APRIL. 67 



proach in Britain the beauty of Dr. Hooker's charming draw- 

 ings, which we have no doubt are correct representations, 

 they will certainly be great acquisitions to our gardens. Such 

 being the case, we wait with patience the blossoming of some 

 of the larger and finer species, which we have little doubt the 

 skill and perseverance of English gardeners will early effect. 

 As soon as they appear, we shall not fail to record their merits 

 — a pleasing task with so lovely a genus. 



NATIONAL FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



March 4th. — Mr. E. Beck in the chair. At this the anniversary 

 general meeting, the report of the Society's proceedings was read and 

 adopted. The receipts for the past year were stated to be 161/. I4s., 

 and the disbursements 15S/. 135. 2c?,, shewing a balance of 3/. O5. lOd. 

 in the hands of the treasurer, with outstanding subscriptions still un- 

 paid amounting to 34/. 135. We cannot therefore allow this oppor- 

 tunity to pass without congratulating the Society, not less on the 

 good it has effected, than on its success ; and we are sure all wall join 

 us in thanking those who have given its interests so much of their 

 time and attention. If the expenditure for the first season has been 

 large, it must be remembered that a Society like this could not be 

 made known without it. There were also many expenses of a miscella- 

 neous character incurred at starting, which will not again be required. 



With the exception of four changes in the committee, all the 

 ofiicers were re-elected. Three new members (Messrs. Vaux, Machin, 

 and Newton,) were added to the list, and several others were proposed 

 for election at the next meeting. 



We trust that the Society will steadily carry out the object it has 

 in view, and that continued success will attend its operations, which 

 must at no distant date confer a great benefit on Floriculture. 



The second part of the Transactions (which has just been issued) 

 gives the following list of flowers that have received awards, viz. : 



First-Class Certificates to Hollyhocks, Safranot, Pillar of Beauty, 

 Triumphant, Pourpre de Tyre, and Model of Perfection ; to Dahlias, 

 Miss Ward and Morning Star; to a Statice, apparently a cross be- 

 tween Imbricata and Macrophylla. 



Certificate of Merit to Hollyhock, Penelope; to Dahlias, Una, 

 Sir F. Thesiger, and Bob ; and to Chrysanthemum Versailles Defence. 



Label of Commendation to Pentstemon variabilis and to Cyclamen 

 persicum rubrum. 



SHADING THE DAHLIA. 



** How beautifully clean your flowers are ! how brilliant in colour ! 

 How do you contrive to bring them into such condition .'' Now tell 

 me how many hours did it take you to wheedle, and coax, and 

 coerce all these petals into such perfect order and regularity .'' They 



