100 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



The spring meeting of the Horticultural Society was the occasion of a 

 fashionable gathering of both visitors and gardeners in the New St. James's Hall, 

 on the 21st and 22nd ult. The profusion of novelties was almost bewildering, 

 and the whole scene cheerful, imposing, and complete. The lighting up of the 

 Hall at night, produced a really grand effect, and afforded to many who could 

 not attend during the day, an opportunity of viewing one of the most magni- 

 ficent floral displays ever accomplished. Her Majesty and the Prince Consort 

 visited the show in the morning, before the admission of the public ; and 

 during the two days, the visitors numbered nearly 5,000. Though so late in 

 the season, there was an abundance of spring flowers, Hyacinths, Tulips, and 

 Narcissi ; Azaleas, Camellias, Rhododendrons, Roses, and Pelargoniums, 

 almost beyond number; and among the collections of orchids, were many novel- 

 ties. Messrs. Vietch filled one side of the Hall with foliage plants and orchids. 

 Mr. Glendinning showed some pretty Chinese Peaches ; Mr. Turner, Auriculas 

 and Cinerarias ; and Messrs. E. G. Henderson a fine assortment of variegated 

 plants. 



The Royal Botanic Society's first exhibition will take place at the Regents- 

 park Gardens on the 12th of this month ; the second and third exhibitions on 

 June 2nd and 23rd. The first grand horticultural exhibition at the Crystal 

 Palace is to take place on Saturday, May 22nd, instead of Wednesday, the 

 19th, as formerly announced. 



On the 15th, an exhibition of flowers and fruit will be held in the gardens 

 of the Manchester Botanical and Horticultural Society; and the Manchester 

 Horticultural Exhibition will hold its first show at the Free Trade Hall, on 

 Tuesday and Wednesday, May the 18th and 19th. The latter is expected to be 

 one of the best exhibitions of the season, so Manchester will not lack May 

 meetings for the devotees of the goddess Flora. Leicester is to be gay with 

 flowers on the 26th, when the Floral Society will hold its first exhibition. 



We have received the schedule of the Maidstone Horticultural Society, 

 which will hold two shows this season : the first on the 24th of June, the se- 

 cond on the 15th of September. The list of officers includes the Earl of Rom- 

 ney, as president, the Countess of Abergavenny as patroness, and thirty-four 

 of the nobility and gentry as vice-presidents ; the Earl of Darnley, Viscount 

 Falmouth, the Dean of Rochester, and the Major of Maidstone, being amongst 

 the number. The committee and secretaries of this well-managed society 

 have prepared an admirable set of regulations and bye-laws, and the prize list 

 shows a determination to encourage earnest competition, and to do justice to 

 exhibitors. We wish the " men cf Kent " a glorious reunion. 



BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING. 



HEARTY welcome to the Floral, World ! May its 

 patrons and readers be as anxious in promoting its pros- 

 perity as its pages will be teeming with interesting and 

 instructive matter. 



From the contents of the numbers published, I conclude 

 Floral World will he conducted on that much required 

 principle of simplicity, that while it treats of the highest 

 branches of Botanical science, it will not soar above the lowest 

 capacity, and yet be interesting and instructive to the master of the 

 art of Horticulture. The want of some such work has long been felt ; but I 

 trust that as long as the Floral World lives, that that want will cease to be. 

 The love for gardening has now become almost universal ; and the time em- 

 ployed by the amateur, in bringing his flowers and vegetables to perfection, 

 gives him as much pleasure, as the blooming of the lovely things do after- 



