of two different railroads, that run frequently to and from London through the day and evening, afford every desirable facility for visiting it. As the weather on the day of the show was fine, there was a large concourse of spectators, whether drawn thither by the Flower Show alone, or whether the other attractions of the palace exercised an influence, I cannot say. The price of a ticket of admission, if purchased three days before, was five shillings; two days before, seven shillings and sixpence; and if not bought until the day before, or at the door, ten shillings. The plants were arranged on two parallel tables four hundred or five hundred feet long, in one of the long galleries, with ample space between the tables for spectators to pass between, and examine the plants at their leisure. There were some cut flowers; but the greater part of the plants, I think all shown for the prizes, were in pots. Each kind of flower was placed by itself, so that the judges and the public could compare one with the other with more facility. The plants shown were mainly roses, geraniums, azaleas, and those of the lily-tribe. The roses had, in all cases, each one of their branches attached to a small stake inserted in the ground at a determined angle; and all buds partially opened, or faded flowers, being removed, there was on every bush only fuily but freshly opened roses in their greatest perfection. This mode of arrangement was novel to me. Although it gave to the bushes a stiff and unnatural appearance, yet it exhibited the flowers to the greatest advantage. The number of pots of roses, though large, was not, perhaps, as great as one had a right to expect at a show in London; yet it seemed to me that the quality of the flowers exhibited left nothing in that respect to be desired. Large, very double, fully but not too much expanded, of almost all shades of color, they made a superb show. I have no pretension to be an accurate judge of the qualities of these flowers, or to be any more of a connoisseur in them than any one who is fond of seeing beautiful roses (and that is every one); but, to me, this exhibition of this flower was much the finest that I had ever seen; and I could not imagine that any one, although it might be larger, could be better. The number of geraniums exhibited was much greater than that of roses: the plants were all healthy and vigorous, covered with flowers of all shades of color, and every conceivable marking. They were very beautiful; but I cannot, after this lapse of time, undertake to specify the particular varieties that seemed to me especially worthy of notice. I believe that those varieties of geraniums that have variegated leaves are now held in the highest estimation: these have on each leaf, besides the foundation of green, three other distinct colors, — on the outer edge of the leaf, a circlet of yellow; next within, one of dark or purple ; and, within that, one of red, occasionally of brilliant scarlet: these circles of color are distinct, though running somewhat into each other. The flowers of these variegated geraniums are, I believe, not distinguished for beauty. Of those that I have seen, the flowers were scarlet, and not very large; this was the character of a considerable quantity of them that I afterwards saw bedded out: but these might all have been of one variety, and others may differ. These varieties of geraniums were new to me; but probably you are familiar with them. I add a description of two of the newest of these varieties of tricolor pelargoniums, offered for sale to subscribers, of which there appeared to be no lack; the plants to be delivered, one

"Miss

in August, 1867, the other in May, 1868, as copied from the proposal: Watson, of robust growth, compact habit, and easy cultivation; flower a lively salmon-color; fine large truss ; leaves superbly colored with deep-red and chestnut zone and sulphur edge; retail price in August, 1867, two pounds and two shillings." "Mrs. Dix, yellow edge; olive-and-bronze zone, breaking into bold bars of clear brick-red (the red of wet bricks); the disk dull green; leaves round and flat; the plant compact and dense; to be sent out in May, 1868, at thirty-one shillings and sixpence." When it is remembered that the price of which the first of these above-named varieties was offered is, in American currency, about fifteen dollars, and that of the second about eleven dollars, it shows, I think, that these varieties are very much in vogue, and highly esteemed; or else that the proprietor must count upon the facility with which amateurs are gulled into the purchase of new things. The azaleas were fine plants, of a regular conical, perhaps I might say rather of a pine-apple shape; so covered with blossoms, that scarcely any thing else could be seen; so that a plant of the scarlet variety seemed to be, as it were, a blazing bush when looked at from a little distance. Of the flowers

of the plants of the lily-tribe that were exhibited, I shall say but little. Many of them were very fine, and many were new to me. And so, too, of some plants that were said to be entirely new. Of both of these, my recollections are too vague to permit me to attempt to specify or describe any; if I did, very probably my attempts would be failures or erroneous and all except the statement of their exhibition, I feel, had better be omitted. My impression of the show was, that it was a fine one, and that it must have been satisfactory to those who originated it; and it was with surprise that I subsequently read in "The Times an article whose writer took a different view, but rather, as I think, expressing dissatisfaction with the extent of the show than with the articles exhibited.

