WHILE so much has been said and written about a great American exhibition in 1892 or 1893, it will be well for us to heed the fact that in the city of Berlin is to be held a great International Horticultural Exhibition from April 25th to May 5th, which will, in all probability, be a magnificent affair. Few of the continental countries will be without representation, and the English, encouraged by former successes, will be likely to make a good showing. No applications to take part will be entertained after March 1st. It will be well for those in our country interested in such things to observe carefully how this is carried out, that we may profit by it in the future.

Particular attention will be given to illustrate the relationship of decorative horticulture and architecture. The exhibition will be held in a large park and palace in the northwest of Berlin. The park is the one in which the exhibition of 1885 was held. While then only a portion of the palace was occupied, this year the whole and a large part of the park will be required. In the park will be shown glass houses containing fine hot-house plants, and in full working order. A large hall, side by side with the palace, will contain implements, etc. Upwards of 35,000 square feet in the palace will be devoted to the strictly horticultural part of the exhibition, and in addition are the winter gardens, banquet and dining rooms, salons, etc. Our largest illustration, from Gartenflora, shows the general plan of the palace, and the two smaller ones (Figs. 1 and 2) show the halls (b b) on a larger scale. Fig. 1 will be laid out with an arrangement of small beds forming a complete figure, and Fig. 2 much the same style, but is to be surrounded by decorated balconies upon pillars.

The exhibition will be mainly divided into the decorative part, greenhouse plants, roses, forced flowering shrubs, perennials and bulbs, cut-flowers, fruits, leaves, and dried flowers, grasses, etc. These again will be divided into numerous classes. The entrance is through the principal hall (A); in the middle of this is a large fountain, and jets of water run from the corners of the wall. In the halls b, c, d,g, i, s and t are fountains. All these fountains are to be decorated with plants. From A we come to the hall B, where the opening ceremonies will take place. Through a portico a passage is made into the hall a; this, as well as the halls b b, the center of c, the hall d, as well as g, h and i, are intended for groups and arrangements of house or bedding plants. In dd the beds are to be of low growing plants. Over the entrances to the various enclosures are pillar and free balconies, and prominent windows will be constructed as seems desirable ; the decoration of all is to be competitive. The hall c, between a and d, will have pavilions and pagodas. From d are pas-sages to the right and left to e e for refreshments and music.

Curved paths connect these halls, along which, and in the cir-cular enclosures/,/, will be the products of nursery gar-dens, trees, shrubs,cordons, etc., and similar exhibits will also be placed in the halls g, h, i. In i spring flowers will be largely used. To the left of is m, destined for the illustration of landscape gardening and garden literature. N is destined for meetings. The halls b, b, to the right of i, are allotted to scientific exhibitions. The hall h and k k, right and left, ar for winter garden decorations. Z will contain fruit and vegetables. Y, together with x and w, will be devoted to perennials. In u and r examples of the decoration of parlors and salons for festivities, baptism and nuptial ceremonies will be given. In t,u, v, will be seen the roses. The halls y, r, s will contain forced-flowering shrubs, and p the table decorations, and s the arrangement s of cut-flowers. As the exhibition is to be an international one, the study and comparison of exhibits will be particularly valuable. The railroads will charge only half rates for all things intended for the exhibition.

Red labels are supplied, to be attached to the goods, denoting that they are to be subjected to no delay.

GENERAL PLAN OF ARRANGEMENT FOR THE EXHIBITION PALACE, BERLIN.

Fig. I.

Fig. 2.