• THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 221 



Arabis BLErnAROPHTLLA, a somewhat stately perennial plant, with lar<Te 

 flowers of a lively pink colour, is well figurtd in the Botanical Magazine, t. G,OS^. 



Exhibitions of EHopoDENDUONs.— Three exhibitions of Rhododendrons were 

 held in the metropolis this season, and we are bound to say all were more or 

 less good. The first and most important was that of Messrs. John Waterer and 

 Son, of Bngshot, in Russell Square, which for extent, high quality of the varieties 

 represented, and the abundance of bloom, has never been surpassed. The others 

 were those of Messrs. H. l.ane and Sons, in the gardens of the Royal Botanic 

 Society, in the Regent's Park, and Mr. Anthony Waterer' s, iu the gardens of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington. 



Manchestek National Exhibition. — The annual exhibitions in the Botanical 

 Gardens, Old Trafford, have proved a series of successes both as representing hor- 

 ticulture, and as affording financial and scientific aid to the Manchester Botanical 

 Society. We have never seen the exhibition house look more complete and beau- 

 tiful than on the occasion of the last exhibition, for there were some of the finest 

 orchids ever shown by amateur cultivators, and groups of gigantic stove and 

 greenhouse plants. The great tent adjoining was arranged for effect with a gigantic 

 bank of roses at the top end ; and, in some respects, a more glorious bank ot rho- 

 dodendrons at the lower end. In entering this tent from the exhibition house, the 

 visitors encountered a wonderful group of pot- roses from Mr. Turner, of Slough. 

 On the lawn leading up from the entrance was a lavish display of garden imple- 

 ments, ornaments, and appliances, comprising plant-houses, boilers, engines, lawn- 

 mowers, and knick-knacks in the most astonishing variety. 



The Gardeners' Benevolent Institution has recently issued its annual 

 report and list of subscribers. The number of annual subscribers has been increased 

 considerably, and the income from all sources in 1873, inclusive of a balance of 

 £367 19s. 4d. from the previous year, amounted to £1465 13s. 9d. Of this sum, 

 £750 15s. was produced by annual subscriptions, and £405 6s. by donations at the 

 annual festival. The balance at bankers has been increased by £20 ; £200 worth 

 of stock has been added to capital, increasing it thereby to £8900, and £881 10s. 

 has been paid in pensions and gratuities. Six pensioners have died during the year, 

 and nine have been placed on the list, making, with the four elected iu January 

 last, a total of sixty-seven deriving support from the funds of the institution. 



The Floaver Sermon in the quaint old church of St. Catherine Cree, City, 

 ■was, according to custom, preached on Whit Tuesday, by the Rev. W, M. Whit- 

 temore, D.D., the rector. The subject selected for the discourse was the Cinnamon 

 tree (Ciiinamomum verum). The congregation numbered, it was estimated, two 

 thousand persons, each carrying a bouquet of flowers, and the effect produced by 

 this large array of bouquets was remarkably good. 



A Second Portion of the Meadowbank Orchids was sold by Mr. J. C. Stevens, 

 at his rooms in King Street, Covent Garden, on the 17th, 18th, and 19th ult. 

 The sale comprised fine specimens of Cattleyas, Masdevallias, Odontoglossums, 

 Phalaenopsis, Disa?, and others, and the prices realized ware exceedingly good. 



Miss Annie Hassaed, a lady well known by her writings to our readers, was, 

 on the occasion of the visit of the Czar, the Piince and Princess of Wales, tlie 

 Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and other members of the Imperial and Royal 

 families, to the Crystal Palace, intrusted by the Directors with the floral decoration 

 of the state box, royal saloon, and retiring rooms, and, we need hardly say, thev 

 were executed m the most tasteful manner possible. In lieu of tlie usual velvec 

 ledge to the front of the box, Miss Hassard provided an exquisitely-arranged 

 bordering of flowers. In the box were several beautiful vases of flowers, and in 

 the saloon were three vases, which are of the estimated value of a thousand guineas 

 each. One of the vases was larger than the other two,' and this was placed on a 

 table in the centre of the saloon. It had round the outside a bordering of yellow 

 and pink Roses and Callas, the yellow roses and callas being placed alternately 

 between two pink roses. Next to the roses were large sprays of Astilbe and fronds 

 of Maidenhair fern, and inside of these were sprays of the gracefully-arching 

 Solomon's Seal, and rising up from the centre were spikes of the green-flowered 

 and weird-h)oking Ixia virididora. Tastefully intermixed with these were flowers 

 of Lilium auratum, Callas, and red Rhodanthes, and fronds of the IMaidenbair fein ; 

 round the outside was a fringe of Pteris serrulata, with a few sprays of Lygodium 

 scandens hanging over the sides. The smaller yases were placed on cabinets oa 



July. 



