, 1891-10-28
FLOWER AND FRUIT sHEw IN PARIS.

PARIS, 9th SEPTEMBER.
A more perfect exhibition of autumn flowers
and table fruits than that opened Yesterday
by the SocI6te Rationale d'Horticulture. in
the Rue de Grenelle, it would be difficult
to imagine. 1t is doubtful, indeed, whether
any country in the world could produce so fine
a show Of grapes, pears, and apples as is dis
played in the SOciety's tastefully arranged hall.
The flowers consist, of course, principally
OF gladioli, dahlias, and begonias. Among the
first-named are some charming tints, but the
collections scarcely rank as frst-class of their
kind. Where the French gardener shines is
more especially in the show of double dahlias,
OF which some really remarkable specimens,
both as to colour and size, are exhibited.
noticed one stand in particular where the spe-
cimens were of the deepest purple and fully
six inches in diameter, and another full of
dahliaS so exactly matched as to shade and
dimensions that it was difficult to believe in
their reality. The collection, from the mon
ster growth tothe tiniest "buttons,' y in every
conceivable tint, both plain and variegated,
was indeed perfect. Single dahlias have
scarcely benefited so largely here as in Eng
land by the revival of taste in their favour,
as proved by the fact that some of the finest
specimens are known in Paris only by their
English names, such as ''The Bridesmaid
and the Cambridge y%ellows, Still they made
a very fine show. The begonias, always
favourites in France, were displayed with
great taste and in large numbers, one exhi-
bitor in particular making an admirable effect
by grouping single colours together, thus show
ing side by side whole banks of white, scarlet,
purple, and other hues, If the flowers ex-
cited admiration the fruits created absolute
enthusiasm. The grapes alone are worth a
visit to the other side of the river. Chase
las, worth heavens knows how much a pound,
seemed as plentiful as blackberies, while sable
hued Alicantes, covered with their delicate
bloom and as large as walnuts, were shown
in overwhelming quantities. The same may
be said af the apples and pears. Some giant
specimens of the former excited a perfect
chorus of "ohs p and abs " as spectators
admired their healthy-looking plumpness,
and many a "reinette" and pippin, / fancy,
only escaped a surreptitious change of owner
ship because they could not possibly have
been squeezed into the pocket of any male or
female in the show. Among the pears mon
strous "bons Chretiens,' "Beurres d. Aniou,'
and "Duohesses d'Angouleme =" took the front
rank, many looking like elaborate wax models
rather than real fruit, SO perfect were they
in proportion and colour. Strange to say,
these horticultural marvels failed to draw
more than a mere scattering of visitors to-day,
probably on account of the weather, which
has been SO bright and fine as to attract all
Paris to the country. A gentle cool breeze,
combined with a clear sky, has made this,
one of the most enjoyable days Of the pre-
sent autumn. Daily Telegraph.
According to q weekly journal which de-
votes itself to diplomatic matters, the British
Government has given the Porte to under
stand that even in its own interest it is advi-
sable that negotiations with a view to the
selection of a date for the evacuation of Egypt
should not to be opened. This authority
afirms that Lord Salisbury added that he
would be only too glad to see everything SO
settled that the troops could be recalled with
prudence. 7oSuch, however, was not the case