76 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



highest qualities of a show flower, for which purpose it leaves every flower of 

 its class far behind. Progne, considering its dazzling brightness and depth of 

 colour, is undoubtedly the most brilliant chrysanthemum yet raised, and it be- 

 longs to a class in which even a poor flower has hitherto been acceptable. It 

 may be compared to the finest of our dark perpetual roses, such as Jacquemi- 

 not or Lord Raglan, for the purity and liveliness of its tint, and though it 

 reflexes, its colour will render it a famous chrysanthemum. 



Among the horticultural news of the month, we may name the election of 

 Prince Albert as President of the Horticultural Society, in the room of the late 

 Duke of Devonshire. Dr. Royle's office has been accepted by Dr. Lindley, 

 who has given up his salary of £500 a year, in order to occupy an honorary 

 position, and still give the society the benefit of his "admirable judgment and 

 practical good sense." At the March meeting it was determined to institute a 

 Permanent Fruit Committee, to whom will be referred the consideration of the 

 claims of new fruits, and the determining the relative values of established 

 varieties, and other matters of a kindred kind. We have received the schedule of 

 prizes of the Stamford Floral Society, which is one of the most successful horti- 

 cultural associations of the Midland Counties. The first show will be held, as 

 Usual, in the grounds of O. Edmonds, Esq , on the 7th of July, and the second 

 show on the 8th of September. The list is a liberal one, and judiciously 

 framed ; it includes, besides all ordinary subjects, prizes for devices in flowers, 

 and for collections of British wild plants in flower. While we are speaking of 

 Stamford, we may mention that Mr Newcomb, of the High Street, has pub- 

 lished a cheap and useful work, called "The Midland Counties' Almanack, and 

 Rural Hand-book for 1858." It contains a vast mass of most useful information 

 on gardening, farming, &c, and hundreds of domestic recipes, and is altogether 

 one of the most useful works of the kind we have ever seen. The Sleaford 

 Horticultural Society will hold its annual exhibition, open to all England, on 

 the 22nd of July. The list of prizes includes stove and green-house plants, 

 fruits, roses, and cottagers' produce. The arrangements for the Grand 

 National Rose Show progress most satisfactorily. The subscription list will 

 shortly close, and the schedule will then be issued. The amount received up 

 to the 20th of March was =£100 14s. The Royal Botanic announce three ex- 

 hibitions of plants, flowers, and fruit, to take place on Wednesday, the 12th of 

 May, and the 2nd and 23rd of June. 



Mr. Fortune has once more sailed for China, in the service of the United 

 States' Government. The principal object of his voyage is to procure tea 

 plants for experimental culture in some of the warmer parts of the Union. 



PELARGONIUM LA BELLE ALLIANCE. 



The Pelargonium, of -which we give a [ form, ever yet produced, La Belle 

 coloured portrait, is one of a set sent out Alliance takes the first rank among show 

 last year by Messrs. Henderson, of the i geraniums, and will doubtless keep it for 

 Wellington Nursery, St. John's Wood. It [ many years. The warmth of its colouring 

 belongs to the new and fashionable race of renders it a special object of attraction in a 

 spotted Pelargoniums, to which it is a splendid collection, and its habit is so free, that it is 

 addition. In habit and colouring it will one of the best for specimen culture, making 

 please the most precise connoisseur, and j a splendid object, when well done. Our 

 though surpassed in the symmetry of its > figure is from the plate by Mr. Andrews, and 

 proportions by " Empress Eugenie," which may, therefore, be relied upon as true to 

 is, perhaps, the most perfect model as to | the life. 



