JUNE. 121 



THE GREAT HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



May bns again brought its flowers and their exhibitions ; but 

 tlie Horticultural Society's meeting was unhappily attended 

 with cold winds and rain, keeping away the company which 

 would otherwise have been present. For many years we have 

 not failed to be upon the ground as early as six o'clock ; but 

 on this occasion circumstances obliged us to defer our visit till 

 about four in the afternoon, when every thing wore an uncom- 

 fortable, gloomy look, which neither music nor flowers, beau- 

 tiful as they were, could counteract. In consequence of the 

 inadequacy of the prize, there was not a Pelargonium staged; 

 the large tent appro])riated for their exhibition was conse- 

 quently empty and forlorn enough. For the particular objects 

 of interest, we must refer to the report, which will follow in 

 its place. One of the lions of the day was Mr. Paxton ; and 

 we were amused to see the eagerness of a country gardener to 

 catch sight of one who has taken so conspicuous a place amount 

 the men of his day. " Here he comes," said this gardener's 

 friend, "and the Duke with him, and the Duchess of Suther- 

 land; they both wear white hats you see." Right well spoken, 

 thought we ; it tells of the triumph of merit. From the Bo- 

 tanic Society's exhibition we were entirely absent, but there 

 we sustained a defeat, our plants being placed second to Mr. 

 Turner's of Slough, and that on the first occasion of his ex- 

 hibiting Pelargoniums. 



Respecting the National Floricultural Society's exhibitions, 

 we are sorry to say, that in spite of all advice to the contrary 

 given for years, people will persist in forwarding their flowers 

 in paper and other fragile boxes, which are invariably crushed 

 in passing through the post-office. It is therefore our duty 

 to warn raisers that, if they do not avoid this error, they are 

 wasting their time and the money spent in postage. We again 

 earnestly commend this flourishing society to our readers' notice. 

 The arrangements are now all but, if not quite complete. 

 Parties sending objects for examination will receive an im- 

 mediate report of the judges' opinions upon their merits; that 

 is, if they are members and have paid their subscriptions, — 

 a thing, by the by, a few want reminding they have neglected 

 to do, and which should be done forthwith. We shall be on 

 the look-out for fine objects to select our Illustrations from ; 

 and we take this opportunity of reminding some of our readers 

 who are requesting us to figure flowers which have not yet 

 appeared, that we shall be glad to do so as soon as we meet 

 with seedlings calculated to form valuable additions to the 

 varieties in present cultivation. 



NEW SERIliS. VOL. 1. NO. VI. M 



