1869.] LIVERPOOL SPRING FLOWER-SHOW. 189 



be separated without much difficulty. If very tough, use a pair of wire-nippers 

 to open them. A good cone contains from forty to sixty seeds. It is remarkable 

 that, though the Cedar is so prolific this year, the Pinus Austriaca has no cones ; 

 but it bore so heavily the two previous years that I have not only young trees of 

 this species growing from trees of my own planting, but have sent considerable 

 quantities of seed to friends and some nurserymen. — Higford Burr (Aldermaston, 

 Feb. 25). 



[We are indebted to the courtesy of Mr Richards, assistant secretary of the R. 

 H. S. of London, for this paragraph. — Ed.] 



LIVERPOOL SPRING FLOWER-SHOW. 



The annual exhibition of Hyacinths, Tulips, and other flowers, generally iden- 

 tified with the inauguration of spring, took place in St George's Hall, and was 

 visited throughout the afternoon and evening by a very numerous assemblage 

 of persons of all ranks and stations in life. In its entirety, the show was fully 

 equal to any previous spring exhibition, and in some classes the flowers were of a 

 very high order of merit, and decidedly superior to anything previously seen in 

 this town. The arrangements were admirably made by a committee under the 

 leadership of Mr Tyerman, curator of the Botanic Gardens, and assisted by Mr 

 R. W. Ker, the secretary, to whose indefatigable labours the success of this and 

 previous exhibitions is mainly attributable. Upon wide platforms, stretching 

 nearly the entire length of the centre of the hall, were arranged the Hyacinths, 

 Tulips, Primulas, and other plants of similar order, whose brilliant blossoms in 

 colour rivalled the tints of the rainbow, and emitted a fragrant perfume which 

 pervaded the spacious haU. On the steps leading to the crown court were 

 arranged many choice specimens of stove and greenhouse plants, the sides of the 

 hall being devoted to the more pretentious Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Ferns, &c. 



As might be expected, the Hyacinths were the chief objects of notice, and 

 they richly merited all the commendation passed upon them, for a more compact 

 or beautiful collection of this splendid flower has seldom been seen out of London. 

 In former years, Mr Cutbush, the celebrated Hyacinth grower, contributed largely 

 to the show, and generally managed to carry oflf the principal prizes for nursery- 

 men, to the mortification of local florists ; this year, however, the metropolitan 

 shows prevented his attendance, and all the flowers shown yesterday were conse- 

 quently of local production. Messrs T. Davies & Co., of Wavertree, and Mr G. 

 Davies, of Old Swan, took the highest honours for nurserymen's flowers ; but in 

 size and quality they were surpassed by the splendid plants shown by Mr Mander- 

 son, gardener to Mr B. H. Jones, banker, of Larkhill, who carried oif prizes for 

 collections of 24, 18, 12, and 6 pots. The Tulips, Primulas, Narcissus, and 

 Camellias, were well grown, but the Lilies of the Valley, tree Mignonette, and 

 hand bouquets, were scarcely equal to those seen at former shows. One of the 

 most attractive features of the exhibition was a collection of Cyclamen Persicum, 

 shown by Mr R. W. Ker, the secretary, crowned with enormous clusters of most 

 delicately tinted flowers, and showing to what perfection of culture this favourite 

 winter plant can be brought. Mr Ker also exhibited a very choice collection of 

 Hybrid Solanums, which found plenty of admirers. 



The stove and greenhouse plants included some beautiful specimens of Prunus 



