110 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 20. 
formed, capable of doing much good; and extended, if 
possible, 300 miles from the Metropolis.” 
We shall most readily co-operate, and shall be glad to 
receive the names of gentlemen who will aid in the 
formation of such a Society. 
Some time since wo noticed, very approvingly, Boyd’s 
Self-adjusting Scythe, but we suggested in a letter to its 
inventor, an improved grass-hook to add to it. We 
believe he adopted our suggestion, with some modi¬ 
fication, but this is now superseded by his “ grip ” 
movement, which is a great improvement. It can be 
used without any grass-hook, and yet be set firmly and 
to the greatest nicety. It is most simple, therefore, very 
cheap, yet it is very effectual. Every one who has a 
Boyd’s Scythe, should substitute this grip for the old 
one. 
A correspondent, J. K. T., says“ The first show 
for the season, of the Bath Horticultural Society, was 
held in Sydney Gardens, on Thursday, April 22nd. The 
show of plants was not so large as usual, owing to the 
absence of several of the principal exhibitors, but there 
were some splendid specimens shown. 
“ There was a fine Seedling Cineraria shown by Miss 
Baily; a very large and pure white, delicately edged with 
dark crimson. It is certainly the finest of its class. There 
was also another seedling shown by J. Jarrett, Esq., of a 
very deep violet; both obtained first-class certificates. The 
first prize for Rhubarb was gained by Mr. Shackel, for 
Myat’s Victoria, and it was far before every other sort shown, 
both as to size and colour. An improved Brocoli, shown by 
Mr. E. Lydeard, of Batlieaston, is certainly the best I ever 
saw, and it obtained the first prize. It is a very fine white 
kind; the three heads shown were very handsome and com¬ 
pact, and the colour pure as a cauliflower, and it grows to a 
large size, and quite protected from the frost by the leaves. 
It is called the Improved Mammoth. Mr. Lydeard has the 
whole stock of it, and is going to send it out this spring. 
He told me that the seed must not be sown till the 20th of 
May, It is worthy of a place in every garden. I again saw 
upwards of fifty heads in Bath market on Saturday last, and 
it maintains its character. A noteable feature in the pro¬ 
ceedings was the. admission, for the first time (at 3d. each), 
ot the working classes to a participation in the pleasures and 
benefits of the show. At the Trowbridge Show, held last 
year, upwards of two thousand of the working classes 
visited the show, and it was pleasing to see the delight with 
which they viewed the productions, and they kept the best of 
order, and the flowers and fruit were as safe and untouched 
as they were in the early part of the day. The Trowbridge 
Society was the first to admit the working classes at a low 
price to the exhibitions, and other societies are following 
their good example.” 
We are very much pleased to learn, that The Ento¬ 
mological Society of London have agreed to offer a 
Prise of fice guineas for the lest Essay on the longevity 
oj the different lands of Bees in the Hive —workers, 
drones, and queens. 
1 he various questions, both physiological and practical, 
involved in this enquiry, which it is desirous to solve, have 
appeared proper subjects for the Society to adopt for one of 
! their series of prize Essays. The Essay must, of course, 
present the results of original experiments and observations 
\ on the subject, commencing at the period of the deposition 
| of the different kinds of eggs. The practical questions as 
to the number of years to which hives ought to be allowed 
to stand, and the advisability of retaining stocks or swarms, 
m case it should be necessary to destroy a portion of the 
hives, are also especially to be made the subject of the 
Essay. The Essays are to be sent in to the Society (17, 
Old Bond-street) on or before the 31st of December next, 
each with a motto corresponding with that endorsed upon a 
sealed letter enclosing the real name of the writer. 
At The Exhibition of the Royal Agricultural Society, 
at Lewes, in the week commencing on Monday the 12th 
July, of the present year, in order that cottagers may bo 
enabled to compete in exhibiting poultry, it has been 
liberally decided to admit poultry on payment of two- 
sliillings-and-sixpence for the certificate, instead of ten 
shillings, as in the case of four-footed animals. 
It has been noticed above, that The Trowbridge 
Horticultural Society were the first to set the excellent 
example of admitting cottagers aud others of that class 
to see the Society’s Show, at a very low charge for ad¬ 
mission ; w r e have also to notice the liberality of the 
prizes at the Society’s third Grand Exhibition open to 
all England, which takes place on the 25th of August 
next. These prizes amount to nearly one-hundred-and 
twenty pounds. The prizes embrace all kinds of 
garden produce, from a nosegay to orchids, and from 
potatoes to pine-apples. 
The following is a list of the Horticultural and 
Poultry Shows of which we arc at present aware. We 
shall be obliged by any of our readers sending us ad¬ 
ditions to the list, and giving the address of the Se¬ 
cretaries. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. • 
Barton-upon-Humber. First show 14th July {Sec. C. 
Ball.) 
Botanic (Royal), June 0, 30. 
Caledonian (Inverleith Row), Edinburgh, June 3, Aug. 7, 
Sept. 2, Dec. 2. 
Cheltenham, May 13, June 15, Aug. 20. 
Clapham, July 8, Sept. 11. 
Chiswick, June 12, July 10. 
Colchestee and East Essex, May 26, at Mr. B. R. Cant's 
Nursery; June 23, at Mr. J. Taylor’s, West Lodge, Lexdon 
Road; Sept. 8, at the Rev. T. Round’s grounds, Holly 
Trees, All Saints. 
Deeby, May 26, Aug. 4. 
Dueham, June 10, Sept. 8. 
Eoefaeshiee (Eastekn), June 0 (Forfar) ; July 21 (Bre¬ 
chin) ; Sept. 15 (Arbroath). 
Guildeoed, June 16 (Millmead House). 
Hampshire, July 1 (Winchester), Sept. 0 (Southampton), 
Nov. 18 (Winchester). {See. Rev. F. Wickham, Win¬ 
chester.) 
Hexham, Sept. 15,10. 
Hull, May 27, June 24, Aug. 4, Sept. 10. 
Kirkcaldy (Fifeshire), June 24, Sept. 9. 
Lincoln, May 25, July 27, Sept. 14. 
Liverpool, May 20, June 24, Sept. 2 (Botanic Garden). 
London Floricultural (Exeter Hall, Strand), May 25, 
Juno 8+, 22, July 13+, 27, Aug. 10+, 24, Sept. 14+, 
28, Oct. 12+, Nov. 9+, 23, Dec. 14+. 
Mid Calder (Parish school-room), July 9, Sept. 10. 
National Tulit Society, May 27 (Birmingham). 
North London, Sept. 14; Nov. 23, Chrysanthemum. 
Northampton, May 25, Tulip ; June 29, Rose and Pink ; 
July 27, Carnation; Sept. 27, Dahlia. 
Oxfordshire (Royal), May 25 ; June 23; July 29; Sept. 
23. {Secs., C. Tawney, and W. Undershell, Esqrs.) 
South Devon Botanical and Horticultural, J uly 13; 
Sept. 7. {Sec. J. Cree Hancock, Esq., Stonehouse.) 
South London (Royal) May 20, June 17+, 23, July 
15+, 21, Aug. 19+, Sept. 2+, 8, Oct. 14+, Nov. 11+, 
Dec. 9+, 10. 
Shacklewell, Sept. 1. 
