[a]unpropitious weather which so frequently attended the regattas and flower shows of this locality was again triumphant on the 10th of September, the day selected for the Hastings and St. Leonards Horticultural Exhibition. As a consequence the show was postponed from the 10th (when the weather forecast for that day was "Still there comes a breezy air, with mist or showers; the night more fair) till the following day (when the forecast was "Electrict tokens now appear with average warmth for time of year", and a very fortunate postponement it was, the results being a day of delightfuly fine and warm weather, with an attendance at the show of fifteen hundred persons. The site selected for the display was the double enclosure in Warrior square, connected by a subterranean passage (as originally designed by Mr. Troupe), illuminated with devices and jets of gas; and it is doubtful whether, outside the St. Leonards Subscription Gardens (where the show had been frequently held) a more suitable and convenient spot could have been obtained. There were two bands engaged - the Cavalry band from Maidstone, to play on the upper lawn, and the Rifle Band (Kluckmner's) to perform on the lower enclosure. Altogether the scene was a gay and animative one; and, considering that an immense amount of labour devolved on Mr. W. Savery as the hon. sec. and a few other gentlemen, great praise was due to them for the attendant success. In the list of exhibitors, there was a noticeable absence of names that had figured at previous shows, but even with that drawn back the display of productions was above the average. Not the least noteworthy of the articles exhibited were twelve or more cases containing fruit and flowers modelled in wax by Mr. Slatter, of 6 Eversfield place, and which were pronounced by all who saw them to be marvellous imitations of the originals. Two specimens of these ingenious productions, after nearly forty years, are still in the view of the writer. The largest case represented a wild bank and consisted of blackberries, oak leaves, honeysuckles, foxgoves, wild roses, &c., and the smaller cases contained exquisite imitations of hops, lillies, pine apples, snow-drops, fuschias and Christmas roses. The modeller of these unique imitations was somewhat eccentric in his habits, and sometimes when showing them in private he would say "They call me a fool; so be it. I'm content". It may also be said to Mr. Slatter's credit that in displays of public loyalty, his house was almost invariably the best decorated.
Among the other presentations at the show (not for competition) were plates of apples and a design of cut flowers by V. B. Crake, Esq., grapes and peaches by T. Brassey, Esq., apple-melons and gree-house plants W. Lucas-Shadwell, Esq., four miniature fruit trees showing a new style of raising plants by H. R. Brandrain, Esq., cut flowers by Miss Robertson; and an ornamental garden by Mr. Miller, of 22 Warrior square. The successful competitors and awards of prizes must be omitted from this record. A noticeable feature in later times when the shows have been held in the Alexandra Park, even with a more than doubled population - is the comparatively meagre attendance of the -
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