MAY. 



107 



public show in London. The weather has, however, been too cold, 

 and the season too late, for the first meeting to be any criterion of 

 what is likely to follow. The Horticultural Society's schedule of 

 prizes for the present year is a liberal one. Pelargoniums are raised 

 to the old figure ; Carnations, Picotees, Pinks, and Pansies have all 

 been enumerated and judiciously patronised. For Orchids the prizes 

 are very numerous : it must be a small grower indeed of this delight- 

 ful tribe who cannot win a prize. We fear we shall be deprived of 

 the pleasure of witnessing Mr. Rucker's noble specimens this season, 

 which have hitherto contributed so much to the beauty and attrac- 

 tion of these exhibitions. 



At the Royal Botanic Society, Regent's Park, the wishes of the 

 amateur florist have been met by dividing the classes. Nurserymen 

 will not in future compete with their customers. In Pelargoniums 

 there is an additional class for new flowers, in 8-inch pots, in 

 June only. This class will be nearly as interesting to those who 

 grow this beautiful greenhouse plant as the seedlings themselves. 



The only feature at the Surrey shows (Royal South-London) is 

 the regulation first adopted at Chiswick, and then at the Park, of 

 having the exhibitor's name attached to the productions before they 

 are judged : this has our hearty concurrence. 



At Edinburgh there is to be a grand Dahlia and Hollyhock show 

 in autumn, open to the three kingdoms, at which some of the 

 southern growers intend to compete. It will indeed be extraordi- 

 nary for a London grower to take his productions to Edinburgh: 

 whether this can be performed successfully remains to be seen. 



Carnations and Picotees would stand such a journey, so likewise 

 would cut blooms of Hollyhocks ; but we have some doubts about 

 spikes of the latter. Dahlias, if a cool day before the show, or late 

 in September, would in all probability travel tolerably well. We 

 think the southern growers should make an effort to second the 

 exertions of the Edinburgh gentlemen in getting up a good show, 

 both by their subscriptions and presence. Another season it could 

 be so arranged to meet half way, say York ; this v.'ould embrace 

 three districts. 



We shall give our Tulip-growing readers a full account of what 

 is done at the National Exhibition of this flower, to be held at Bir- 

 mingham, the 27th instant. Tulips are still looking well, notwith- 

 standing the continuance of cold. We have had 12° of frost so 

 late as the 19th ult. ; but being so dry, it does not affect them when 

 slightly covered. As will be seen on the cover, there are shows 

 arranged to take place in almost every locality. 



At Cheltenham there will be three exhibitions : our friends at 

 Staines have a very liberal schedule of prizes ; we hope all will 

 come off successfully. 



It cannot be expected that the unsuccessful will be so well 

 pleased as their tnore fortunate brethren. There must be some 

 losing men, whom we hope to see double their exertions, until they 

 have exchanged places with those above them ; and let the winners 

 — the envied of the day — bear their honours meekly. 



