1869.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 283 



A very excellent feature was the collections of Alpine plants in six boxes, each 

 one foot squai'e. Mr Ware, of Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, took the lead, 

 exhibiting a numerous collection, of which the most beautiful were Erinus hir- 

 sutus, Aubrietia Campbelli and Grteca, Saxifraga granulata, Phlox stolonifera, Phlox 

 subulata Nelsoni, Phlox subulata frondosa, the intense blue Lithospermum pros- 

 tratum, Sempervivum arachnoideum, Chelidonium majus, and Phlox setacea. The 

 surface of the soil in these boxes was strewed with stones. Messrs Salter, who 

 took the second prize, had the soil carpeted with Mentha Corsica, Thymus serpyl- 

 lum lanuginosus, Sedum glaucum, Saxifraga hypnoides minor, Acena Novse Zea- 

 landiae, and Arenaria Balearica. The ground covering of these was neatly studded 

 over with a variety of plants, such as the Aucuba-leaved Daisy, Aubrietias, Saxi- 

 fragas, Sempervivums, Sedums, and Lysimachia nemorum variegata. Mr Ware 

 also exhibited in the miscellaneous class a fine collection, for which he obtained a 

 second prize, containing three beautiful basketfuls of Phlox subulata frondosa, and 

 the same number of Alyssum saxatile compactum, together with hardy ornamen- 

 tal-leaved plants. 



The Grand National Horticultural Exhibition at Manchester, May 14 



to 21 This is now the great Horticultural Exhibition of the Midland districts, 



and its annual recurrence is looked forward to, not only as a great feast of Flora, 

 but also as a gathering of the horticultural brotherhood ; for they come to 

 Manchester from all parts of the kingdom to clasp hands, and hold that inter- 

 course so sweet and pleasant to those who in plants and flowers find 

 " Histories that stir the heart with deeper feeling." 



The ' Manchester Examiner and Times ' thus sketched a general glance at 

 the Exhibition : — " In general plan, the display was a repetition of the exhibi- 

 tions of previous years, but it presents many peculiar and novel features which 

 could not fail to interest the connoisseurs in plant-growing ; while, for the sight- 

 seeing multitude, the immense variety of subjects exhibited, and the many rich 

 effects produced by judicious grouping, afforded abundant entertainment. The 

 great tent — which we may call the landscape tent — was the principal attraction. 

 It was so arranged as to present the semblance of a garden, though it would 

 be simply impossible to render any garden covered only by the sky so gorgeous 

 with colour, or so daintily furnished with elegant forms of vegetation. The 

 substructure of the whole consists of grass banks and mounds, intersected with 

 gravel walks. These banks and mounds were covered with plants of many kinds, 

 the most conspicuous and attractive being the immense groups of pot Roses, 

 Azaleas, and Pelargoniums, the intensely rich colours of which were subdued and 

 harmonised by groups of Ferns, there being amongst the latter many Tree Ferns, 

 which spread their ample leafage overhead, and compel admiration by their ex- 

 quisite tracery and refreshing colours. In the conservatory or show-house, the 

 choicer plants of tropical and sub-tropical regions were displayed ; and here the 

 plant-grower j)ar excellence found, undoubtedly, much to delight him. The tent 

 adjoining the exhibition-house is principally occupied with humbler subjects, but 

 amongst these are many of the most select and popular of the tenants of the 

 garden : on one hand, groups of the most beautiful Alpine flowers and hardy 

 plants of the wood sides ; on the other, the best of the tricolour-leaved Ger- 

 aniums. 



" The contest which, perhaps, most of all interested the hahituh of flower- 

 shows was that for the special prize of £50, offered by Mr B. S. Williams, of 

 London, for the best group of fifty plants, which was supplemented by the 



