As a good illustration of the absurdity of the premium system noted in our last, a correspondent says: "A lady knowing I was fond of cactuses bought for me from one 'who has taken ten premiums,' the rare Astrophytum myriostigma, which she knew I wanted. But it turned out to be the common Aloe longiaristata. Heavens! who competed? or rather, who were the judges ? Of what value to the community are ignorant awards like this?" Exactly; but if they were "the best on exhibition," the judges awarded properly. Now, suppose the committee were compelled to give the reasons for their award, which, in this progressive age, we contend they should do, and could say "we make this award for ------, and for------that reason," and among others could say " in a tribe of plants like cactus in which there is much confusion of names, we found them all accurately determined, therefore we make the award of------dollars;" then we have a system that would invite exhibitors. A firm that could get the reputation which such an award as this would give, that they had a collection of cactuses true to name, would have a prize worth contending for.