THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 153 



above" is not likely to be well arranged or attempted by amateurs or gardeners, at 

 least not till they are sufficiently acquainted with the merits of Alpines, and till 

 then the watering-pot or hose is quite sufficient. 



Than the Alpine Pink and mountain Forget-Me-Not, the choice Saxifragas, 

 Gentians, and Silene alpestris and acaulis, there are in this world few more charm- 

 ing plants ; and these, with dozens of others of the choicest, are flourishing in the 

 sort of bed we allude to. Very sandy soil, free drainage, full exposure to the sun, 

 and plenty of moisture at all times, will grow Alpines well. 



HORTICULTURAL AFFAIRS. 



10YAL Horticultural Society's Hyacinth Show.— The display of 

 this popular and useful flower, on Saturday, March 13th, was acknow- 

 ledged by all competent judges to be the grandest ever seen in this 

 country. The hyacinths were arranged down the centre of the con- 

 servatory at South Kensington, and, aided as they were with fine 

 groups of pot-roses, from Messrs. Paul and Son, and Mr. W. Paul, Waltham, and 

 magnificent collections of cyclamens, from Messrs. Wiggins, James Edmonds, and 

 Turner, the general elfect was at once both surprising and delightful. Hyacinths 

 were, of course, the principal feature ; and never do we recollect more magnificent 

 spikes than those staged by Messrs. Cutbush and Son, Higbgate, and Mr. W. Paul, 

 Waltham, who were the principal exhibitors and prize-takers in the trade and open 

 classes ; Mr. Turner, Slough, and Mr. Davies, Liverpool, also exhibited fine collec- 

 tions. Messrs. Cutbush and Son took first for thirty-six distinct varieties ; twelve 

 varieties, three of each, eighteen red varieties, and second for eighteen distinct 

 varieties ; Mr. W. Paul taking second in the two first classes, first in the last, and 

 also first for six new kinds. To enumerate all that were staged in each collection 

 would take up more space than we can spare, besides being tedious, as the sorts 

 were nearly the same in each lot. We therefore propose to name the best of the 

 bulk exhibited. Whites : Paix de l'Europe, Alba superbissima, Mirandoline, Queen 

 of the Netherlands, Alba maxima, Princess Helena, Grandeur a Merveille, Tubi- 

 flora, L'Innocence, Snowball (the best of the whites), La Grandesse, and Mont 

 Blanc. Blue : Garrick, Baron Von Tuyll (one of the best dark blues), Lord 

 Palmerston, Grand Lilas (fine light blue), Grand Monarque (in the same way as the 

 last), Couronne de Celle, Charles Dickens (fine), Laurens Koster, Bloksberg, Sir John 

 Lawrence, Orondates, Marie, and Leonidas. Reds : Emmeline, Fabiola, Gigantea, 

 Howard, Prince Albert Victor (bright crimson, but scarcely so good as Garibaldi, iu 

 the same way), Macaulay, Von Schiller, Solfaterre, Le Prophete, Florence Nightin- 

 gale, Princess Helena (deep pink, very beautiful), Prince of Orange, Koh-i-Noor, 

 Lady Sale, La Joyeuse, Princess Clothilde, Duke of Wellington, and Princess 

 Beatrice. Yellow : Ida, and Bird of Paradise (both good). Mauve : Sir H. Have- 

 lock, Haydn, and Mimosa. Black : La Nuit, Prince Albert, Feruck Khan. The 

 new varieties were neither sufficiently good or distinct to deserve notice, with the 

 exception of Hector, exhibited by Mr. Paul, a very fine light blue, in the way of 

 Grand Silas. Mr. Weir, The Elms, Hampstead ; Mr. Potter, Higbgate ; Mr. G. 

 Wheeler, Regent's Park; Mrs. Noakes, Higbgate ; and Miss Wilding, Euston Square, 

 were the leading prize-takers in the classes devoted to amateurs. Fine spikes were 

 to be seen in the collections, which were, however, far below those exhibited in the 

 trade classes. 



Tulips, narcissi, crocuses, and lilies of the valley, were" shown well by Messrs. 

 Cutbush and Son, Mr. W. Paul, Mr. Cutbush, jun., Barnet, Mr. C. Turner, Mr. 

 Wheeler, and Mr. Steel, Hammersmith. The best of the former were — Van der 

 Neer, Couleur Cardinal, Rose Aplatie, Superintendent (white, feathered with purple), 

 Le Matelas (soft silky rose), Keizerskroon, Buttercup (good yellow), and Proserpine. 

 The Narcissi were represented by Her Majesty, Buzelman Major, Lord Canning, 

 Queen of the Netherlands, Grand Soliel d'Or, Bathurst, Belle Princesse, Grand 

 Monarque, and Gloriosa. The best of the Crocuses were : Skyblue, Albion, Mam- 



