238 THE GARDENER. [May 



they were like cones that had been turned in a lathe, and there was an excess of 

 bloom, and too little foliage visible. The platform and orchestra were gorgeously 

 filled by the splendid collections of Rhododendrons and Palms sent by Messrs 

 Lawson, Mr Methven, and Dickson & Co. The Hyacinths we have seen more 

 numerous, but never better. The collection of eighteen which took the first prize 

 were especially excellent ; these were exhibited by Mr Cowe, gardener, Luffnesp. 



Forced Geraniums were fine for the season of the year. Fruit was represented 

 by good Lady Downes Grapes from Balbirnie, splendid Pines from the Glen, 

 and good examples of the same from Fordel, and Strawberries from Dalkeith. 

 The vegetables in the winning stand were Asparagus, French Beans, Mush- 

 rooms, early Potatoes, Seakale, Pihubarb, Broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts. 



The Edinburgh nurserymen, as usual, filled the side tables with collections of 

 showy plants ; Dickson & Sons sent Khododendrons, forced Roses, Hyacinths, 

 and foliage plants ; Methven filled a table along the east side of the hall with sim- 

 ilar plants, amongst which we noticed a very beautiful Hybrid Azalea named 

 Hybrida. It is white, and resembles a Ghent Azalea, but has a much finer truss 

 and larger blooms, the colour white. This will prove a very useful spring forcing 

 plant. 



Messrs Lawson sent a fine collection of Rhododendrons and foliage plants; 

 Downie, Laird, and Laing a very interesting collection, amongst which we noticed 

 the new Golden Coleus, and all the best varieties of the Tricolor Geraniums. 



Drummond Brothers filled a table with showy spring flowers, amongst which 

 were pots of exceedingly well-grown Lily of the Valley. Amongst cut bloouiS 

 we must not omit to mention a collection of very fine Rhododendron-blooms from 

 Dysart House, amongst which Mr Pirrie sent Broughtoniana, Jean Stern- — this 

 latter the finest truss of a Rhododendron we ever saw, the individual blooms of 

 enormous size, white spotted, with dark spots in the throat — Prince Camile 

 de Rohan, Alterclereuse, Cuuningharai, and Elegans. Mr Pirrie also showed a 

 number of trusses of a very showy pink seedling Rhododendron. 



The Silver Cup given by Mr Mitchell, nurseryman, Hanover Street, for Azaleas, 

 was won by Mr Marshall, gardener, Kingston Grange, with well-managed plants of 

 Lilium Flora, Empress Eugenie, Criterion, and Stanleyanum. Mr Gordon of 

 Niddrie showed larger plants eq\ially well bloomed for this prize, but Mr Mar- 

 shall's blooms were larger and the foliage better. Mr Gordon was, however, a 

 good second. 



The weak point of the Exhibition was a want of foliage plants and tree-ferns 

 to take off the stiff appearance the over-trained and trimmed Azaleas and other 

 formal plants gave the stages. There were many other subjects that deserve 

 special notice, but the pressure on our space forbids it, and we must refer to the 

 list of prizes for details. 



The judges on the occasion were Messrs Thomson of Drumlanrig, Anderson of 

 Oxenford, Lees'of Tyninghame ; Henderson, .Cowden Castle ; Gorrie, Raith ; and 

 Mackay of the Glen. 



There was a dinner in the Albert Hotel at 3 o'clock. Professor Balfour in the 

 chair, and Mr Keynes of Salisbury croupier. The following is the list of prizes 

 awarded : — 



Two Cape Heaths — John Currie, Sal- 

 isbury Green. 



Three Cinerarias — D. Marshall, King- 

 ston Grange. 



Four Greenhouse Plants — 1. D. Mar- 

 shall ; 2. R. Colville, Carlton Lodge. 



Four foliage plants — R. Colville. 



Six Camellia Blooms — 1. A, Robert- 

 son, Rockville ; 2. R. Robertson, Sea 

 Cot House, Leith. 



Twelve Camellia Blooms (nursery- 

 men) — J. Dickson & Sons. 



