THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 27 



are plants that can be grouped together in the most effective manner, 

 and flowers of* the finest quality. Mr. Little kindly invited me to 

 see his collection about the middle of November last ; and although I 

 have seen some good displays of chrysanthemums in private gardens, 

 tbat in the conservatory at Cambridge Park was certainly the 

 best. 



Very few things indeed that possess general interest were con- 

 tributed to the meeting of the Floral and Fruit Committees of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society, held in December. One of the most 

 striking novelties was Selaginella Martensi albo-lineata, exhibited by 

 Messrs. Perkins and Son, of Coventry. It differs from the species 

 in being more elegant in growth, and the tips of the young growth 

 are of a creamy white. For dinner-table decoration, and other 

 purposes, it will be held in high esteem for many years hence. As 

 it is of free growth, and very easily propagated, we may soon look 

 for it at a price within the reach of all. Tree Carnations were toler- 

 ably well represented. Messrs. E. Gr. Henderson and Son had a 

 small collection, but they were unnamed, and therefore did not 

 contribute much to the edification of the visitors. 



Two new tree carnations — White Nun, with large and remarkably 

 full flowers of the purest white, combined with a very vigorous 

 habit ; and Maiden's Blush, with very pale flesh-coloured flowers of 

 the finest form, and large in size — from Mr. W. Lee, Arundel, Sus- 

 sex, are most decided acquisitions. Amaryllis Spotted Gem, from 

 Messrs. Veitch and Sons, King's Road, Chelsea, is also deserving of 

 notice, for the flowers are large, of fine form, and spotted with 

 bright red on a cream coloured ground. Cyclamens and primulas 

 were contributed in plenty, but they were not in quality such as to 

 require any special notice, excepting Cyclamen persicum purpureum, 

 a grand variety, with large flowers of the richest rose purple hue 

 and finest form. This came from the gardens of H. Little, Esq., 

 and was awarded a first-class certificate. Berry-bearing plants are 

 as yet imperfectly understood, and, therefore, the fine collection of 

 Hollies, Aucubas, Skimmias, etc., from Messrs. Standish and Co., of 

 Ascot, must have honourable mention ; and also a fine standard 

 specimen of Capsicum, Yellow Gem, a large yellow-fruited variety, of 

 great value for table-decoration during the winter, from Mr. Robins, 

 gardener to Sir E. C. Verrison, Oakley Park, Eye, Suffolk. The 

 head of the plant was about fifteen inches in diameter, and upon a 

 clear stem of about eighteen inches in height, and the large depen- 

 dant orange-coloured fruit, seen from underneath, as it would be 

 upon the table, had a very effective appearance. 



Before the Fruit Committee, Mr. Chaff, gardener to A. Smee, 

 Esq., Carshalton, had a most magnificent collection of culinary and 

 dessert apples, numbering in all twenty-four dishes, of the highest 

 excellence. The collection consisted of the best sorts only, and the 

 names will be found in the selection of apples given in the Floral 

 "World for last November. Mr. Win. Paul, of Waltham Cross, 

 sent three new seedling grapes, and a first-class certificate was con- 

 ferred upon a white variety with large oval berries, and of most 

 excellent flavour. Its chief value, however, consists in its hanging 



