SEPTEMBER, 279 



All those who are at all sceptical should see beds of It in full bloom at 

 the Royal Gardens, Froguiore, where it may be seen covered with clear 

 white tlowers. It is an excellent pot plant, but should be grown hardy 

 and not nursed too much. As usual at these meetings, a large number 

 of cut flowers was shown, many of which had not received the care in 

 growing due to them, and seemed to have been cut merely as chance 

 directed. This was particularly the case with Vei-benas. In York- 

 shire, for some time past, violent thunderstorms and wet gusty weather 

 have prevailed. Under such circumstances bell glasses or some other 

 substitute (of course mounted on small pots) should be placed over the 

 blooms four or five days before the show. Many of the Dahlias also 

 showed that sufficient care had not been taken in protecting them. 

 Some of the Carnations and Picotees were of tolerable quality, but 

 many very fine sorts have not yet found their way generally into this 

 district. Exhibitors at these provincial shows would also do well to 

 invent some better plan of carrying their cut flowers than placing them 

 indiscriminately in a basket and selecting them in the tent. Cf course 

 this remark does not apply to all, but it does apply to many ; and we 

 hope they will take it in the spirit in which it is offered, bearing in 

 mind that what is vt^orth doiug is worth doing well. The first prize of 

 two guineas was most deservedly awarded to Mr. George Edwards, of 

 York, for 24 Dahlia blooms, and although the season is late here, these 

 were fine, particularly a noble bloom of Lord Palmerston, one of the 

 finest flowers yet sent out ; Salvator Rosa, Ablitt's Incomparable, 

 Cossack, Mrs. Wheeler, Yellow Beauty, Yellow Victory, Lord Bath, 

 Fanny Keynes, Corsair, Miss Burdett Coutts, Ruby Queen, and 

 LoUipop ; the second prize was awarded to Mr. Schofield, Leeds ; and 

 the third prize to ]\Ir. T. Milner, Bradford. In the class for twelve 

 Dahlias Mr. Edwards was again victorious, with good blooms, including 

 many of the new sorts ; the second prize was awarded to Mr. Harrison, 

 Darlington ; and the third to Mr. T. Rlilner, who also exhibited a very 

 promising seedling Dahlia named Airedale Beauty, of Bathurst form, 

 with close high centre and good outline, and of a rosy purple colour. 

 Several Cucumbers were shown, among them a fine specimen of the 

 Himalaya fully 24 inches long, exhibited by Mr. Croft, gardener to 

 A. Harris, Esq., of Bingley, and which obtained a second prize. This 

 is a handsome black-spined variety, with very short heel, but the 

 specimen was rather too old. We should like to see the names 

 attached to plants and flowers more generally at these shows. A great 

 number of the cut flowers and plants were not named. This should 

 be done, as it enables visitors to make notes of any of the varieties 

 exhibited. We hope to see this done another season, and the detestable 

 practice of smoking in the foicer tents put a stop to. It should be 

 borne in mind that many of the gentry who visit these shows are in 

 the habit of attending the metropoUtan exhibitions, and to them the 

 comparison must be very apparent. It is also a practice that would be 

 more honoured in the breach than in the observance. Surely, while 

 contemplating the beauty of plants and flowers in a confined space, 

 pipes and cigars may be abandoned. 



