But lover as I am of flowers, for once my attention, after a hasty glance over them, was involuntarily arrested and completely transfixed by the animated portion of the scene around me. Walking amidst these beauties of the floral world, was such a bevy of the " fair daughters of our mother Eve," as I confess induced me to feel but little regret that I was born in these last days of the world, instead of the early ones, when fair Eve herself, " with sweet attractive grace," adorned the earth with her presence.

I noticed in the beginning of my remarks, that the style is for ladies to go in full dress, and here was before me the " elite " of " Albion's fair daughters," radiant in their native beauty, and decked in all the splendor that luxury could suggest, or money purchase. The gardens were filling rapidly; and the tickets taken on that day at the doors, showed that upwards of eleven thousand visitors had attended the exhibition. And as upon these occasions, the softer sex always predominates considerably over our own, some idea may be formed of the effect such an assemblage was calculated to produce. The one thousand and one nights of our Arabian friends, have introduced to the acquaintance of many of us, a sketch of marvels which we have often in boyish mode, longed to see realized, but undoubtedly few if any other seen than a Chiswick exhibition day, can approach so nearly to " fancy's sketch " of such a realization.

My fair friends were evidently much pleased with the meed of commendation which the appearance of their countrywomen called forth from me; and after having politely addressed to me some flattering tributes to the attractions of some of my own countrywomen of their acquaintance, they proposed that we should pass through the tents to inspect the plants. We therefore bent our steps to the quarter of the garden in which the tents were placed. They were filled to excess with visitors, who were proceeding in one direction round the tables, so that each one in turn could view the plants. Down the length of each table was erected a frame work covered with green cloth, forming a back ground to the flowers, which consequently were distinctly visible without difficulty. The tables themselves and the barrier round them were covered with the same material, which gave a finish to the whole, that was not only pleasing, but which relieved the eye in a great measure from the glare arising from such masses of brilliant flowers.

I will now endeavor to give some idea of the contents of these temporary museums of Flora. One of the largest tents was devoted to general collections, amongst which was a most superb assortment of plants from Mrs. Lawrence, the wife of the surgeon of that name, whose celebrity has become world-wide. This lady is the most enthusiastic plant cultivator of that part of the world; and she has for many years been one of the chief contributors to these exhibitions. Amongst her plants I noticed one enormous plant of our Pimelea spectabilis, which was one perfect globe of flowers from the surface of the pot, and of which the head of bloom was at least four feet in diameter. Another equally conspicuous plant was an Epacrisgrandiflora,fiveor six feet high and four feet across, covered with its elegant tubular flowers. An Ixora, with its vivid scarlet blooms, bore ample testimony that the skill of the lady's gardener in the hot-house was not behind his greenhouse culture; whilst a white Indian Azalea, seven feet high, and forming an immense pyramid from the pot upwards, was so smothered by its myriads of snow-white flowers, that it was impossible to see one inch of the stein, or the half of a leaf upon it.

But to notice each of the beauties of this collection would be to tell of every plant in it. I must proceed, or I shall not within my limit, get half through the day. From the general collections, we passed on to a tent filled with orchideous plants. Here, within a space of a few hundred feet, were collected what have been properly termed "Flora's Jewels," from all parts of the world. The Brazils, the Cape of Good Hope, the East Indies and China, had contributed to enrich this gorgeous collection. The very atmosphere appeared alive with flowers; for in many of them the long slender flower stalks were not observable to the eye, whilst the butterfly character of the others added to the fragrance which emanated from them, served to perfect the illusion; and apparently to bear unerring evidence, that in the air around was to be found the " local habitation" of these flying flowers.

From this scene we entered the Geranium tent, from which all other plants were excluded, and well might the happy possessors of such specimens pride themselves on the reward of their perseverance. The worst plant amongst them (if worst was there) was a model of beauty; and none who have not been present at such a sight, can picture to their imagination the elegance and softness of the shading which many of the specimens of this family of plants presented. I observed particularly that the visitors passed more slowly through this part of the exhibition than any other, and the attraction extended to myself as well as to those around me.

Perhaps, of all the objects which delighted me on that day, the tent of Ericas, was that which excited in me the greatest surprise. One of the most difficult families of plants to grow in our own country, from the nature of its climate, I was not prepared to expect such perfect bushes as they were. Many of them were very dwarf, but of three or four feet diameter, and covered with their delicate foliage to the edge of the pot, while their crowns were entirely concealed by their flowers. I learned that two different systems of pruning this family of plants, are adopted by those who grow them extensively. Some cultivators aim at producing a circular head to these plants, so as to present to the eye a dome of bloom; while others, (and they are now among the best growers,) prefer giving the plant a more irregular tree-like outline. I saw many trained in each way, and I give the preference to the latter, as the more truly symmetrical, because the more natural form. Amongst these heaths some of the most striking were Cavendishii, Perspicua nana, Ventri-cosa, Superba, Densa, Hartnelli, Splendens, Cerinthoides, and Bo wean a, which I name in the hope of seeing more attention paid to this family amongst ourselves.

By keeping them principally in a north aspect, out of the hot rays of the sun, in the summer months, I have succeeded here in growing plants of them in a very fair state of perfection; and I by no means despair (as I see my plants improve daily) of in time having them as large as is convenient to an amateur whose collection is limited. We afterwards passed on to the Fruit tent, which was filled with forced fruit of all descriptions, from the pine apple to the cherry. Many more were the floral wonders of the day; but I must pause, having noticed those principal ones which commanded the greatest share of admiration. There is a very handsome conservatory in the gardens, which is some forty or fifty feet in height, filled principally with Australian and hard-wooded plants, which do not require a very high temperature in winter. Some of the Acacia family flourish there in great perfection. After inspecting the flowers we joined the promenade of fashionables in the Arboretum, whilst three military bands belonging to the regiments of guards stationed in London, appeared to vie with each other for the palm of excellence in "discoursing sweet music,*' with a degree of rivalry equal to that evinced by the horticultural competitors.

At six o'clock the exhibition closes. The exhibitors and their gardeners take possession of the tents; and in two hours more, there is scarcely a plant left of the hundreds which adorned them; whilst the company linger on the lawns until the shades of evening warn them that the pleasure of each happy day must have an end. Such was my '• day at Chiswick," and long will the hours I passed there present pleasing reminiscences to my memory. Americus.