"Dear Sir, -- I have received the commands of the Queen to beg you will inform the Council of the gratification which Her Majesty received from her visit the the Horticultural Gardens. Her Majesty was truly glad to see the improvements that are now in progress, which, when completed, will go far towards realising the wishes of the Prince Consort, and must conduce so much to the success which he anticipated for the Society when he procured their establishment at South Kensington.

"Considering the interest the Prince always took in these gardens, and how much the Society owes to his active support and assistance, it would be exceedingly gratifying to Her Majesty if the council shall resolve that his birthday, which falls on the 26th of August, should from henceforth be observed by the Society as a holiday, on which free admission to the gardens should be allowed to the public. The Queen does not doubt that the Council will readily adopt this suggestion; and she desires me, therefore, to request that you will be good enough to bring the subject before them at their next meeting. -- Yours, &c., C. Grey. -- A Murray, Esq."

Mr. Murray, in reply, states that having submitted General Grey's letter to the council, the latter will take immediate steps towards carrying out Her Majesty's wishes.

---- A Strawberry Fete took place at Chiswick on the 27th of June, and was attended by 1500 visitors, to whom it gave general satisfaction.

A fete of similar character was to have been held at South Kensington, on the 13th of last month, but it, as well as the exhibition of bouquet-holders, which was to have been opened the same day, proved complete failures.

Certificates of three degrees of merit were offered for Strawberries in twenty-five classes, according to which, and the space occupied by the exhibitor, a certain proportion of the money received for the admission of visitors was to be distributed; but in only seven of the classes were entries made, and of the ten certificates awareded, seven were taken by Mr. Lydiard, of Batheaston, near Bath.

The heaviest single strawberry was a British Queen, from Mr. Lydiard, weighing 1 oz. 8 dwts. Of the bouquet-holders the only worth mention was that presented to Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, byt the Maharajah Dhuleep Sing. On the evening of the same day the Duke of Buccleuch, the President, gave an evening party in the conservatory and arcades, which were lighted up by 3000 gas-burners, at which the Prince and Princess of Wales were present, and about 2000 visitors.

The Gardener's Royal Benevolent Institution.-- The 21st Anniversary Meeting of this Institution was held at the London Tavern, on the 8th of last month, the right Hon. charles Lawson, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, being in the chair.

The usual loyal toasts having been given, the Lord Provost in proposing "Success and Prosperity to the Institution,: after pointing out the neccessity of such an institution for gardeners said, that in its early years little or no good was effected; but in 1843 some beneficial changes in the management were introduced, and it has gradually progressed in usefulness, affording annuities to deserving applicants above sixty years of age, of 16pound and 12pound to men and widows.

At that moment there were fifty-five persons supported by the charity, the funds of which were derived from annual subscriptions, collection at the anniversary dinner, and the dividends on 5500 funded stock.

He hoped that all well-to-do gardeners would come forward and subscribe their mite towards an institution eminently their own, and that all our landed gentry would become subscribers -- every one should, indeed, who enjoys the luxury of flowers, fruit, and vegetables.

He trusted that ere long such would be the success of the Institution that not a single gardener, or gardener's widow, in the country, who might be in true misfortune, would have to ask twice, or ask in vain, for its sheltering protection. The amount collected at the dinner was upwards of 400 pounds.

Gardeners' Society. -- In the department of the Seine there is a Gardeners' Mutual Benefit Society counting 607 members, and the funds amount to 1049 P. An attempt was recently made in this country to start a Gardeners' Society on the principles of assurance, but, whether in consequence of the Governmnet Annuities Bill, or from an unaccountable apathy on the part of gardeners, the project did not meet with that response which it deserved.

The Cocoa-Nut produced by the tree at Syon, of the setting of which an account was given in our January Number, having ripened, was shown by Mr. Fairbairn, Mr. Smith's successor in the management of the gardens at that place, first at South Kensington on the 29th of June, and again at the Royal Botanic Show on July 2nd.

Dandelion Culture. -- The French use this plant in salads, and very good it is said to be when blanched. M. Lebeuf gives in the "Journal of the Imperial and Central Society of Horticulture," the following as the mode of treatment which he pursues. He sows from April to June, or even later, according as the ground is at liberty. If the soil and weather are dry, water is given till the plants come up and have made a few leaves. They are then left to themselves, and merely kept free of weeds. If required for use in November, the plants are earthed over in the end of September; if in February or March, this is done in November or December, covering in the former case 2 inches, and in the latter to 3 inches deep. The produce in a very light dry soil is from 2 and 3/4 pounds to 3 and 1/2 pounds per square yard, according as the consumption takes place in December of March. The Dandelion, M.Lebeuf considers, is superior to corn salad, and much more productive. To the above M. Louesse adds, as a note, that according to his experience, and the practice adopted in the kitchen gardens at Versailles, the seeds should be sown in March, and the most vigorous plants pricked out. Thesse should be earthed over in December, with 4 inches of old hotbed soil. Cutting may be commenced about the third week in February, and continued till April, when the covering should be taken off. The plants will last for many years, and a greater produce will be obtained as their size increases. M. Louesse not only considers Dandelion when treated as above as excellent, but superior to Barbe de Capucin, being quite as tender, and not nearly so bitter.

Black Prince Grapes, such as those exhibited by Mr. Hill, gardener to R. Sneyd, Esq., Keele Hall, have, to the best of our knowledge, never before been grown. For the last four years he has exhibited this variety in great perfection, but the bunches which he sent to the Royal Botanic and Horticultural shows last month outshone all he had previously produced. The three bunches weighed 13lbs. 10 ozs., and the largest of them, which could not be less than 17 inches long, was 5lbs. 7ozs. A second dish weighed 11lbs. 10 ozs. The whole were beautifully coloured, even in berry, and the form of the bunches perfectly symmetrical. The Vine by which they were produced was grafted on the Frankenthal, which Mr. Hill finds to be the best of all stocks.

Obituary.
Mr. Daniel Ferguson, Curator of the Botanic Garden, at Belfast, died on the 5th of last month. He had held that post for twenty-eight years, and was much respected both in his private life and official capacity. He is succeeded by his son, Mr. W. Hooker Ferguson, who, in addition to the advantage of being under his father at Belfast, has had the advantage of having been a considerable while at Kew.