year, and there were other absentees of lesser note. The absence of the exhibits usually forwarded by these gentlemen, as we have already remarked, created a Wank which was forced upon the observa tion immediately on entering the hall. All round the side stages the display was most meagre. The vegetables were ranged as usual on the right of the entrance to the hall, but with the ex ception of the brocoli there was nothing remarkable for dimensions or rapidity of growth. On the opposite side of the hall, where at former shows was to be found a profusion of blossom, and a fine collection of fuchsias and pelargoniums, interspersed with coleas, discolors, and begonias, there were instead some very back ward specimens of plants of the two orders which inyariably predominate at the society's shows geraniums and fuchsias. An alteration, which was only a partial improvement, had been made in the arrangements by staging some plants in the proper form upon the theatrical stage. The effect was certainly good so far as it went, but it rather curtailed the display by limiting the number of exhi bits. Some specimens of the staghorn fern graced this portion of the room, but whatever there was of an attractive character was to be found on the stage in the centre of the room. Mr H. F. Smith had a very,good collection at the end near the door, and amongst these was to be found the only fuchsia in the room worthy of favorable comment, and next in order of arrangement came Mr Osborne's collection of native and exotic ferns, which showed a thorough under standing of their nature, and its proper treatment, in the healthy tinge which characterised the whole. An azalea on the top of the stand secured perhaps more than a due share of admira tion on account of its being the only representative of the kind in the hall. Mr Bennett had a very fine show of variegated geraniums on the stand and these were very deservedly made the sub ject of much favorable comment amongst the visitors, whose opinion* fully justified the first prize award of the judges. 