On the 4th of June, there was a Flower Show by the Horticultural Society at their garden in South Kensington. This was in the open air, under a tent, in a part of the garden, where, from a circular, level place, the ground, sloping upwards on three sides, formed a kind of natural amphitheatre, that permitted an advantageous display of the plants. This exhibition was, in its general characteristics, very similar to that at the Crystal Palace. The roses, though not very numerous, were superb, and the geraniums and azaleas very fine. Besides these, there were numerous other plants of various kinds, collections of heaths, and many plants of variegated foliage. But what struck me most was a show of pansies. I am afraid that I shall be thought to use too extravagant terms; but I must say that these pansies were to me magnificent, such as I had never before seen. They were very large; their petals thick, like a piece of velvet, that, when laid flat, formed a perfect circle. The prevailing colors were yellow, purple, and white, with purple eyes and marking. These flowers have always been particular favorites with me: but such as these I had never seen, or indeed imagined; and I was glad to see in what perfection they could be produced by skill, combined with, perhaps, other favorable conditions. Besides the flowers, there was at this exhibition about a hundred cots of strawberries, with trusses of fine berries; a few very fine peaches and nectarines, and grapes both black or purple-andwhite. The Black Hamburgs were large bunches with large berries, but not

better than I have often seen; and the other varieties were in no way remarkable.

There seems to be a prevailing opinion, that England, from its climate, is not suited to raising fine fruit. This opinion is, in the main, probably well founded, though perhaps not to the extent that it is sometimes entertained; for some kinds of fruit, especially the smaller kinds, are produced there in great perfection and abundance. I have never eaten better, rarely as good, strawberries, as I have eaten in England; and this not only in London, but in the smaller cities in different parts of the kingdom. In the south-western and southern parts of the island I found them abundant, very large, handsome, and of fine flavor, at a very reasonable price. At Bath, for a basket containing three quarts of the Alice Maud variety, I paid but two shillings: and this was not a solitary instance; for very fine strawberries could be purchased at other places at equally reasonable

rates.

The earliest strawberries that I noticed in the London market were of the variety called Alice Maud: of these, fine berries early in the season sold for one shilling and sixpence per basket of about two-thirds of a Boston box. Strawberries in England are brought to market with the hulls on in all cases. Later in the season, the price was a shilling per basket; whilst in the height of the season, when the market was most abundantly supplied, the price in London was ninepence per basket. The largest strawberries that I saw were called British Queen; and these sold, extra large, selected berries, from one shilling to two shillings per basket. The British Queens were extra large, handsome, and of fine flavor; and I think that of this or some other variety I could, on any day during the season, have purchased, in Covent-garden Market, strawberries, that for size, beauty, and flavor, if exhibited at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's Show, would have received the prize over all competitors. Cherries are also very good of these I saw several varieties, also gooseberries and currants. In many parts of England, apples are largely cultivated, both for the dessert and for cider. In Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Devonshire, and some other counties, there are very extensive orchards of this fruit, and much attention is paid to it. Of the quality of apples for the dessert, I have not sufficient experience to express an opinion; it is a fruit that I rarely eat: but of the cider I can speak in terms of unqualified commendation; some of it was very good. I have drunk in Devonshire, made there, "Herderer's Champagne Cider," that was in every respect fully equal to the best made at "Weld Farm;" and no higher terms of praise can be bestowed upon it.

In some parts of England, a good many pears are cultivated. I have seen quite large orchards of pear-trees, both on quince and on their own roots, in the neighborhood of London; and they are grown quite extensively in other places, as in the Vale of Evesham in Worcestershire, and in Hertfordshire. But I must be permitted to doubt whether the finest kind of pears can be cultivated in the open ground with more than a very moderate degree of success. Indeed, I was told by a most intelligent cultivator in one of the central counties of the kingdom, that the pears on trees planted in the squares of a garden surrounded by a high brick wall, sometimes failed to ripen. A good many pears

are, I suppose, raised on trees trained on walls; but I cannot but doubt whether any but some of the hardiest varieties, of generally not the finer kinds of this fruit, can be successfully grown in the open ground in England. In Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, where the climate is mild, pears, and also the more delicate fruits, as grapes and peaches, are very successfully grown ; and many of the best pears in the London market are supplied from it.

DEC. 17, 1867.

Joseph S. Cabot.

WHY NOT?· Why should not the principle of our copyright and patent laws be applied to the originators of valuable fruits as well as to authors and inventors?

