THE COTTAGE GARDENED. 
July 27 . 
318 
i bited Pius Ninth, Paul Ilicaut, Fortune’s -Yellow, and 
Cloth of Gold, in excellent condition, though the latter 
were not up to those I had seen at Wilderness Park two 
days before, budded and treated as described last week. 
A plant also appeared of the Duke of Wellington 
Fuchsia, with a ilovver or two expanded, that was not 
likely to create a rapid demand in that quarter; but the 
small plant showed it had been recently potted, and a 
full-sized (lower could hardly be expected until the roots 
pressed or kissed the sides of the pot again ; a fact which 
people showing new things should keep in mind, if they 
wish to show the full size of a bloom. For instance, 
the man who intends letting out a good new thing, 
should keep it to himself until ho can show a fair-sized 
specimen ; but the country nurseryman, who wishes to 
get back his guinea or two guineas worth as soon as 
possible, should exhibit, as an inducement to purchase, 
| not a plant growing freely, and where this growing is 
so far in antagonism to the blooming freely, but a plant 
rather stunted of pot room, and where size can be given 
to the bloom, with rich surfacings and manure-waterings. 
The new arrangements consisted chiefly in dividing 
the plant-tables with a section of green baize, and 
having a circular elevation or two, furnished with large 
Fuchsias, &«., which took away the monotonous outline, 
and produced so much agreeable variety, that the hint 
will no doubt be acted upon in future. A few large 
Araucarias, Deodars, or even some few Spruce Firs, 
stuck in tubs, would have still further enhanced the 
variety and charm in such a lofty building. Festoons 
of evergreens, carried from wall to wall, would also have 
lessened the apparent height of the roof, and produced 
a pleasant counterfoil; but the resources of provincial 
committees of such institutions too often limit their ! 
endeavours alike to gratify and improve the refined ; 
taste of their neighbours. It is true, that to obtain 
success, the best way is to deserve it; but the public is \ 
such a capricious animal, that so long as many who | 
could easily give substantial support confine their j 
encouragement chiefly to notes of admiration ! in¬ 
defatigable secretaries, and working committees, arc 
refrained by prudence from making great outlays for J 
mere ornamental display, if the paying back is to be i 
dependant on the fickleness of the multitudes. Did the 
j regular subscriptions alone secure against all risk, the 
j results and the attractions would often bo different. 
There was another change well worth noting, though 
J entirely out of my way, as no one can know less of 
music than I do. Formerly, a splendid band took their 
[ position in the orchestra, or raised gallery, at the end 
of the room. What the effect may be during concerts 
| and oratorios, when the place is crammed with people 
i sitting, I know not; but when the visitors were walking 
I about at these exhibitions, the crashes of music were to 
me perfectly brain-splitting. The band, this time, were 
seated in a side-room, with the doors left open, and the 
softened strains, even to my unmusical ear, were thrill- 
' ingly delightful. 
The object of these notes being, not so much to tell 
of the success of individual exhibitors—as that success, 
and the noble emulation that led to it, are best chronicled 
officially in the local papers—but to deduce inferences 
likely to be useful generally, I will just glance at some 
of the main features of the exhibition. 
The Vegetables were in good condition, but not at all 
superior for Northampton, as, generally, both at exhi¬ 
bition and market, there is a good and plentiful supply. 
I suppose it was too early for somo of the finer kinds of 
Peas, which generally appear in splendid condition. 1 
spoke, last year, of J eyes’ Conqueror; and, where a tall 
Pea can be grown, I can confidently recommend it for 
its prolificacy, length of time of bearing, and richness 
of flavour and size of Pea. 
The Fruit was scanty, and, on the whole, inferior to 
that showed in May. I noticed Mr. Newman hoisting 
a small hamper into the luggage-van of the train, and 
from that lie contrived to take the honour of a good 
share of the first prizes. A fine-looking, large, dark, 
Strawberry was present, named Prince Albert —but 
allowing the choice of other Strawberries present, I 
hardly think the Prince would taste it more than once. 
There was a fine dish of the Conrteen Halt Seedling 
Strawberry present, which 1 consider well worth grow¬ 
ing, though it seemed rather acid, M r. Gardener speaking 
highly of its forcing qualities and its bearing so abun¬ 
dantly. It seems a cross between the Kean, or Dickson's 
Pine, and the Queen. The finest-flavoured Strawberry 
there, and which would not easily be surpassed else¬ 
where, was the Sliardelves, a middle-sized fruit, raised 
by Mr. Dailey, of that place, in Buckinghamshire, and 
which should be more generally grown. 
Passing over groups of well-grown Cockscombs, and 
compact Balsams, l will merely instance a few of the 
more prominent miscellaneous plants On entering, a 
very large, fine-flowered, Scarlet Geranium, from Mr. 
Barber, presented itself before you a perfect blaze. Nice 
compact plants of Erica Cavendishii, purple Polygala, 
Lantana, Pimelia, and Acliimenes, came from Mr. Gar¬ 
dener; and Coleus Bloomeii, Vinca rosea alba, Alla- 
manda neriifolia, Allamanda cathartica, Ixora coccinea, 
and Allamanda Schotti, came from Mr. Brown, and 
Fuchsia Matildiana, ltondeletia speciosa, Epacris 
miniata, and Tetratheca verticillata, came from Mr. 
Mechi. Of comparatively new plants, a nice specimen 
of Cissus discolor was shown by Mr. Brown, and pretty 
neat plants of the Acliimenes chirita, and the Acliimenes 
gloxinijiora, were shown by the Messrs. Gardener and 
Mackie respectively, both of these being desirable, the 
former having purple flowers, drooping, so as to approach 
the seemingly Campanulata form, the latter being dotted 
with yellow, and having the incipiency of the tube of 
the Gloxinia. 
There was a good collection of wild plants, which 
always creates much interest, especially whon correctly 
named. A number of bouquets and baskets of cut- 
flowers were also much attended to by visitors. Most 
of these, however, were arranged without any apparent 
attempt at system. I knew a lady who swept of!' the 
prize a number of years running, and with rather 
common flowers too, merely by making up each kind in 
a little bundle, and then arranging them in her basket-, 
with open spaces filled with moss between, sometimes 
on the principle of shading her colours, and at other 
times of contrasting them, and though many costly 
things were in the baskets opposed to her, I never heard 
one calling in question her right to the prize. In one j 
basket, I think belonging to Mr. Barber, there was an 
attempt at something of this nature, and though not j 
carried out, 1 rather think it took the first prize. A J 
thickish row round the outside consisted of the yellow ' 
Eschscholtzia, then a row of the yellow Nemojdiila i 
maculala, then a row of Scarlet Geranium, getting 
mixed in the middle. Much refined taste may be dis- ; 
played in such baskets of flowers; and as it is a sacrifice j 
to cut so many flowers, when at all well done, societies, 1 
if possible, should always reward the labour, ns at 
country exhibitions they always constitute an attractive i 
feature. 
A similar principle holds good in floral devices. It is 
difficult to say what might not bo rendered a floral 
device, though designs and forms, which wo are in the 
habit of associating with flowers, would be felt to be the 
most appropriate. Hitherto, these devices have chiefly 
been confined to flower-gardens, with miniature cottage, 
greenhouse, fountains, &c., the beds being arranged on 
turf and gravel, and filled with bloom instead of plants. 
Much good taste is often displayed in this way. There 
were two such gardens on the present occasion, both 
