240 THE FLORIST. 



Springwood Park, Kelso. A second premium was voted to Mr. W. 

 Reid, gardener to the Hon. Henry Coventry, Newhailes, Musselburgh. 

 A third premium was assigned to Mr. Matthew Buist, Tyninghame. 



For the best three Phloxes the prize was gained by Mr. G. Smith, 

 gardener to ]\Irs. Dodd, Clermiston House, by Corstorphine, with 

 Antagonist, Brown's No. 2, and Chamouni. A second premium was 

 voted to Mr. Kerr, gardener to Robert Brown, Esq., of Firth, Roslin, 

 for Brown's No. 2, Chamouni, and a seedling named Alma. 



The silver medal was awarded to J\Ir. Pender, gardener to David 

 Anderson, Esq , of Moredun, for the best collection of fruit. 



In addition to the articles sent in competition, there were many pro- 

 ductions placed upon the tables for exhibition only. From Messrs. 

 Dicksons & Co., Leith Walk Nurseries, was a box of seedling Pansies, 

 some of them of great promise ; from Messrs. J. Dickson & Sons, 

 Inverleith, Pentstemon Jeffreyi, a seedling Gloxinia, and fine blooms of 

 Roses ; from Messrs. Ballantyne & Sons, Dalkeith, several boxes of 

 Roses, and fine plants of the newer French sorts of fancy Pelargoniums ; 

 from Messrs. Downie and Laird, Westcoats, for well-grown plants of 

 stage and fancy Pelargoniums ; and from Mr. Douglas, Rosebank, 

 Fuchsia Mrs. Story (with white corolla), a semi-double Petunia, and 

 Verbena blooms. 



A FEW WORDS ON HYBRID RHODODENDRONS. 



A FEW months since a discussion, which many of our patrons will no 

 doubt recollect, was carried on in the pages ot the Gardeners Chronicle, 

 relative to the merits of certain races of Rhododendrons. The subject 

 was, in a garden sense, an important one, and we ventured, in taking 

 part in the discussion, to advocate views which from experience we 

 knew to be correct. 



The originator of the discussion, " J. R.," endeavoured to prove that 

 grafted Rhododendons were inferior, for garden decoration, to plants on 

 their own roots ; and that seedlings from arboreum were much to be 

 preferred to any of the numerous hardy hybrids now so generally 

 cultivated. 



It appears to us worth while to reproduce here the substance of what 

 we said in the Gardeners Chronicle with reference to the advantages 

 of really hardy hybrids over the numerous progeny so warmly eulogised 

 by " J. R.," which indeed are but seedlmgs direct from, or but once 

 removed from, arboreum ; and especially as the past severe winter has 

 more than verified our opinion — that such plants are worthless for out- 

 door culture. Very many cultivators have yet to learn what the 

 qualities are which a Rhododendron for successful cultivation in the 

 open ground should possess. We believe we shall be doing good 

 service in giving that information. 



The hybrid Rhododendrons, now so generally grown, are from crosses 

 and intercrosses between the Indian arboreum and some hardy kinds, 

 as ponticum, catawbiense, and caucasicum ; with these materials the 



