Xll 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
fine bunch of black Hambro’s, weighing 2lbs. 5g0zs., 
rather an ornamental size for the season : they were 
of good colour, hut slightly underripe. To these the 
large silver medal was awarded. 
Mr. Davis, of Oakhill, had a very nice basket of 
black Hamhro’s, thoroughly coloured. These were 
very respectable for the season, and were to us pecu¬ 
liarly pleasing as possessing that fine “chiselled” 
appearance which from our very boyish days we have 
been accustomed to consider as a very frequent ac¬ 
companiment of superior quality in the berry. To 
these the silver Knightian was awarded. 
Mr. Stewart, gardener to R. Durant, Esq., had a 
basket of new strawberries, called, “ Pelvillain de 
Meudon,” which appeared to have originated from the 
British Queen; we are not aware what their flavour 
may he, hut we see nothing extraordinary about them. 
Much, however will depend on their forcing and 
hearing capabilities. There has been rather too much 
anxiety of late about obtaining new kinds of straw¬ 
berries, and many strong experiments have been made 
on the public pocket in consequence. 
In cherries there was one solitary basket of May 
Dukes, rather under ripe, from Mr. Turnbull, of 
Blenheim. 
A few dishes of apples were on the tables, hut they 
were of very little importance; they consisted of the 
following kinds:—Blenheim orange, French crab, 
Boston russet—one of our last American kitchen 
apples, also Scarlet nonpareil in good preservation. 
We think that we have now enumerated all matters 
of importance in this way, and we regret the lack of 
better material to place before our readers. 
We may now conclude with a few general remarks. 
In the first place as to prizes. We have attended 
the Society’s exhibitions at various times, and have 
generally had to regret the comparative want of what 
are termed winter pines ; that is to say, such as the 
old black Jamaica, the Montserrat, of fame in the 
country. Nothing hut Queens and Providences can 
he heard of. Now, in the month of April, or even in 
the beginning of May, we conceive that the flavour of 
a good black Jamaica will at all times he superior to 
that of the other kinds named ; and we do think that 
public attention ought to he directed to this circum¬ 
stance. Appearance, however, is everything in this 
as in some other matters; the huge Providence Pine 
attracts more attention. Our remarks on this head 
are intended to apply chiefly to the first show of the 
season; for nobody has any objection to Queens or 
Providences in June, July, and August. In Apples, 
too, why should we not expect to meet with good 
Ribston Pippins, Old Nonpareils, Sturmer Pippins, 
Ord Apples, &c. ? 
As to Pears, we hear much of such as the Beurree 
Ranee, Easter Beurree, &c., &c., keeping until April 
and May; hut we fear they are only to be found in a 
good state of preservation at that period in our 
nurserymen’s catalogues. 
In casting a hasty glance over the whole exhibition 
in the abstract, it is plain that the orchids and azaleas 
form the principal features ; and to these, as next in 
order, we would add roses. The latter have at last 
proved that they may, in all their varieties, he grown 
in first-rate perfection in pots. The Australian, or 
those generally lumped under the term New Holland 
tribes, were in many cases splendid specimens : with 
such, however, the public has long become familiar. 
We must here observe, in the way of suggestions, 
that some mode of culture and exhibition should be 
adopted in order to get rid of such a multitude of 
sticks; for we are persuaded that the public will not 
long rest satisfied with them. It is all very well to 
say that they cannot be done without—this we boldly 
dispute. That they are exceedingly convenient, we 
admit; but they err too much in point of genuine 
taste to continue thus without a change. We appre¬ 
hend that the day is not far distant when the public 
will desire to know something more of the individu¬ 
ality of Flora’s treasures, as to form : for, wherever 
the eye of the painter approaches, such will be con¬ 
sidered indispensable. There has been so much 
dubbing and pinching, of late years, that the horti¬ 
cultural mind has become spell-bound; and at last, 
the only idea we have of a fine plant is a globe of 
vegetation—whether of white, yellow, or scarlet. 
Another point: we would fain see genuine flori¬ 
culture thoroughly represented—not by ten thousand 
glasses, or bottles of tulips and dahlias, but by first- 
rate selections, grown in something portable. Why 
not tulips, grown in sets of perhaps twelves, in boxes 
similar to our mignonette-boxes ? Such boxes, all of 
a size and colour, would look respectable cn the 
tables; limiting the number in each box, as before 
observed—say a one-dozen box to represent each 
class, in order to have them very select. Such boxes, 
if about twelve inches deep, by thirty inches long and 
eight wide, would grow a dozen in great perfection, 
and would tend to throw some light on peculiar points 
of. culture. 
Standard, or miniature-tree roses, too: why not a 
collection of these—showing their ultimate effect or 
expansion when of some standing ? 
Pendulous forms, also, independent of mere colour, 
these should, we think, be taken into account, and 
should have a stage specially suited to their character. 
We must now close these hurried remarks, by 
merely observing, that we trust to see the day when 
exhibition-matters will take a higher ground—a more 
scientific bearing. To accomplish this, however, the 
public taste must advance a little higher; for it is, 
we suppose, vain for the conductors or planners of 
exhibitions, like those of the press, to attempt too 
extensive or too sudden innovations in this way. The 
mind must be prepared gradually : let us hope that, 
in this way, The Cottage Gardener may prove of 
some service. 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, 147, Strand, in the Parish of Saint Mary-le-Strand; and Winchester High-street, in the 
Parish of St. Mary Kalendar; and Published by William Somerville Orr, at the Office, 147, Strand, in the Parish of Saint Mary-le- 
Strand, London.—May 10th, 1849. 
