JUNE. 125 



METROPOLITAN MAY EXHIBITIONS. 



The Horticultural, Royal Botanic, and Royal South-London Societies 

 have been fortunate in having fine days this year for their first shows ; 

 the weather on each occasion was most propitious. At Chiswick the 

 company was not numerous, 2755 being the number that entered 

 the gates, exclusive of exhibitors. Nearly 6000 are reported to have 

 attended the meeting of the Royal Botanic Society ; and the Royal 

 South-London was also patronised satisfactorily. 



Horticultural (Chiswick), May 8. — This was unquestionably the 

 best exhibition the Society has ever experienced. The size and num- 

 ber of the plants, together with their freshness, made it one of the 

 richest of treats to lovers of plants, and fortunate indeed were those 

 who happened to be present. Orchids, Roses, Azaleas, Stove and 

 Greenhouse plants, and Pelargoniums, were all shewn in the highest 

 possible state of perfection. 



The large gold medal was awarded to Mr. May, gardener to Mrs. 

 Lawrence, for 20 stove and greenhouse plants, some of which were 

 " mountains of flower." The double-red Azalea, A. Gledstansii, Pime- 

 lea spectabilis, Epacris grandiflora, Eriostemon cuspidatum, were 

 noble specimens, as were also a fine plant of the graceful Bossisea 

 disticha plumosa, a well-managed Gompholobium polymorphum, and 

 the noble Medinilla magnifica. Mr. Cole, gardener to H. Colyer, 

 Esq., of Dartford, had the second-best collection; in this class, toge- 

 ther with some rare specimens, we noticed Oxylobium Pultenea, 

 Chorozema Henchmanni, and other difficult plants, produced in fine 

 condition. The other classes of stove and greenhouse plants were 

 well contested, the varieties not differing materially from those gene- 

 rally seen at these exhibitions ; but they were on this occasion 

 brought forward in the finest possible condition, shewing great skill 

 in their management, and that considerable attention had been be- 

 stowed to get them in on the day. Orchids were fine and num.erous, 

 but our space will not admit of our particularising them. Messrs. 

 Veitch's Dendrobium Pierardi was perhaps the most striking among 

 this lovely tribe of plants. Mr. Cole's Dendrobium nobile was a 

 beautifully flowered plant. Mr. Ingram, gardener to Her Majesty, 

 sent good examples of the curious Stanhopea tigrina. 



Azaleas, as usual at the May show, contributed much to the 

 general eff'ect; they were very numerous, and were exhibited in first- 

 rate condition. As this plant is now becoming so popular, perhaps it 

 may not prove uninteresting to give the names of the varieties shewn. 

 Twelve plants, 1st, Mr. May, gardener to Mrs. Lawrence, with Double- 

 red, optima, sinensis, variegata, Grenvillse, preestantissima, macran- 

 tha purpurea, exquisita, Broughtonii, rosea superba, Rawsoni, and 

 Gledstansii ; 2d, Mr. Chitty, with Splendens, Duke of Devonshire, 

 Fielder's White, Murryana, prsestantissima, Broughtonii, Prince Al- 

 bert, carminata, Gledstansii, triumphans, and lateritia. Groups of 

 six plants were furnished by Messrs. Green, Eraser, Carson, Ealconer, 



