IN no one department of gardening can we form a better idea of the progress of the times than by attending an exhibition, such as the following paper attempts to describe. And these fairs are the mediums by which new plants become disseminated almost all over the world; for if a fortunate individual becomes possessed of an honorable certificate for his novelty, there seems to be verv little in the way of its speedy introduction. But we in America have not been educated up to the mark which admits nothing but the highest grades upon our exhibition tables; and yet, in a few of our leading societies, there is a marked improvement in this respect, - the members evidently cherishing a desire to cull out the great amount of poorly-grown plants and fruits, and substitute a few perfectly-grown specimens, which, beyond a doubt, reflect credit upon their owners. With these few preliminary remarks, I will now pass to the impressions made upon my mind during a first visit to a transatlantic horticultural show.

The South Kensington Gardens, where the exhibitions of the Royal Horticultural Society are held, are a show of themselves; and the excellent examples of carpet or tapestry gardening is of the finest character. The conservatory contains many handsome Palms, Ferns, Conifers, and other decorative plants; and in this spacious, glass building, surrounded by tropical vegetation, is where the Prince of Wales occasionally gives a grand entertainment.

As we step inside the visitors' entrance, we notice a perpetual exhibition of florists' wares, - glass vases for the decoration of tables, rustic work of every description, fancy flower pots, bouquets and designs in dried flowers and grasses, and, indeed, innumerable articles to tempt the eye, as well as exhaust the pockets, of all enthusiastic gardeners like myself.

This main hall opens into a large room, where are arranged many articles, mostly of a " novelty " character, to which the attention of the various committees are especially requested. Here was the most extensive collection of Lettuce I had ever beheld, consisting of forty-five varieties; two pots of each. Prominently was the noted Hanson, of Philadelphia origin, and, to my eye, one of the most enticing sorts on the table; but the committee thought differently, and declared it to be an old variety under a new name - what, however, they did not say. The Perpignon is one of the newer kinds, and is valuable on account of not running to seed quickly; quite a desideratum in an American climate. Lac-tuca angustina is said to be a distinct species, recommended only for cutting whilst in a young state. Tom Thumb is well named, as it is a little, round-headed, compact Cabbage Lettuce, and just such a variety as we need in this country; as is, also, the Victoria, which, perhaps, made the finest show of all; being remarkably solid and regular in outline, as well as very large. The Cos Lettuces, a class that we are obliged to dispense with on this side of the Atlantic, but which are the perfection of crispness and delicate flavor, were finely represented here.

A curious form with dark-red leaves, not unlike the Bed Cabbage, used for pickling purposes, was labeled Blood Red. Earliest White Stone head made a fine show, and, perhaps, was as valuable as any, where these kinds succeed. The committee awarded the depositors, Messrs. Jas. Carter, Dunnett, and Beale, a bronze medal for this collection. The same firm had on exhibition a novel, yet beautiful display of pressed plants, showing the vine, foliage, pods and fruit of all the leading varieties of Peas, Quite a number of melons, grown under glass, were shown in this room; and, through the kindness of those in charge, I had the privilege of testing several; and, although they were all fine, I was better impressed with the quality of the Reed's Scarlet-fleshed than with any of the others. A new (?) variety of Coleus, shown here for the first time, attracted quite a crowd; but, to the eyes of an American florist, it was nothing but the Chameleon, a well-known variety here, although labeled Duchess of Edinborough.

It was too late for Lilies; and the display of cut blooms was poor. Leaving this anteroom, we pass along an extensive, narrow gallery, and emerge into a long room, or, rather, corridor, abundantly lighted on one side; whilst on the other extends the one broad table for the display of plants and flowers. The excellency of this arrangement cannot be disputed; for the visitors, standing with their backs to this strong light, see only the effect on the articles exhibited - -consequently, showing them to the very best advantage.

The first group of plants on entering is a superb collection of rare Conifers in large tubs, shown by Messrs. Veitch & Son, the celebrated growers of Japanese novelties in this line. The specimen of Relinospora ob-tusa aurea, fully eight feet high, was really grand, reminding one of golden ostrich plumes. Another especially attractive variety was the JR. filifera with its rich, green, threadlike shoots drooping gracefully down - such as I believe never drooped a Conifer before; and then a fine plant of Abies polita, the handsome Japanese Spruce. Thvjopsii dolabrata, five feet high; its curious foliage, with silvery white lines beneath, was more handsome than I had expected to have found it; and, lastly, the rarest of all, the Umbrella Pine (Sciado-pi/ys verticil tat a), at least five feet in height, forming a perfect cone, and quite as attractive as it was rare. This firm showed roses, such as we in America can scarcely hope to equal, much less to excel, in our dry climate. The queen of this collection was, undoubtedly, the Souvenir d Elise, of enormous size, and pale blush in color - a tea that everybody should possess; but we must praise the blooms of the well-known Marechal Niel, for they were actually the size of saucers, with the richest tint of golden-yellow.

