A CAPITAL idea is prevalent in England, manifested by the encouragement of growing flowers for window gardens, and the award of prizes at annual exhibitions. We have nothing of this character yet among the American flower lovers, although the taste for window gardening has grown so fast here as already to amount to an enthusiasm. An English paper gives a happy account of an annual exhibition of flowers and plants grown by the working classes of Edinburgh, in windows, back greens, areas, and city garden plots, held in the Grassmarket Corn Exchange, Edinburgh. The products sent in for competition presented such a marked improvement and increase in numbers over those of the two preceding years as should induce not only the promoters of this philanthropic movement to go on perseveringly in extending a taste for flowers and flower culture among the artisans of the Scottish capital and their children, but to show an example well worthy of imitation in other towns by those who have the means of fostering a love for the instructive, humanizing and elevating pastime of flower growing among their less opulent neighbors.

Before distributing the numerous awards, the chairman, Dr. Balfour, professor of botany, said he had to congratulate the meeting on this most successful show. The committee had examined the articles sent in for competition, and they had unanimously declared it to be one of the best shows they had seen. This year they had about one hundred more competitors than last. The improvements in the keeping of window gardens and areas was quite remarkable. He was delighted to see the working classes taking so much interest in plants. It was natural to man to do so. His existence as a worker began in the garden; whether in health or in sickness, flowers and plants afforded him a solace and delight. He believed the culture of flowers had a most humanizing influence, and even in the most crowded parts of the city they would spring up; and where they were carefully tended, they could not fail to have an excellent effect on the temper, conduct and life of those who bestowed on them their care. He hailed this as a most auspicious occasion, and he was delighted to see that the whole collection was remarkably good.

Some of the plants here, even those cultivated by juveniles, wore equal to what they would find in the Botanic Garden. The collection of John Heseltine, embracing 200 plants, well grown, delicate in form, and rich in color, was really wonderful. The window frames were admirable, great taste being shown in the contrast of color and in the training of the plants. The committee appointed to visit the areas reported that they were this year greatly improved, all owing to this movement.