[Our London Correspondence].

Mr. Editor: - There has been rather a tempest in a tea-pot at the Colchester Chrysanthemum show, that has got into the country papers, and will amuse some of your gardening readers. It appears that a certain Mr. Hedge grew some specimen Chrysanthemums in bottom-lea pots, thereby gaining the same kind of advantage that others attempted in laying grape vines attached to big roots through pots, and when the grapes were ripe cutting off the branch. . Mr. Hedge got the advantage of finer flowers by having more earth to his roots, but the trick was discovered, and his flowers cast out. He sued the Society for £2, transportation and expenses, and in return, the Society resolved "that Mr. John Henry Hedge having attempted to gain prizes in direct violation of regulation 13, he be forever expelled from the Society," which was carried 22 to 2; so poor John Henry cannot attempt to hedge, at least at Colchester, any more. "Forever" seems a great while, however.

I have lately witnessed the most extraordinary benefits from the use of what is called here East India oil, for sprains, etc, in cattle, and have been fortunate in procuring the following receipt for its manufacture, which may be valuable to some of your readers: - 1 quart of linseed oil, 1 ounce of powdered verdigris, beat well together in a mortar; dissolve 1 ounce of camphor with 1 1/2 ounce of spirits of wine, beat 2 ounces of soft soap in the mortar till it becomes a complete froth; add 1/2 pint of water as slow as you can, at the same time keep beating it. Mix all together; add 1 pint of spirits of turpentine. Shake it well together.

Sir William Hooker in his last report of Kew Gardens, gives the following figures of the number of visitors, which has gradually increased from 9,174 in 1841, to 361,978 in 1857, and he notes improved conduct and general good behaviour, the only return asked for the great privilege of inspection. When you in America have no president-making to do, perhaps you will turn your attention to benefiting the public by an economic museum. Of the one at Kew Sir William says: "The old museum contains glazed cabinets measuring 6,000 superficial feet. One has only to see the immense numbers of people, from the prince to the peasant, who visit these collections, and to be told that almost every day application is made for information respecting some part or other of them, the woods, the fibres, the drags, the dyes, &o.,to appreciate the practical utility of these museums. During the past year, the important series of specimens obtained by gift and purchase from the ' Exposition Universelle' at Paris, and the valuable donations of the Commissioners for the 'Great Exhibition' in 1851, have been received and deposited in their proper places".

A new nursery for the supply of trees to the metropolitan parks, has been formed at Kew. The demand was so great that suitable kinds could not be procured in the market; about 10,000 trees have thus been supplied.

A machine-making firm in Surrey have brought out a "blast-drill," over which agriculturists ought to chant praises, because turnip-growing is to become therewith a matter of absolute certainty, seeing that it makes short work with the fly. Drawn up and down a field, it dusts the young leaves of the turnip plants with a mixture of lime and soot, not on one side only, but on both sides; and while the fans are performing this salutary operation, they create a strong indraught, which sucks in and annihilates the fly. What will the entomologists say?

Reports respecting the Dioscorea continue to come in favorable to the cultivation of that root; some weighing more than four pounds have been exhibited, and a general feeling in its favor seems to be abroad.

The new French strawberries are: Comte de Paris, Marquise de Latour Maubourg, Prinoesse Royale, Cremont, (not perpetual, as stated by some,) Bell de Paris, Gelineau, La Chalonaise, Prince Imperial. Belgian: Excellente, Ne Plus Ultra, La Reine, a white sort distinct from the Bicton Pine, and of finer flavor; Triomphe de Liege, La Delicieuse, La Constante, (new).

An Alpine Strawberry is known here without runners - red and white. They make beautiful borders or edges in a kitchen garden, and fruit throughout the season; and a seedling from Sir Harry, also without runners, producing large fruit, which will of course be difficult to propagate, but must finally prove an acquisition.

Strawberry wine is strongly advocated; it is said to be superior to currant, and a pleasant, cooling drink may also be made by pouring boiling water on the fruit, with the addition of a little sugar and lemon juice.

Some fine Black Hamburgh grapes grown out of doors, were lately exhibited, decidedly the best examples yet shown. They were stated to have been grown on a border of the following description: the natural soil to the depth of two feet six inches, was trenched out, and refilled with brickbats and old mortar, on the top of which were laid turfs, cut rather thick, with the grass downwards. This makes a good foundation for the roots, and keeps the loose soil from running into the sub-drainage. On the top of this, eighteen inches of well-decayed dung and decayed vegetable earth, in equal proportions. The vines are stated to be vigorous and healthy, and free from mildew, etc. These were also reported to have been grown on Hoare's principle, the fundamental part of which is identical with that upon which the Raspberry is cultivated, - namely, inducing the plant each year to produce new branches from the base; these bear a crop in the second year, proportioned to the strength of the main tree, and are afterwards cut away.

This is a general rule, which may be applied to all trees and shrubs, - roses, for instance, - whose energy in blossoming depends on the strength of their previous year's wood.

The Calceolaria, so long a favorite florists' flower here, seems to be giving up the ghost. The gardeners say it is unfortunate, but it seems nevertheless true, that Calceolarias are becoming less useful than they were a few years ago, as ornaments to the flower garden. On all sides there is an outcry against them. Whole beds of them die off, or become so broken and gapped by plants dying out, as to disfigure the whole arrangement of which they were a part. It is difficult to account for this.