268 THE FLORIST. 



We agree, too, that the meeting has been worthy of its name, and 

 the fame of those supporting it. 



Calling into aid our magic wand, we turn now to a meeting of 

 another kind, the "Towns'" exhibition, held at Derby. It was pro- 

 posed as a modest "interlude" to the National — a meeting merely 

 of the midland towns ; but on looking at the list of those engaged, 

 we agree it has quite outgrown that character, and that a drama of 

 no mean importance is being enacted on our Httle stage. Before us 

 are productions from Edinburgh, York, Wakefield, Leeds, Notting- 

 ham, Birmingham, Leicester, and Derby ; and from remarks which 

 are made in our hearing, we learn that nothing but the late day 

 of exhibition prevented the metropolis, with Stamford and North- 

 ampton, from taking part in the competition. And what are the 

 attractions which have produced this extended competition ? Heavy 

 prizes, doubtless, will account for the interest displayed, and large 

 attendance. Not so ; the prizes are honorary, and all the labour 

 and expense involved in bringing these beautiful flowers to this table, 

 and this interested multitude to this hall, have been incurred solely 

 in vindication of floral ability and floral worship. But surely some- 

 thing beyond the mere vindication of our own importance, here sym- 

 bolised in the "Town," has excited this keen interest, and the earnest 

 confabulation which is going on all around. Let us listen. The 

 subject engaging attention is the mode of shewing the flowers ; and 

 what says a speaker near us .? " You will be glad to hear that we 

 have unanimously determined our flowers shall be shewn on cards ; 

 the question has been long agitated, but I look upon its solution as 

 palpable as the merits of Free-trade versus Protection." The speaker 

 has come at the head of the deputation from the most important 

 town here represented ; and the attention with which his remark is 

 received, and the applause it elicits, sufficiently bespeaks the sense 

 of the meeting. Another speaker, pale and thoughtful, says, slowly 

 but emphatically, as he heartily grips the hand of a friend he is 

 leaving, "It is indeed a fact, that differences of opinion, asserted 

 or assumed, vanish into thin air, when we come face to face with 

 the subject before us to illustrate our remarks." We agree, then, 

 that the past season not only has been full of satisfaction, but that 

 in this proved unanimity of opinion, and in the wide diffusion of a 

 system (because understood) which places the flower worthily before 

 the public, there is ground for congratulation, and an expectation of 

 progress in the future, correspondingly rapid in its development. 



A few words referring to those flowers which have been most 

 prominent are necessary before I close. Foremost, I take those sent 

 out during the autumn of 1851, as we all turn first to novelty. Of 

 these, it is not enough to say they have supported their reputation ; 

 they have exceeded all the encomium which had been passed upon 

 them. Who is there who can forget the magnificence of Falcon- 

 bridge — its fine form, large size, delightful colours, and refinement ? 

 Who the superb proportions, the clear white and glowing colour of 

 Mrs. Norman } the nobleness of Rutland } the delicacy of Prince 

 Arthur } the exquisite purity of Ganymede ? the fine form, regular 



