THE FIRST EXHIBITION AA'as held on the 16th March, 1850, at the Botanic Gardens. As a beginning it was on the whole encouraging. There was an excellent shoyv of fruit, and some apples from the garden of Mr. John Orr, of Abbotsford, could scarcely be excelled, though they yvere entered too late for competition. T h e flower display yvas much admired, and there yvere some exquisite bouquets. Though not coming within the category of horticulture, some latitude was permitted in exhibiting anything special, either manufacturing or mechanical. T h e Mayor m a d e special mention of the wine from the Geelong vineyards, and the ribston pippins from the garden of Mr. Barrett on the Merri Creek. From their excellence the judges complimented this fruit by designating it the Victorian pippin. S o m e acorns shown by Mr. George James induced a belief that a day yvould come yvhen Victoria would grow her o w n oak trees. T h e introduction of madder by Mr. Edyvard AVilson (of the Argus) was deemed of vast importance by the judges, by w h o m also particular allusion yvas directed to some French sorrel and onions presented by Mr. R e d m o n d Barry. Prizes of thefirstclass yvere awarded to Mr. James Sandilands for table grape, red Frontignac, and wine grape—black Pineau ; to Mr. Barrett, gardener, Merri Creek, for ribston pippins (table) and codling seedling (cooking); to Mr. George Denham, market gardener, for long spine cucumber; and to Mr. Joseph Raleigh, for early-horn carrots and long red mangel-wurzel. Wine prizes yvere given to Messrs. Brequet and Amiet, of Geelong—i.e., afirstfor Burgundy and Claret, and a second for Champagne. From the catalogue it m a y be interesting to pick out the names of a few old colonists well known and useful in their day. Amongst thefirstappears the late Sir R e d m o n d Barry, Messrs. Jackson, Rae and C o , Mr. Henry Ginn, Captain Cole, Mr. AVilliam Overton, Mr. Edward Wilson, Mr. George James, Dr. Greeves, Dr. G. Howitt, Mrs. Hobson, AV. M . Bell, Mr. James Rule, Mr. A. McLachlan, Mr. G. A. Robinson, Mr. J. Raleigh, Mr. John Orr, Mr. C. Jordan, Mr. R. A. Balbirnie, Major Davidson, Mr. Oyven, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Brequet, Mr. Aimet, and R. Charles and Co. THE SECOND EXHIBITION
AVas held in the same place on the 30th October, 1850, which happened to be a very hot day. It was a much more pretentious turn-out than its predecessor. His Honor, the Superintendent and family, most of the officers of the Government and their families, and the principal gentry of the city and its environs, together with many country gentlemen and their families, croyvded the tents and marquees; and, notwithstanding the intense heat, parties of ladies and gentlemen promenaded the walks ofthe garden during the performance of Mr. Hore's Saxhorn Band. The following gentlemen yvere appointed judges, namely :—Messrs. F. Bryant, R e d m o n d Barry, D. C. M'Arthur, James Simpson, Henry Ginn, Thomas Barrett, and David Boyle. FLOWERS.
There were several elegant floral contributions, for exhibition only, from the gardens of the Superintendent, Mrs. Plowitt, Mr. Henry Ginn, R. Barry, Judge A'Beckett and D. Ogilvie, and medals were ayvarded as follow:—Gold ones to Mr. James Rule (Richmond) and Major Firebrace, and silver medals to Messrs. Rule, AVilliam Hull, G. P. Ball, James Jackson and David Boyle (gardener to Mr. D. C. M'Arthur.) FRUIT.
Silver medals to Mr. J. Orr, of Abbotsford. Mr. AVm. Hull, of Richmond, exhibited gooseberries, and Mr. Hollick seedling Muscatel vine from a dried raisin, in the pot, in November, 1849. VEGETABLES.
Mr. John Rule, of Richmond, silver medal; Mr. Charles Jordan, certificate of merit ; Mr. John Orr, silver medals; Mr. John Duerdin, silver medal; Mr. G. P. Ball, silver medals.
