THE FLORIST. 153 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION. 



In No. 7 of Vol. I. will be found two woodcuts, conveying a 

 good idea of a portion of the grounds at Chiswick upon an 

 exhibition-day ; and we propose, in this and the two following 

 numbers, to give an account of the general features of the 

 same, divided into three parts ; — the preparation for the 

 fete; the fete itself; and its conclusion. If there is one 

 feature of these great exhibitions that is more worthy than 

 another of provincial imitation, it is the strict adherence to 

 the rules and regulations laid down for their conduct. It has 

 often been our lot to witness the bad effects of the contrary 

 practice at country shows : subjects admitted after the hour 

 had passed for their reception ; tents not cleared of exhibitors 

 at the time appointed ; and every thing thrown into disorder 

 from want of carrying out, at every cost, the printed laws 

 for their regulation. If the committees would but act firmly 

 in every case, those exhibitors who, from indolence or neglect, 

 were properly excluded, would be more careful for the future, 

 and would make their arrangements accordingly. But to our 

 immediate work, — a description of the preliminaries to the 

 Chiswick exhibition. 



The Gardens are part of the Duke of Devonshire's Chiswick 

 estate, and consist of 33 acres ; the portion occupied by the exhi- 

 bition, and laid down in grass, planted with an extensive variety of 

 plants and shrubs, is about nine acres. To the Garden there are 

 three entrances : the principal one from the carriage-road, leading 

 from Turnham Green to the Duke's mansion ; another from off the 

 Green itself, leading immediately to the Council-room ; and a third, 

 the carters' entrance, by which alone all the objects for exhibition 

 are received. As we enter at the Council-room, we pass the great 

 conservatory, as represented in the right of the woodcut (vol. i. p. 180), 

 and then reach a tent, 173 feet long and 33 feet wide ; to the left of 

 that another is erected, 225 feet long and 30 feet wide ; and imme- 

 diately at the end of this is another, known as the iron tent, 100 feet 

 long and 25 wide, running straight for a part of its length, and then 

 expanding into a half circle, 25 feet radius, for the exhibition of the 

 large collections of miscellaneous plants. At right angles with this 

 is the remaining tent, 75 feet long and 25 feet wide. All of them are 

 divided down the middle by a sufficiently high partition to make a 

 suitable back for the plants arranged on either side. 



Our usual time for being at the Gardens is about six o'clock 

 a.m., and we enter at the carters' entrance. From the different 

 roads leading on to the Green, vans of various constructions, with 

 as various coverings, are seen wending their way to the general 

 rendezvous. Each exhibitor, as he enters, signs a declaration of what 

 VOL. II. NO. xviii. m 



