144 THE FLORIST. 



A]ml 24. — Cinerarias were the principal feature at this meeting, 

 being shown in considerable numbers and in excellent condition. 



Mr. Bousie, of Stoke Park, exhibited two varieties : Mrs. Turner, 

 white tipped with lilac ; and Mrs. Edwards, light purple — both 

 possessing good quality, the latter being the best in shape. Mr. C. 

 Lidgard, of Hammersmith, sent two kinds, but in bad condition. Mr. 

 Pope, of Pimlico, had eight seedlings. Vivid was selected by the 

 judges for a certificate — white with bright crimson tip, style of Esther, 

 but of better form. The others were too thin. Mr. C. Turner, of 

 Slough, received a similar award for Mrs. Hoyle, white tipped with 

 crimson purple, marking very distinct and good form. Mr. Turner also 

 exhibited Earl of Clarendon, dark purple with red ring round the disc ; 

 Lavinia, lilac with white ring, novel ; Admiral Lyons, dark purple with 

 white ring ; and Alice, white and lilac rose. These all possessed good 

 properties. Mr. Clark, of Cheltenham, sent a white ground variety 

 with very bright tip, but thin and of bad form. Many others were 

 shown, but none worthy of notice. 



Mr. Kinghorn, of St. Margaret's, Isleworth, received a certificate for 

 a seedling Epacris named carnea rubra ; its name denotes its colour. It 

 is free, and of good dwarf habit, 



Mr. Hamp, of South Lambeth, received a certificate for Azalea 

 potissima, a good-shaped kind, strong grower — colour, rosy salmon 

 marked with crimson in the upper part of the flower — a pretty variety, 

 but not particularly new in colour. 



Mr. Beck, of Isleworth, and Mr. Wheeler, Hendon, exhibited early- 

 flowering varieties of Pelargoniums, adapted for forcing. Helen, from 

 Mr. Beck, has pale lilac lower petals, dark top ; very free, but dull in 

 colour. Mr. Wheeler's is a white, free, but of bad form. A label of 

 commendation was awarded to the latter. Mr. Hoyle, of Reading, sent 

 two Pelargoniums — Review and Ion. The former, a large free- 

 flowering variety, evidently a very early bloomer. It has a clear 

 white centre, lower petals scarlet rose, top rich dark blotch, shaded 

 bright margin. Ion, a dark variety, of fine substance. 



A seedling Heliotrope was exhibited named Florence Nightingale. 

 It is no improvement on Beauty of the Boudoir, if so good. 



Messrs. Ivery, of Dorking, sent a w^ell-bloomed plant of their Azalea 

 Criterion, figured by us in 1852. This is a very fine thing. 



The prizes offered were for Cinerarias, Auriculas, and Polyanthus. 

 None of the latter were sent, and only two of the former. These were 

 in very good condition. The four best Cinerarias were Rose of 

 England, Magnum Bonum, Emperor of the French, and Brilliant : the 

 two latter are new varieties, both of which received first-class certificates 

 last season, and have well maintained the high opinion then expressed 

 of their merits. These, with a collection of specimen plants, were 

 exhibited by Mr. C. Turner. The same grower also sent a collection 

 of healthy well-bloomed Auriculas. The four exhibited for the prize 

 were Dickson's Unique, Bolivar, Lovely Ann, and Blackbird. 



Mr. Richards, of Oxford -street, exhibited a collection of wire baskets 

 for suspending flowers, similar to those so extensively used at the 

 Crystal Palace, and flower-stands made of the same material, some of 

 which are beautifully designed. The baskets are very elegant. 



