166 THE FLORIST. 



The exhibition was most creditable to the various establishments 

 of the midland counties ; but we are unable to specify other than a 

 few of the productions (such as were recognised by us), from the 

 absence of their names or other means of information in the exhibi- 

 tion. This we hope will be remedied in future ; and we counsel the 

 managers to have the name of the exhibitor, as well as the production, 

 appended to every subject at the time it is placed on the exhibition- 

 table. It gives most needful information ; it prevents the production 

 of many subjects by the incompetent and grovelling, who calculate 

 upon the impossibility of losing if nothing is to be obtained at such 

 a time ; and who, not ashamed to receive an award, provided one be 

 obtained, would still be ashamed without a prize to acknowledge the 

 inferiority; it saves much needless trouble, and its adoption is not gene- 

 ral only from one of the most unworthy of prejudices ; and we trust 

 our good friends of Nottingham have minds as clearly swept from 

 such ugly discrepancies as the beautiful lawns of their arboretum, and 

 as expanded as their noble "recreation-walks." One other subject, 

 too, we venture to hint to the Committee : in future their lists should 

 not require the production of such long jiumhers. " Selection" is now 

 the order of the day ; and there are few establishments in the mid- 

 land counties capable of turning out at fourteen days' notice twelve 

 unimpeachable stove-plants, and a like number of greenhouse deni- 

 zens. Inferiority is thus compulsorily placed side by side with 

 excellent examples of horticultural skill; and a low standard of excel- 

 lence is placed before the public, instead of that highest effort which 

 alone should satisfy. Competition in an extended sense is also im- 

 possible ; and instead of the best efforts of many, we have the first and 

 second, third and fourth-rate efforts of difew only. Amongst stove- 

 plants, the best examples were a fine Stephanotis floribunda, Cyrto- 

 ceras reflexum, Chirita Moonii, Torenia asiatica, Oncidium flexuosum, 

 and a Stanhopea from Mr. Bayley of Derwent Bank, Derby ; and 

 Allamanda cathartica and Schottii, Vinca rosea and alba, and Achi- 

 menes longiflora, venusta, grandiflora, and rosea, from Mr. Dryden 

 of Allestree Hall, Derby. Mr. Taylor, gardener to Captain Legard, 

 exhibited fine specimens of Vinca rosea. Hibiscus Parkeri, and Pentas 

 carnea. These were fine specimens, and with less numbers the col- 

 lections would be wholly composed of such. Of greenhouse plants, 

 the best were fine specimens of Mitraria coccinea, contributed by Mr. 

 Bayley and A. Lowe, Esq. ; a fine Kalosanthes coccinea, and very 

 pretty examples of Boronia serrulata, pinnata, and dentlculata, Pimelea 

 rosea, Tetratheca verticillata, and HugeUi, and a seedling Epiphyllum, 

 a cross between Jenkinsonii and speciosissimum, with flowers larger 

 than the parents — habit of Jenkinsonii — from Mr. Bayley. Mr. 

 Bayley' s Heaths were good, particularly the Erica Cavendishii. 



Good Pelargoniums were produced; but we could not observe 

 from whom ; the Fancies were very good, the first prize being very 

 properly given to some well-managed compact little specimens : these 

 were. Defiance, Reine des Francais, Belle d'Epinais, Carlotta Grisi, 

 Perfection, and Mr. Linden. Some larger rivals were well-grown ; 

 but over-potted, as we thought, and as a consequence the trusses 



