The annual meeting of this Society was held in the Music Hall, George Street, Edinburgh, on the 2d of last month, when there was a large attendance of members. Mr Thomson, Dalkeith Park, in the chair. Mr Methven, the Treasurer, read over the financial report for the year, which showed that, notwithstanding the heavy expenditure caused by the Great International Exhibition, the Society had added to its reserve fund something like £200. The accounts having been previously audited by Mr Alexander, of the firm of Dickson & Co., were passed unanimously; and the Treasurer then resigned his position in connection with the Society. The name of another gentleman was mentioned as a suitable successor to Mr Methven, but as he was unknown to the majority of the members, it was agreed to adjourn the meeting for a week, to meet in the same place. At this meeting, Daniel Smith, Esq., W.S., in the chair, Patrick Neil Fraser, Esq., Canonmills Lodge, was proposed and elected to the office of treasurer by acclamation, as a gentleman well known for his love of horticulture, and held in high esteem by all who know him.

A vote of thanks to the chairman and the other office-bearers of the Society terminated the business of the meeting.

The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society #1

The above society held its summer exhibition on the 13th of last month, in the Music Hall, George Street. This year the exhibition was held later than usual, in order to give it the character of a Rose show, and we cannot help thinking that it was rather a pity to have it and a similar show in Glasgow on the same day.

The general character of the exhibition, as regards plants, fruit, and flowers, was much the same as on previous occasions. The Roses, being in great force, gave it an added interest over other years, and this the public seemed thoroughly to appreciate, for on no previous occasion have we seen so large a gathering of visitors at a midsummer exhibition in Edinburgh. The Roses seemed to have many admirers. This was especially evident in the neighbourhood of the splendid stand of 36 blooms, from Hugh Dickson, Belmont Nursery, Belfast. These were magnificent examples of Rose culture, quite equal to the high standard attained to by the great English growers, and we trust they are a mark at which the Scotch growers will aim against another such exhibition. Amongst his handsome collection, we noted, as extraordinary examples of fine growth, Baroness Rothschild, Horace Vernet, Mdlle. Marguerite Dombrain, Abel Grand, Madam Chas. Wood, Senateur Vaisse, Chas. Lefebvre, Mdlle. Marie Rady, Anna de Diesbach, and Prince De Porcia. Many of the other stands by both nurserymen and gardeners were fine, though a long way in the rear of that we have specially referred to.

The various Edinburgh nurserymen had their usual stands filled with pretty saleable plants. Amongst those sent by Messrs Lawson & Sons we noted some very pretty variegated shrubs and trees, such as Acer Japonica variegata, Abies Albertina variegata, Cupressus Lawsoniana variegata elegantissima, Hedera helix variegata. This very pretty variegated variety of the common wood Ivy is calculated to be very useful as a decorative plant in the flower-garden. They had also the same Ivy in its tree form, that would make beautiful edgings in a flower-garden. The same firm filled the orchestra with palms and other showy plants. Amongst the numerous plants contributed by Mr Methven, we noticed a large collection of cut Roses; and perhaps the most remarkable plant in the room, quite unique in character and appearance - we refer to Sedum spectabile irregulare variegatum. This plant stood 29° of frost in the open border last year, and we predict for it a more extensive cultivation than any plant we know of the same character.

Amongst Dickson & Co.'s collection we noted a number of crosses from the common wild Violas, but none of them as yet at such a stage as to require special notice, though they are probably on the road to it. The same firm showed a very pretty bedding Pansy called Celestial, a great improvement on Cliveden Blue, and others like it.

Amongst Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing's collection we noted a very large bold bedding Pansy of deeper blue than Celestial, and much larger, named Blue Nymph: these are great acquisitions, and their colours are sufficiently dissimilar to make both desirable additions to every collection of bedding-plants.

Mr Paul, nurseryman, Paisley, showed a very promising dark shrubby bedding Calceolaria. Messrs Drummond Brothers, George Street, Mitchell & Arnot, and Dickson & Sons, sent large assortments of pretty plants; and Mr P. Neil Fraser, the Treasurer of the Society, sent as usual a great many pretty Ferns from his extensive collection of these plants.

The sensation in the way of fruit was a seedling Strawberry raised by Messrs Moffat of Fordeldeeu, near Dalkeith, named Duke of Edinburgh. It forms enormous coxcomb berries, one of which weighed 2 1/4 oz., many over 2 oz. It also in many instances produces enormous conical berries. It got a first-class certificate on the ground of its great size. In flavour it is slightly superior to the Elton Pine.

We feel that in this brief notice we are omitting much that was well worthy of remark, but we have no alternative, as our space for such purposes is limited.

The members of the Society, to the number of forty, sat down to an excellent dinner in the Albert Hotel, Hanover Street - Mr Thomson of Dalkeith in the chair, and Provost Deans, nurseryman, Jedburgh, croupier; when the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were proposed and responded to.