284 THE GARDENER. [June 



Society's offer of £25 for the second-best group. "We must record our satisfaction 

 that neither of these prizes have been carried off by exhibitors who might in any 

 way be spoken of as strangers. The genius loci is propitiated ; for Mr Baines, 

 gardener to Mr H. Micholls, of Bowdon, takes the giant's share, doing a giant's 

 work for it; and the second prize is awarded to Mr Dixon of Beverley. Mr 

 Micholls's group of fifty plants well deserves the distinction of a first place in this 

 great show." 



This almost matchless group consisted of the following Azaleas : Coronata 

 and Magnificent, both splendid indeed, the last named in a rich flower robe of 

 radiant white, that glistened like chastened silver, as if 



" From the seat of God 

 A ray upon, its garments shone ; " 



Stella, Empress Eugenie, Iveryana, and Stanleyana, Clerodendron Balfouri 

 and C. Thomsoua3, Ixoras, Amboyensis, Aurantica, and Coccinea, the last very 

 fine; Cyathea dealbata, C. Smithi, C. medularis, Dicksonias Antarctica, and 

 Antarctica pendula; Sarracenias flava, Flava species. Purpurea, Drummondii 

 alba, and a fine species unnamed. Verschaffeltii splendida and Stevensonia 

 grandiflora, two splendid Palms. Ericas — Ventricosa coccinea minor, Tricolor 

 Wilsoni, and Depressa. Epacrises — Eclipse, very fine, and Grandiflora ; Alocassia 

 metallica, Dipladenia crassanoda, Cattleya intermedia, Francisca confertiflora, 

 Cordyline indivisa, Crotons angustifolium and variegatum, both very fine ; Aphel- 

 exis Sessamoides, and A. macrantha purpurea ; Eriostemon nerifolium, finely 

 flowered, and E. intermedium ; Borouia pinnata, a splendid specimen, one of the 

 most finished plants in the group ; Acrophyllum venosum, Theophrasta imperi- 

 alis, llhopala corcovadense, and Dasylirion acrostichum. Mr W. E. Dixon, 

 Beverley, was second with a good group of plants, but much inferior to those staged 

 by Mr Baines. Mr Sam Mendels's special prize of £20, for the best collection of 

 ten Cape Heaths in flower, was won by Messrs E. Cole & Sons, Withington, 

 Manchester, with a fine lot of plants, but not sufficiently advanced in bloom. The 

 best kinds were Ampullacum obbata, Ventricosa magnifica, Massoni major, and 

 Aristata superba. The special prize, given by Mr W. Cunliffe Brooks, for the best 

 twelve Roses in flower, was won by Messi's Lane & Son, with large plants very 

 well grown and flowered, but related too much to the past of Rose-showing rather 

 than to the present. Mr B. S. Williams was first with the special prize given 

 by C. F. Beyer, Esq., for eight Cycads ; having two Cycads, three Zamias, two 

 Encephalartos, and one Ceratozamia. The special prizes for a miscellaneous col- 

 lection of bedding and hardy plants brought a capital collection from Messrs G. 

 and W. Yates, Manchester, being in small square boxes, a good assortment com- 

 prising Pelargoniums of all kinds, Centaureas, Tropseolums, Petunias, variegated 

 plants, &c. The hardy shrubs in flower were very poor, and the judges wisely 

 withheld the first prize in consequence. 



The Azaleas contributed by both amateur growers and nurserymen were a 

 conspicuous feature of the show, the plants generally of large size, and well 

 flowered, but some unnaturally formal in appearance. The kinds were identical 

 with these generally seen grown as specimens. Pelargoniums were well done, 

 excepting that the large flowering kinds contained too many of the older 

 French kinds, besides not being sufficiently advanced in bloom. The Fancies 

 were admirably grown, and had good heads of flower. The Zonal kinds were 

 well done by Mr Fleming, gardener to R. Houghton, Esq., Liverpool, who 

 had excellent plants of William Underwood, Cybister, Miss Parfitt, Amy Hogg, 

 Eugene Mezard, Amelina Grisau, Softness, pale soft pink, and Alexandria. 



