As might have been expected, there was a great lot of Melons, the best in the green-fleshed class being Beusie's Incomparable and Dr Hogg; and in the scarlet-fleshed class the perennial and ever-victorious Scarlet Gem. The best Figs were shown by Mr Cowe, and the largest and best variety among them was named Luffness, a variety bearing a marked resemblance to Castle Kennedy.

The 12 best Peaches, shown by Mr D. Campbell in three sorts, were unfortunately unnamed; and yet the rules specify that "all fruits must be correctly named." Mr Mathieson, Tulliallan Castle Gardens, was second with Royal George, Barring-ton, and Noblesse. The group awarded the third prize contained only Red Magdalen, as distinct from the foregoing. The best 12 Nectarines came from Mr Thos. Hardie, Springfield House Gardens, and consisted of Elruge, Early Newington, and Violette Hative. Due de Tolliers and Hunt's Tawny were also exhibited. Apricots, which were somewhat sparsely shown, consisted of Moor Park, Hems-kirk, Masculine, Peach, Blenheim, and Hensha. The best Plums were yellow and red Magnum Bonum, Washington, Kirke's Greengage, and Coe's Golden Drop.

Apples and Pears were poorly represented, as might have been expected, seeing how partial the crop is generally. Mr George Scrymgeour, Reading, was first with a collection, of 6 sorts each, of baking and dessert Apples. Of the former he had Reinette du Canada, Dutch Codlin, Yorkshire Greening, Emperor Alexander, Kentish Fillbasket, and Gloria Mundi; and of the latter, Blenheim Orange, Golden Reinette, Golden Winter, Pearmain, Louis Pearmain, Sturmer Pippin, and Ribston Pippin. The best 6 Pears, in 2 sorts, came from Mr James Douglas, Ilford, who had Bon Chretien and Louise Bonne of Jersey; 2d, Mr James Gordon, with the former and Beurre d'Amaulis.

Turning to the plant department of the Exhibition, the collections of miscellaneous new and rare ornamental plants, etc, exhibited by Messrs Veitch & Sons, P. Lawson & Son, J. & R. Thyne, Downie, Laird, & Laiug, Methven, Mitchell, Barron & Son, Elvaston, Derby, etc., deserve the highest praise. Those contributed by Messrs P. Lawson & Son were mainly disposed in the large orchestra, and made a fine and effective display. Most of the other exhibitors of groups of plants competed for the prizes for the collections of new and rare plants. Messrs Veitch & Sons were placed 1st with a grand group; 2d, Messrs J. & R. Thyne, Glasgow; and 3d, Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing; and a special prize was awarded to Messrs Barron & Son for their group of coniferous plants, containing several remarkably good things. Mr R. Hartland, Cork, had a group of his new variegated Wellingtonia gigantea.

The collections of plants competing for prizes were very fine; an indifferent specimen was quite the exception. Mr William Thomson, Dalkeith Gardens, was first with eight stove and greenhouse plants, not more than two of a variety, having two fine examples of Vanda tricolor, one plant with six spikes of bloom; four very finely grown and flowered Heaths, that reminded one of the old days of Chiswick - viz., E. Austiniana, very fine indeed; E. Jacksoni, and two plants of E. retorta major; a fine Statice Holfordi, and Aerides suavisissima. Second, Mr T. Lees, The Gardens, Tynninghame, who had five fine Ericas - viz., Marnockiana, Linnioides pregnans, Austiniana, a very fine pale seedling quite of a new style, free in growth, and very free of bloom; and a grand variety of Aitonia, named after the raiser Turnbulli, and of a pale bright-red hue; Phcenocoma prolifera, Statice Rattrayana, and Cattleya crispa. The Heaths here were very fine also; and it may be stated in this place that all the Ericas exhibited on this occasion, with the exception of Retorta major, were raised by Mr Turnbull. Third, Mr John Sutherland, gardener to P. Denny, Esq., Helenslee, Dumbarton. Four collections of plants were staged in competition.

But two competitors appeared in the class for three Cape Heaths, and these were placed equal first, Mr Lees having Linnioides pregnans Turnbulli and Aitonia Turnbulli; Mr J. M'Kay, gardener to W. C. Tennant, Esq., The Glen, Innerleithen, had Marnockiana, Aitonia Turnbulli, and one unnamed. Mr Sutherland was first with four fine-foliaged plants, having gloriously-coloured specimens of Croton variegatum and angustifolium, Dicksonia antarctica, and Cyathea dealbata, both very fine specimens. Second, Mr W. Thomson, with three huge specimens of Croton pictum, Croton variegatum, and C. angustifolium, much larger plants than in the preceding group, but not so well coloured; and a fine Alocasia zebrina. Third, Mr Thomas Ormiston, gardener to W. A. Jamieson, Esq., Walk, Alloa, with the two Crotons just named, a very fine Pandanus elegantissimus, and Latania borbonica. Seven collections competed in this class. Mr Thomson was first with the finest four Ferns, having a magnificent specimen of Cibotium Schiedei, a fine Neottopteris nidus, Alsophila excelsa, and Pteris umbrosa, all very good. Second, Mr Sutherland, with Todea superba, Dicksonia squarrosa, Gymnogramtna martensi, and G. peruviana argyro-phylla, both very fine.

Third, Mr Thomas Ormiston. Tree-ferns were finely shown, and made a grand feature, towering up aloft in different parts of the room-Mr Sutherland was first with dealbata; Mr Gordon, of Niddrie Gardens, second; and Mr Thomson, third, both with Dicksonia antarctica. But one collection of three Orchids was staged, that from Mr Thomson, Dalkeith, and consisted of two fine plants of Vanda tricolor, and one of V. suavis. They were deservedly awarded the first prize. Fuchsias were but poorly represented, mainly plants with the common fault of being too old, though of pretty good shape. In the class for two plants in 8-inch pots a third prize only was awarded, so generally bad were the plants. The two Cockscombs shown by Mr Pow, gardener to J. Melville, Esq., in class 76, were marvellous specimens of high cultivation: the largest of the two had a comb some 16 inches in length and 8 inches in breadth, the other being only a little smaller. Mr Gordon had three large and well-grown pans of Achimenes; but having been brought out of too much heat, the flowers soon withered.