This is a question, it appears to me, which any thoughtful man will find it very difficult, if not impossible, to answer. If a man writes a book, whether of any real value to the community or not, the law recognizes it as his property. He is protected in his legal right to it, as in his right to house or land. He may, for a valuable consideration, transfer his ownership to some publisher, as he may transfer bank-stock; or he may authorize the publication of his work on condition of receiving a certain percentage of the profits: and so, in proportion to the public demand for his book, the law secures him a remuneration for his toil. This, certainly, is just and right.

If one invents some machine which promises to promote the public good, the law steps in, and confers upon him a patent as a reward for his study and toil, and an encouragement to others to employ their minds in the same direction. His invention may be an important or a trivial one: it may be a sewingmachine or a fragile toy. But, whatever it be, the guardian law lifts up its authoritative voice, and says, "No man may manufacture or sell that article without the inventor's consent." And so, as in the case of the author, it secures to him such a compensation for his work as the public may decide it to be worth; and that compensation sometimes amounts to a princely fortune. This, certainly, is as it should be.

But why should not the same principle be carried still farther? If one devotes his time and study to the originating of a fine fruit, like the Iona Grape or Clapp's Favorite Pear, why should not the law secure to him, as it does to the author and inventor, a suitable compensation for his work? Why should not the law give to Dr. Grant, or Mr. Dana, or Mr. Rogers, such protection as it gives to Dr. Holmes or Prof. Lowell? Why should it say to the inventor of a new pop-gun or humming-top, "You have done a good thing for society, and shall therefore be rewarded by protection against all competition in your sales," but say to the originator of Dana's Hovey or the Diana Hamburg nothing at all?

Is this just and right? Can any good reason be given why the law should so discriminate in favor of authors and inventors, to the entire neglect of the originators of valuable fruits? Can any one tell why the deviser of the little toy called "the Quaker-gun" should be so shielded from competition in his sales as to realize (as I have seen it stated) a fortune of fifty thousand dollars, while

the originator of the Rogers's Hybrids or the Concord Grape is left to receive simply such compensation as he can secure from the sale of his plants before other propagators get hold of them? Why should not the law say to Mr. Rogers or Mr. Dana, or any man who will bless society with a new and valuable fruit, "You shall be treated as authors and inventors are; you shall have for a reasonable time a monopoly of the market for the sale of your fruit, trees, or plants, as a well-merited compensation to you for your time and trouble, and an inducement for others to imitate your example"? What reason can be given for our copyright or patent laws which does not apply with equal force to a similar law for the protection of fruit-authors ? Has not the Concord Grape done as much for the public good as the Quaker-gun? Are not the tact and perseverance which were evinced by Mr. Rogers in securing for us his hybrid grapes as worthy of public reward as the same traits when devoted to the preparation of a new spelling-book? Do not the happiness and welfare of society demand that the production of new and superior fruits should be encouraged as much as the production of new novels or new toys? Is there not an occasion and demand for wise legislation upon this subject? W. H. W.

READING, MASS.

CALLA LILIES. There is no better plant for parlor-culture than the wellknown calla (Richardia Æthiopica). To grow it in perfection, it should have a season of partial rest in summer, and plenty of water in the growing season. Our plan is as follows. In June, procure a dozen medium sized plants; set them in rich, moist soil in the garden, or in nine-inch pots in rich loam; placing the pots in moss in a tub. Keep them moderately wet all summer, and give them the benefit of full sunshine. By the middle of September, the plants will have made a stout, healthy, stocky growth, but will have given but little flower: they will not, however, have been unornamental; for the rich foliage makes a fine bed in the garden; or if grown in pots, in a tub, the mass of sagittate leaves is very effective. Having provided a hollow table (like the bulb-case described in the October number of "The Journal of Horticulture "), the plants should be transferred to it just before the first frost. Those in the garden should be carefully lifted with a ball of earth, and potted.

The pots should be arranged in the case so as just to touch, and all interstices be filled with moss, and a covering of bright-green wood-moss be laid over the whole, so that the plants seem to spring from a carpet of moss. Place the case in a sunny window, and the plants will soon begin to grow, and, by the middle of October, will show bloom. They will continue to flower until May; the only care required being to protect them from frost, to water plentifully, to wash the leaves with a soft sponge if dust collects upon them, and to remove dead leaves and flowers.

Our small plant-case, containing six callas during the winter of 1866-7, had at no time less than five flowers and buds, and often as many as eight.

In spring, plant out the callas, or remove them to the tub out of doors, which is the least troublesome, and, we think, the better way. E. S. R., Jun.

GLEN RIDGE, October, 1867.