168 THE FLORIST. 



Chiswick, the principal competition in this department of the show 

 lay between Mrs. Lawrence, and Mr. Cole gardener to H. Collyer, 

 Esq. of Dartford. We have no room to particularise ; but we must 

 not pass unnoticed a fine specimen of Gardenia Fortuni from Mr. 

 Green. It had ten blossoms on it as large as a Camellia, of snowy 

 whiteness, and deliciously sweet. 



The other two tents were placed some little distance apart. One 

 contained a splendid exhibition of Cape Heaths and Roses. The 

 latter, indeed, both from Amateurs and Nurserymen, were finer than 

 ever we have before seen them. Madame de St. Joseph was espe- 

 cially remarkable. It was covered with light salmon Roses, so large 

 that one could almost hide one's face in them. 



The first object that met us as we entered the fourth and last 

 tent was a very finely flowered Gardenia Stanleyana, from the 

 Dowager Duchess of Northumberland. The long brown and white 

 funnel-shaped flowers of this species are curious ; but we cannot say 

 that they are beautiful. Associated with it was Mitraria coccinea, 

 a new plant, and a very pretty one, from Messrs. Veitch. Its flowers 

 are tube-shaped, large, and of a brilliant scarlet. We saw here also, 

 from the same nurserymen, a seedling heath of Mr. Story's raising, 

 called Victoria Regina, a beautiful variety, which we are sure will 

 find a place in every collection. There were also some Pitcher 

 plants ; and a straw-coloured Rhododendron from Mr. Gaines. The 

 rest of the tent was composed of Cape Heaths, Ferns, Pelargoniums, 

 Calceolarias, and Cinerarias. The best specimens of the latter came 

 from Mr. Kendall ; thus confirming the excellence of his directions 

 given in our monthly calendar of operations, by the success of their 

 practical application. 



It would have afforded us much pleasure to have entered more 

 into particulars respecting this fine show ; but we find it utterly 

 impossible. As we are not favoured with a pass-ticket for our re- 

 porter, which would enable him carefully to go through the whole 

 collection in the interval occupied by the judges, when the tents are 

 clear, we cannot pretend to give more than its general features. 

 There were many seedlings of florists' flowers, but we could not 

 get near them for the company ; neither could we examine them 

 without infringing the rule to look and pass on, and a mere passing 

 glance is not enough for us to make a report upon. With an 

 anxious desire to do justice to the raisers, and also to convey infor- 

 mation to the public, if the parties whose seedlings received prizes 

 will but forward flowers to our address, marking on the outside the 

 names of the varieties, we will carefully report upon the same, and 

 record them in our Note-book, from which, at the end of the season, 

 we intend to print lists of all the superior novelties we have met 

 with. We add with pleasure, that several able parties in the pro- 

 vinces are helping us in this service. 



