was most gorgeous, and at the same time the arrangement highly tasteful; 
here the Crinum amabile; the Zaraia lanuginosa, (a native of Southern Africa, and considered 
more than 100 years old); the Ficus ela.sticus, or Iiidian-Ruhber Plant; the Psidium cate- 
leyanum, or Purple Giiava. with fruit just ripening on its branches; the .lacaranda mimosi- 
folia; Canna bicolor; Acacia pubescens; Buonapartea juncea ; Salvia splendens; Polygala 
grandiflora ; Pyrethnuu ulgiuosum; the superb Plantain; the noble flowering Cactus, and 
others, towered over all;—while sheltered hut not hid by their spacious branches, ami well 
disposed, were the .splendid Allamauda eatliartica; Plumbago Capensis; Hoyacarnosa; Salvia 
pseudo-coccinea; Nyctcrium araazonium; Crinum Americanum ; Ipomo'a insignis; .Amaryllis 
grandiflora; Nerium carneum ; Plilox autumnale; Aconitvm Japonicum; Erythrolsena cou- 
spicua; Ageratum coelestina; Chelone atropurpurea; Rudbeckia Newmaiuiia; Lant.'uia 
Bc.abrida; Gesneria bullxtsa; Dracaiua terminal's; Solanura Balbisii; Cycas revoluta; Salvia 
fulva, and involucrata; Crassula obliqua, and falcata; several beautiful specimens of Gloxinia 
caulescens; Corrrna spetiosa; Camellia timlfriatum; Dichorizandra thyrsifolia; Trichomcr.e 
coerulea; Pentstemon Richardsouia; Aster patens; Tagetus lucida; Gentiana Saponaria; Lia- 
tris squarrosa; &c. Most Judiciously intermixed, were the creeping tribes, as the Thunbergia 
alata, &c. To these must be added specimens of the Pancratium littorale; and then came in 
rich though dwarfish beauty, the Fa.ssiflora coccinea; Stapelia glauca; Punicanana; Fuchsia 
microphylla, and macro.steinon; Ha;manthus puniceus; unequalled specimens of the Egg- 
Plant, from the gardens of Wearman Gifibrd, Esq.; an exquisite specimen of the Calceolaria 
diffusa; from Pince & Co.; &c. &c. Of hardy perennials, Mr. Booth and Mr. Gifford, had 
resplendent shows; and in bulbs, it is imagined that Mr. Booth has scarcely been surp;issed, 
his seedling Amaryllises in pots, eight or nine in number, being pronounced by all, to hear the 
palm from anything of the kind they haiLever before seen. There was also tlie odorous Rosa 
Indica, or China Rose,—a bouquet of roses from which plant was exhibited by Lucombe, Pince, 
and Co,, before the Society, in April, and from which a bud or two has been cut every day since 
that period. In Dahlias or Georginas, there never was a more resplendent show; Dyinond & 
Co. had them worked intqa gorgeous crown^ (the ermine at the base being admirably imitated 
by the manner in which the white and violet-coloured Dahlias were interwoven) an anchor also, 
and a star, were formed in a similar way. Mr. C. Sclater had an immense anchor formed in this 
manner; Booth, a crown; Veitch, crown and rich stars; Lucombe &, Co., a most massive 
crown, with the letters “W. A.’’ “ Pince & Co.’’ &c. in the composing of which 0000 of these 
beautiful flowers had been used; Morris, of Tor, near Torquay, stars, crown, &c. These 
principally occupied the side walls, and gave a .singular appearance to the whole. 
The Fruits were very fine;—of the Citrus tribe, particularly so. The Grapes in rich luxuri¬ 
ance, and the wines of home manufacture, from grapes grown in the open air, most delicious. 
All other varieties of Fmit were presented in rich abundance; these, as well as the noble display 
of vegetables, both from the cottagers’ and noblemen’s and gentlemen’s gardens, show, i n a way 
not to be mistaken, that this excellent Society, has been the means of giving an impulse, that 
will in the end, tell most largely and b-eneficially for man. 
The orchestra was filled by a band of musicians, whose performances greatly enlivened the 
scene. The room was crowded with gentry, and John Beaumont Swete, Esq. of Oxton-Hon.se, 
was called to the Chair. In his address to the company, he said, it must be matter of pleasing 
congratulation to them all, that in the exhibition tliat day, there was abundant proof of the 
interest which cottagers began to feel in Horticultural pursuits. How much might be done in 
this way many were impressed with, and what they saw before them was no slight proof of the 
correctness of the reasoning. He did, therefore, hope that all would, in their respective neigh¬ 
bourhoods, stir up and excite the labouring poor to exertions in this way, by making it appa¬ 
rent to them that not only would the comforts of themselves and their families be increased, and 
their dwellings rendered far more ornamental but that they would also hold up to them the 
sweet and cheering hope of countenance, and even reward, for their efforts. Of the stimulating 
nature of reward, they had more and more abundant proof every time the Society met, and par¬ 
ticularly in the rich di.splay now before them. 
Mr.Gidley, read the list ot prizesj as awarded by the judges. 
HULL FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Sixth Meeting of this institution, for the season, was held on Thursday, October 6th, for 
the exhibition of Dahlias, China-asters, French and African Marygolds Greenhouse Plants, 
Bouquets, Apples, Celery. &c. This was the last exhibition for the year, and a truly noble 
conclusion of the Floral and Horticultural efforts of the Members of the Society it was, for the 
season. The Dahlia is in this country, rather a modern flower. These Societies have given a 
stimulus to its cultivation, and w'e are sure that those who have .seen the perfection, both in 
colour and formation, to which it has been brought in Hull, cannot for one moment doubt that 
this Society de.serve8 both credit and patronage. The same observations will apply to many 
other species of flowers. Their natures and habits have been carefully and sncces.sfully studied, 
and each successive Show has manifested improvement in brilliancy and distinctness of colour, 
as well as in elegance of structure. The taste for Horticulture is daily increasing, and we shall 
not be surprised to learn, in a year or two, that the ungenial soil of tlie neighbourhood has been 
converted into a matrix for vegetables that will vie with those of the finest .soils. Emul.ation 
works wonders. It is operating most advantageously here at pre.sent. and only wants tlie coun¬ 
tenance of the higher classes, to render it efficient in making the district round Hull, a garden 
])rofnse in vegetable productions, as beautiful and useful as any district in the kingdom. The 
exhibition of Fruits, on ttie pre.sent occasion, was magnificent, especially the Apples. 
