Mr. Downing - I have read with great attention the article " on the prizes at the horticultural exhibitions of Philadelphia," by a Working Gardener. I agree with him, that if gardeners would interest themselves a little more (in acquiring flrst) in diffusing a knowledge of the culture of plants, no doubt that it would promote a more general taste for horticulture; but if, there is the rub! - first, the ninety-five hundredth part of gardeners, whatever countrymen they are, are only gardeners by name, and when by chance half of the other five hundredth fall in with a gentleman who has any taste for plants, they will soon disgust, satiate him by glutting his green-house with weeds, or pretty near the same, the most common sort of plants that are easily propagated and taken care of. If ihere are any valuable plants on the premises, they will treat them in such way, that in a short time they will send them to the shades, or make such hideous objects, probably hop-poles - specimens grown by the yard or the like; yet you will hear these gardeners complaining that there are "no amateurs." Amateurs of what? In fact, a person must befiower-mad to admire such plants as are daily seen, not only at the Philadelphia shows, which I think your correspondent has a little exaggerated, but in most of private and public establishments through the country.

The comparison he draws between Chiswick and Regent's Park shows and Philadelphia, is not quite rational; in good justice we are not here placed in condition to ask as much of a gardener as in England. Still, though the Hamburghs are red, there are some Americans who have grown grapes handsomer than the "Working Gardener" has ever seen either in England or France, or any other part of Europe. I have not seen the former place, but I have seen some parts of the latter, and nowhere have I seen grapes there, half the size and beauty of those I have seen in America. Now will your correspondent permit me to ask him one question; he says " that in England it is art combined with nature, that shows man's ability." In this respect we perfectly agree; further he says, "nature produces grapes, but in England it is man's ingenuity which produces the color' ing matter in fruits." This may be, but if so, if British gardeners have so much ability, so much genius, are so well acquainted with the laws of vegetable physiology, how is it that in this country, favored by a fertile soil, a bright sun, and a clear eky, they cannot do half - * half - not a quarter of what they do there? Yet I think that a majority of the gardeners in America are British; are the same men who at home, in the old country, draw enough beat from the sun to produce the coloring matter, etc.

Speaking of the inducements given by the horticultural society, and of the arrangements being too limited in each class class, he complains of the society's allowing amateurs to compete with nurserymen; that one who grows a small number of plants has no chance to compete with a nurseryman who has thousands. In this respect we widely differ. I, on the contrary think, he who grows a small collection has more chance to get good specimens, inasmuch as number is not required, but quality; there is no distinction in what is regarded " the beet collection," leaving you at liberty to exhibit what kind of plants you like. I think this is perfectly right; you are at liberty to exhibit what plants you choose, but the society and the committee are also at liberty to judge whether your plants are the best or not.;t I exhibit a few greenhouse plants and they may be good, but another who has a little more convenience than me, may add an exotic or two, or an orchiden, and if so, my plants are thrown in the shade." Please tell me Mr. Working Gardener, what is it you wish more just, that the best collection should take the prize? Do you wish that it be the worst? or do you think that the addition of an orchideae makes the number of plants required for competition look worse? Must the queen of plants be an object of exclusion to competition?

I thought you said gardeners ought to promote the love of flowers, the diffusion of know-ledge, &c? Do you want devotees to Flora to admire only your Pelargoniums, grown in 6, 8,10, 12 inch pots? - in all sizes of pots from two inches up to a hogshead, and so for the rest - 12 prizes for Pelargoniums - only that! My dear sir, I think you are a Pelargoniomanee. What a pretty, well varied collection of plants it would be, that - all your Pelargoniums in all sized pots, when yon are asking for a reform in the schedule, etc. You ought to ask the exclusion of all the plants you don't mention - that is to say - All but Pelargoniums; for if Orchidse don't suit you, I suppose that well grown Ericas, Epacrises, Boronias, Izoras, Clivias, Acacia pulcrum, Vettita, etc., aeshcynanthi, Rondele-taa, etc.. would still please you less - for devotees to flora, of your school, could not easily get them; at least, it is what a gardener friend of mine, says. I conjointly, with you, feel convinced " that if gardeners had means of suggesting their ideas before the Horticultural Society Of Philadelphia, and that their ideas being similar to yours, etc., should be adopted," Pennsylvania might change its name for the more appropriate one of Pelargoniosylvania. As for the rest of your remarks, I cannot too loudly say that I agree with you.

I am with you, body and soul. Those " Floral designs" - I would call them Floral monstrosities - as well connected with horticulture, as temperance is with drunkenness, truth with falsehood, or rather connected in this way - that horticulture has for its object, to improve the culture of plants and Floral designs; to disgust with Flora any person of taste.

Committees award premiums of 2, 5, and 10 dollars, for such designs, that not one of its members, that had a party at hut own house, would exhibit in his room, if he were to receive ten times the amount he awarded for such a design. In general, the societies pay, in proportion to the articles exhibited, the highest premium to the most unworthy thing; for instance - a person brings half a dozen Verbenas, and half a dozen Pansies, in the crown of his hat, and be gets 1, 2, 3 or more dollars. Another, 10 or 12 plants that have taken 2 or 3 years to grow, and you want a horse and waggon to carry them, and he gets 2 or 3 dollars. There is certainly alteration required in this re-spect. If, however, horticultural societies have really in view the improvement of all the branches of horticulture, and if Mr. Downing would be our Lindley - not in anglicising, or rather murdering the botannic names of plants, such as Dendrob for Dendrobium; an Angrsee for Aii-grsecum; a Lechenault for Lechenaultia, etc. a reform as useful for the diffusion and intelligence of botany, as - excuse the comparison - as a poultice on a wooden leg.

But, in allowing us lovers of horticulture and botany to communicate through the channel of the Horticulturist, no doubt, that in the course of time, we could bring a reform in the arrangement of the horticultural societies throughout the country, in stimulating the emulation of cultivators and ama-teurs, in making a wiser distribution of premiums; in giving a chance to the most humble grower, as well as to the most refined amateur. Yours most respectfully, etc, A Lover or Flowers, and A Working Man, too. Albany, Feb., 80,1852.