THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— June 24,1856. 
228 
our own girls? AVas ever friend or visitor offered anything 
so acceptable ? AVas ever mamma so proud ? was ever 
papa so well pleased ? I fancy I see the little merry hearts 
glowing with health and pleasure, shouting and laughing, 
and all eager for their turn at the handle of their “own” 
little churn. Of course this business would require to he 
properly gone about. There should be a time-keeper, so 
that all might have their full share of the fun ; then one of 
the young ladies should be appointed judge as to when the 
butter was really made, and ready to be taken out,mamma only 
acting as court of appeal in case of any difficulty or tech¬ 
nical objection arising. Now then, girls, for a game at 
churning butter! 
Before concluding this subject, it may be worth while just 
to mention, that some years ago I saw in Drummond’s Agri¬ 
cultural Musuem in Stirling an ingenious contrivance for 
churning without that which is commonly called manual 
labour; for, in reality, the butter was churned by a dog, that 
merely kept moving his feet, and giving his body a slight 
inclination forwards, yet always remaining in the same spot. 
This dog was a large docile creature, kept harnessed to the 
machine, and always ready to go through his performance 
when required. 
I think, therefore, that the ordinary modes of churning 
might he much improved upon. Perhaps one of the most 
economical ways of getting the work done would he to con¬ 
nect the churn to the rocking-horse, the swing, or the see¬ 
saw plank, and in such a way as to be detached at pleasure. 
I do not suppose that there is any mechanical difficulty in 
the way. Churning is a tedious process when other work is 
urgent; but where there is a rocking-horse or a see saw, my 
young friends would be pretty certain to save you all trouble if 
this hint was acted on. It is sometimes easy enough having 
our bread buttered on both sides. Just think of the quan¬ 
tity of butter and butter-milk that might be turned out in 
this way by those people who keep hobby-horses on the 
windlass principle in all the public places of open air amuse¬ 
ments here. Really, if I were disposed to speculate and 
open up a new source of agricultural prosperity, this would 
be my choice:—Children, rocking-horses, see-saw, swing, 
churns, butter, bread, mangold wurtzel, and short horns! 
All related by easy gradations, and depending on one ano¬ 
ther. May we not look forward to the day when the nur¬ 
sery appendages in question will form a valuable addition 
to our list of agricultural implements? 
I heg to recommend this subject for the consideration of 
Mrs. Mary AVedlake, Mr. Clayton, and all others who take 
an interest in agricultural improvements.—P. F. Keir. 
April 10. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY’S SHOAV. 
The second Exhibition of the Royal Botanic Society was 
held in the Gardens, Regent’s Park, on AVednesday, the 18th 
inst., and if a profusion of flowers, fruit, and fashion be an 
indication of success, there was nothing wanting of either. 
I In the early part of the day it was feared that Her Majesty's 
ball on the previous night would prevent many of the 
j nobility from being present; but whether from the fineness 
; of the day, or the expected pleasure to be derived, a great 
many of the higher classes were early in attendance. AVe 
observed the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess 
Mary, the Countess of Neuilly (ex-Queen of the French), 
the Duke and Duchess of Nemours, Trince and Princess 
Joinville and family, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, 
the Duchess of Marlborough and Sir Walter Stirling, the 
Marchioness of Clanricarde, Earl and Countess AValdegrave, 
Earl of Ellesmere, Earl and Countess Craven, Earl For- 
tescue, the Countess of Essex, the Bishops of AVinchester 
and St. Asaph, and many of the nobility. Although the 
opening of the great Crystal Palace fountains was announced 
for the same day, the attraction at the Royal Botanic was so 
great, as to draw between 8,000 and 10,000 of the elite of 
the town. 
The Exhibition was held, as usual, in the large tent which 
is appropriated for the purpose, and there can be no doubt 
that the ground so skilfully and artistically arranged by 
Mr. IMarnock, by means of which every single plant is 
viewed perfectly, and the vast whole forms a luxurious 
coup-d'ceil, is the most suitable exhibition ground which 
has yet been contrived. The Orchids, Pelargoniums, 
Fuchsias, Roses, Ericas, and other stove and greenhouse 
plants were magnificent; to particularise would occupy 
more space than we can afford, and we shall, therefore, con¬ 
fine ourselves to noticing some of the most attractive. 
In Orchids the extra Gold Medal was awarded to Mr. 