Paul & Sons showed their new seedling, the S. Reynolds Hole, with deep crimson velvety petals; a rose that must be popular.

We may readily learn a lesson from the manner of showing cut blooms of Carnations* as practiced here. Each individual flower is placed upon a circular piece of white paper, thus bringing out its charms in perfection; and the display of these flowers was perfection, too. Verbenas were shown in little pyramids of each variety, which, although beautiful, did not give a fair idea of the size of the trusses; a quality that should be held indispensable. And now we arrive at the Gera-niuvis; a family of no mean importance abroad, as well as in our own grounds. There were larger collections in the exhibition of this than of any other one genus, showing that fashion reaches over a broad extent of territory.

Dr. Denny, whose name has been associated with so many of the finer new varieties of late years, made an excellent display in pots. I noticed, as very striking, the following: Corsair, with an immense truss; flower of fine form, and wonderfully brilliant. Col. Wright also has an immense truss, and makes a fine bedder in England. Gen. Outram is a very intense, deep crimson-scarlet, with a large truss. Thos. Speed was one mass of scarlet flowers, although with rather an open truss. Matilda, among pinks, was especially fine. M. Rendatler, one of the finest of the pink varieties, was a very well-grown plant, five feet in diameter. Virgo Maria, pure white, was full of bloom; and John Williams, a handsome shade of peach, completely hid its foliage with bloom. Some of the above specimens, enormous as it may appear, were fully four feet in diameter, and almost covered with' bloom. The bronze and tricolor Geraniums were here in great perfection; and my regret was, that they would not succeed so well with us.

Indeed, the leaves were so brilliant in color, and in many instances so wonderfully shaded, as to rival some of our gorgeous tropical flowers.

Geo. Jackman & Son, whose name has been connected with the Clematis family for many years, showed six of their very choicest seedlings in large tubs. These were handsomely grown and trained on wire trellises, shaped like a globe; and as they were a mass of flowers, one may easily judge of the effect they produced. The Fuchsias were the most perfect examples of trained specimens that I had ever beheld. Imagine plants from six to eight feet high, regular cones, and completely covered with flowers in every part. The best five specimens consisted of the following varieties: Arabella, Puritana, Perfection, Rose of Castille, and Queen Victoria. I have not the space to describe all the fine greenhouse plants in this grand exhibition, especially the Orchids; but as they were generally confined to the newer introductions they, of course, attracted considerable attention. Passing out of this corridor into another, we came to the fruits, fewer in numbers than with us at home, at our finest shows, but each plate fully up to the highest standard of excellence.

In fact, nothing else was admitted.

With the exception, perhaps, of the Strawberries and Cherries, all of these were grown under glass. In glancing down the full length of the tables, and seeing huge Pine Apples in abundance, Figs, foreign Grapes, and Persian Melons, one might readily imagine himself in a tropical country. Here I was once more favored with a sight of the old Green Gage, now rapidly passing into oblivion with us; its rather indifferent-looking skin giving evidence of the luscious, honeyed flavor concealed beneath. Among Strawberries, which, by the way, were shown on green moss, was an enormous fruit called Souvenir de Reiff. Sir Chas. Napier, a curious cockscomb, was also exceedingly well grown; and Dr. Hogg, although pale in color, is said to be of first quality.

I never saw finer Nectarines, however, than were on these tables; they looked like specimens of Crawford Peaches, with smooth skins.

In thus recounting the result of my observations at this great show, doubtless some of my readers may charge me with "snobbishness;" but I can assure such, that I have no intention of awarding praise unmerited, simply from a prejudice that everything foreign is superior to our own. Such is, in fact, very far from being the case. We grow, or can do, very many things superior to our co-laborers across the water; but do we take as much pains in admitting nothing beneath a certain standard of excellence upon the tables at our exhibitions? Here is the great secret. We do not. Hence, our shows are inferior.