One of the most notable incidents of the month is the fact of the Royal Horticultural Society having decided to go to the provinces alone in 1871. An influential meeting has been held at Nottingham - Lord Belper, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Notts, presiding - when it was resolved to invite the Royal Horticultural Society to hold a provincial exhibition in the county town during the summer of the ensuing year. We hail with lively satisfaction this decision of the Society. Scarcely does any other city or town present such an admirable field for its operations as does Nottingham. There horticultural enterprise is not only active, but highly successful. It is said that there are 20,000 allotment gardens in the suburbs of the town, and those who till them are among the flower of the artisan classes. Besides these, there are in the suburbs of the town, and further away in the county, many places where plant and fruit growing is followed with the best results, and these will be sure to furnish many subjects at the coming exhibition.

Already a committee is at work, organising a guarantee fund and obtaining donations of special prizes. This shows a thorough heartiness that augurs well for the success of the show. In all matters of public importance Nottingham has been in the habit of speaking out thoroughly and working energetically, and the Royal Horticultural Society could not have done a better thing than yielded to the request which came to them from thence.

It is to be hoped that the Local Committee will be allowed considerable freedom of action, which they can exert without perilling the independence of the Council. Probably such an influential committee has never before co-operated with the Society on the occasion of a provincial show. As the Society takes a new course, it would be well if the Committee would embrace a broader scope of action than has yet fallen to the lot of a provincial aid of this character. There is one thing especially which it can and should take cognisance of. Many horticulturists, and especially the gardener class whose means are limited, are deterred from visiting these meetings in consequence of the expense incurred in finding accommodation. A bed at 5s. or 7s. 6d. per night is too much of a good thing: let the Committee grapple with this evil, and arrange a register of lodgings at reasonable charges. Let it also endeavour to utilise the element of practical gardening; attracted to these shows. There should be some-thing more than an expensive hotel in which to meet, with nothing but tippling and talk for the evening's amusement: the former is injurious, the latter mainly unprofitable.

A public room should be engaged as a rendezvous, where dinner and tea at least can be obtained, and something less inebriating than spirits enjoyed. The charges for these should be arranged on a moderate scale. For those inclined to discuss, there should be a room provided; those inclined to a quiet chat over a glass of toddy should have their place of meeting also. If it was desired to hold a Gardeners' Congress, as has been suggested, to discuss their position, pay, and prospects, those advocating it could make their arrangements beforehand, and hold it at this public meeting-place. There should be a popular horticultural dinner, where all can meet; and while the jovial element need not be altogether overlooked, speakers who can talk common - sense and say something worth being listened to should be selected to lead the proceedings of the evening. The Horticultural Congress could also be held, and the arrangements of this might be kept solely, as before, in the hands of the Royal Horticultural Society. What is wanted is that a gardener may be able to go to Nottingham and live and enjoy himself there for three days for the cost hitherto incurred for one night's sojourn at Bury St Edmunds, Leicester, Manchester, or Oxford. This great advantage secured, the next question is, How can he best dispose of himself when there? These and other details are within the scope of a committee, and we should like to see some of the suggestions herein made, as well as those put forward by others, considered, and as far as possible given effect to.

All the separate atoms of individual force, feeling, desire, and regard, want crystallising into one mass of sociality and fraternal intercourse: in such an attempt as that lies worthy work for a provincial committee.

In the new society formed for the purpose of encouraging the growth of florists' flowers, we recognise an agency by which a new impetus will be given to the cultivation of many of the popular flowers specially regarded by the florist. Its first exhibition was a decided success; and its supporters, pleased with such a result to their labours, promised increased aid in the time to come. Among others, Mr Keynes of Salisbury has given the sum of £7 for the best twelve Dahlias of 1870-71, to be shown at the autumn exhibition of the Society next year. This is a gleam of that fine enthusiasm that used to shine out years ago at the various large Dahlia exhibitions then held about the country. On this occasion exhibitors came from a long distance. Scotland was worthily represented; so was the far west of England. The Yorkshire contingent of Dahlia exhibitors mustered in strong force; and many old exhibitors, whose experiences must date back hard on half a century, were competing, or if not competing, came to see and support. The Society proposes, should sufficient means come to hand, to give prizes for Tulips, Ranunculuses, Auriculas, Pansies, Pinks, Carnations, and Picotees, etc, at such of the early spring and summer shows as may be held at the proper season for such flowers.

Practically it aims to supplement other schedules by providing classes for flowers overlooked partially, if not wholly, in the present day. Thus, without attaching itself to any particular society or place, it desires to give its meed of support to all florists' flowers as occasion may serve. After the show at the Crystal Palace, there was a dinnerparty of the supporters of the new movement; but it was nearly as heavy as a funeral party, and scarcely more lively than a state banquet. The dinner was bad for the price charged; the wines indifferent; the after-dinner talk, with one or two exceptions, feeble. The Society dined as if wearied with its day's work, and it rose from its dinner dull and heavy. Perhaps, as some said, its social intercourse was overweighted with the article of divinity, and lacked vivacity in consequence. Still it was a first attempt, and the second will no doubt be an improvement on the first.