Gedney, gardener to Mrs. Ellis, of Hoddesden, for the best 
twenty; and Mr. AVoolley, gardener to H. B. Ker, Esq., of 
Cheshunt, was second. For the best twelve, Mr. Ifeele, 
gardener to J. Butler, Esq., of AVoolwich, was first; among 
which we noticed very excellent specimens of a variety of 
Cattleya Mossite, Dendrobium tortile, with a sulphur-coloured, 
trumpet-shaped lip; Leelia cinnabarina, and another very 
fine variety of Cattleya Mossiie. The second prize was 
obtained by Mr. Clark, gardener to C. Webb, Esq., Hod¬ 
desden. For the best six, Mr. Grix, gardener to A. Palmer, 
Esq., of Clieam, was most successful with Aerides odoratum, 
Dendrobiiim unbile, Oncidium flexuosum, Aerides crispvm, and 
Maxillaria tenui/olia, all of which were admirably grown. 
Tlie Stove and Greenhouse Plants were splendidly grown, 
those of Mr. May, gardener to H. Collier, Esq., of Hartford, 
taking the first prize, for a collection of sixteen ; Mr. Taylor, 
gardener to J. Coster, Esq., being second, and Mr. Peed, 
gardener to T. Tredwell, Esq., being third. 
The Pelargoniums formed a complete blaze of beauty. 
Among them we noticed General Pelissier, Ellen Fawcett, and 
Emperor, which is somewhat in the way of Hero of Surrey, 
all of which had certificates. AVe also noticed a very fine 
one, called General Williams, with dark upper petals, white 
throat, light centre, and the under petals rose, streaked with 
crimson. Mr. Turner also received the Bronze Medal for 
Prince of Prussia, which is an intense scarlet, with black 
upper petals. Four immense plants of Fancy Geraniums, 
grown by Mr. Thompson, of Barnet, attracted great atten¬ 
tion, not only from their great size, which was over a yard 
in diameter, but from the fact that they were grown without 
sticks to train them out; and very fine specimens of superior 
cultivation they were. The six best “fancies” were from 
Mr. Boussie, gardener to the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, 
and consisted of Electra, Criterion, Charles Dickens, Cas¬ 
sandra, Triumphant, and Barbette ; and the best in the nur¬ 
serymen’s class were from Mr. Turner, of Slough, being 
Erubescens, Criterion, Lady Hume Campbell, Celestial, Even¬ 
ing Star, and Perfection. Among the common Geraniums, 
Mr. Nye was first with Attraction, Edith, Purple Perfection, 
Golden Fleece, Enchantress, Fair Ellen, Optimum, Seraslier, 
and Carlos; and in the nurserymen's class Mr. Turner was 
first with Aslrica, Lucy, Queen Eleanor, Esther, Painter 
Improved, Leonora, Governor -General, Enchantress, Virgin 
Queen, Sanspareil, and Carlos. Among the new Geraniums 
which attracted greatest attention, were Snowflake, Omar 
Pacha, Admirable, Lord Ilaglun, Wonderful, and Phaeton. 
The Calceolarias were also very fine, particularly the 
herbaceous ones of Mr. James, among which we were at¬ 
tracted by Brunette, Fandango, Beauty, Marie, Commander- 
in-Chirf, and Duchess of Northumberland. Messrs. E. G. 
Henderson, of the AA r elliugton Road, had also a very choice 
collection of herbaceous seedlings, which, however, were not 
named, from the circumstance that Messrs. Henderson 
treat them as annuals, and preserve them only for saving 
seed. Our readers will, therefore, be able to judge from 
these the quality of seed which these gentlemen supply. 
There were several other objects of interest in the great 
tent which attracted our notice. Away in a shaded nook, 
appearing as if in their native habitat, was a collection of 
Native Ferns, abounding in interest; large masses of 
Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense and Wilsoni; fine specimens 
of Woodsia ilvensis; and numerous other rare species. A\ r e 
noticed, also, a beautiful double While Petunia, from Messrs. 
Henderson, of Pine Apple Place. It is as double as a Rose, 
and appears to be a free and healthy grower. 
Messrs. Standish and Noble, of Bagshot, exhibited a fine 
collection of Rhododendrons in pots, which attracted con¬ 
siderable attention, as did also the Variegated Plants 
from Messrs. Henderson, of Pine-Apple Place, which con¬ 
sisted of Marantas, Coleus Blumei, Caladiums, and the beau 
tiful Cissus discolor. AVe must not forget to notice a beautiful 
new Dwarf Scarlet Geranium, from Mr. Turner, with varie¬ 
gated leaves like Flower of the Day, but the flowers of a 
I 
