The Autumnal exhibition of plants and flowers of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society was a great improvement on last year. All the exhibits were very good indeed, especially were those, plants good of an exotic nature It is almost unnecessary for me to name here all those who exhibited plants and flowers and received premiums, as the list has been published in the Philadelphia daily papers, but I will name a few plants which I saw there, and by whom exhibited, worthy of special notice. A collection of tuberous begonias by Mr. H. A. Dreer were very good, with double scarlet and pink flowers. These are a great improvement on some of the older varieties. I think these would do very well as summer bedders in a partly shaded position, and would have a very striking effect. They were awarded a special premium. Another plant, a palm, and the only one of the species I saw there, was Cocos Weddelliana, of recent introduction, by the same exhibitor. This is one of the most graceful palms in cultivation, and would make a fine decorative plant for the dinner table. It is of a dwarf habit, and has fine recurved foliage. This plant is rather scarce and dear, costing about fifteen dollars in an eight-inch pot. I have one of them which seems to do well with the usual method of treatment for palms.

Two other plants of recent introduction, and the only two I saw there of the kind, were Abutilons. These are quite distinct from any I ever saw before. They are fine ornamental foliage plants, beautifully variegated, streaked with crimson and golden yellow. I have mislaid the botanical name. The flower is insignificant, - indeed, if they did not flower at all, they are well worthy of a place in any collection. One of these plants was exhibited by Messrs. Fergusson & Sons, Laurel Hill Nursery; the other by Mrs. Jayne's gardener (Mr. Nesbet). Both exhibitors were awarded premiums. A collection of fifteen ornamental foliage plants exhibited by A. Warne, gardener to C. H. Clark, Esq., West Philadelphia, were deserving of special notice on account of their fine, healthy appearance. The Marantas showed up their markings to per-fection, and were well grown and much admired. A first premium was deservedly awarded for them.

The Caladiums on exhibition, I think, could not be excelled, were in a high state of cultivation, and displayed their elegant and brilliant markings to perfection. It may be here noted that the plant commonly known as Caladium esculentum does not belong to this genus.

A few water lilies were exhibited by the well-known dealer in aquatics, Mr. Sturtevant; of Bor-dentown, New Jersey. Nymphaea odorata, double white, and two or three others of a pink color; very fine. Also the lace plant, growing in a small tank of water, quite a curiosity, were awarded a special premium.

Speaking on the subject of flower shows, they do not seem to have the patronage they deserve by the wealthy classes. Probably if Canon Farrar could have been induced to give a lecture one night during the show, the exhibition itself might have been more successful. I am informed by fellow-members of the society, that the receipts from visitors to the show did not pay more than a third of the expenses. It will be impossible for the society to continue to give premiums in money, if the exhibitions are not better patronized. The income from the three dollars a year membership is hardly equal to this object.

Pencoyd, Montgomery County, Pa.

[We have here again the suggestion often made before of the difficulty of getting the great public to appreciate horticultural exhibitions. We have had our say often before, and have pointed out the weak places, with little effect, however.

We will only say, in brief, here that there is no reason why any exhibition should lack the fullest patronage if managed in the way a business man would manage his business. There is not a person in the world but loves fruits, flowers and gardens, and every person who could spare the time and money would come to the exhibition when he was made to understand that there was something worth seeing.

Too often - and we are not referring now to the meeting of the Pennsylvania Society - there is little more to be seen at a horticultural show than people can see without spending time or money in any ordinary garden, or, perhaps, at a street corner. When a society finds that even heavy premiums fail to bring out the articles that people would certainly flock to see, why not consider what would bring out these excellencies? - Ed. G. M.]