International Exhibition of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers, in connection with the Manchester Botanical Society, September 3d, 4th, 5th, and 6th. - We have before us the schedule of prizes which are offered on this occasion by this enterprising and successful society, and certainly they are on a scale of liberality which, so far as we are aware, has never been approached at any previous international exhibition. And if anything in the shape of liberal prizes can be expected to bring out the very highest examples of horticultural skill, they may be looked for at Manchester in September. The schedule is, from beginning to end, most liberal. Taking the following as examples of the prizes offered, it will be seen that we are not exaggerating:

For 20 kinds of fruits, including Pines, Grapes, etc, there are three prizes of £30, £20, and £12; for 15 kinds (open) £20, £15, and £10 are offered; for 10 varieties of drapes, £15, £10, and £6; for the largest and most meritorious collection of vegetables, £12, £8, and £5; for 15 varieties, £10, £6, and £4. Turning to the prizes for plants, we have £20, £12, and £8 offered for 12 plants. Cut-flowers, bouquets, and objects of ornament, are to be rewarded with equal liberality. Implements and designs, to be rewarded with medals, are comprehensively enumerated. In all there are 155 classes, not including a good many-rewards offered for bee-culture, honey, and hives, etc. This exhibition, we anticipate, will be the great horticultural fete of 1873, and we wish it all success. Mr Bruce Finlay, the curator of the Manchester Botanical Gardens, we need scarcely say, is guarantee for the good management of all connected with the exhibition.

1 have received a schedule of the " rules," etc, of the International Exhibition to be held at Manchester in September next, and am much surprised to find that the executive committee have virtually debarred Scotch and Irish competitors from being present. This will be apparent by referring to the last clause of rule 9, where it says, "All articles must be staged before eight o'clock in the evening of the 2d September, and on no consideration removed until six o'clock of the evening of the 6th".

Now, be it observed that the 6th of September falls on a Saturday. So how are exhibitors from a distance to get their articles arranged and packed in time to get away that evening after six o'clock?

It may be the intention of the committee to provide special trains for those who come from north of the Tweed; but I have no faith in this, however good their intentions.

In many instances an exhibitor from Scotland will have to leave not later than Monday the 1st; and by being precluded from removing his articles until six o'clock on Saturday evening, he is practically compelled to remain until Monday the 8th; and the committee, more especially if composed of practical men, ought to know that gardeners cannot, as a rule, be so long absent from their duties. Such a clause as the one I have referred to is indeed tantamount to preclude, as I have already said, both Scotch and Irish competitors, and I believe many English ones also, as it tells more against them than it will against the foreign competitors, as they are generally represented by their respective agents in this country.

I would therefore beg to suggest that exhibitors from a distance be allowed to pack up sufficiently early in the afternoon to admit of their reaching home, if possible, the same evening; and this I am sure could be done without prejudice to the interest either of the public or the show. It was done at the show held at Glasgow last year; and no one, so far as I am aware, took undue advantage of the privilege.

I trust that this reasonable suggestion will receive at the hands of the committee fair consideration; also, that they will be able to give effect to it; for unless something of the kind be adopted, parties from a distance cannot be expected to attend: consequently the exhibition will be deprived of its international character, and will be nothing else than a purely local show. - I am, S. W.

[We are certain this is not what is intended by the Manchester authorities, though it may be very inconvenient; and we believe the difficulty will be met, as far as it can be. - ED. ]