178 THE FLORIST. 



prevented many parties from attending. The change of site had 

 advantages in this respect, for a numerous and select company visited 

 the grounds in the afternoon ; and if the verdant lawns and many 

 interesting features of the Chiswick garden were missed, an adequate 

 compensation was found, this cold, cheerless spring, by the comparative 

 ease with which the exhibition was reached by numbers to whom the 

 drive to Chiswick would have been an objection. 



We are happy to record that Her Majesty, Prince Albert, and party, 

 paid an early visit to the grounds, and were evidently much gratified 

 with the exhibition — both Her Majesty and the Prince noticing, for a con- 

 siderable time, many of the matchless specimens of horticultural skill with 

 which the tables were furnished, among which a ripe fruit of the Man- 

 gosteen, from his Grace the Duke of Northumberland's gardens at 

 Syon, particularly excited the admiration of the Royal party. Full 

 particulars of this fruit are given at page 9 of the January number for 

 the present year, with a woodcut illustration ; and we must now con - 

 gratulate Mr. Ivison on having so successfully brought to maturity so 

 difficult a fruit to grow, which, we understand, fully bears out the high 

 character given it by persons who have tasted it in the East Indies. 



Taken as a whole the exhibition was the best the Society has had ; 

 the alterations in the schedule, by reducing the number of plants in 

 the lai'ge collections, and increasing the number of prizes in the smaller 

 ones, as well as in florists' flowers generally, has had the desired effect ; 

 as a proof of which we may advert to the individual excellence of nearly 

 every plant exhibited, and this considering the very worst season for 

 plant growing on record. It would be invidious to particularise single 

 collections, but we may refer to those from Sir John Cathcart and Mr. 

 Green, as affording some of the best examples of cultivation ever 

 witnessed. The former had an immense Cavendish Heath covered 

 with flowers, an admirable Boronia pinnata, as well as Azaleas, 

 Pimeleas, and Gompholobiums in such excellence as one rarely sees. 

 Mr. Green had an Azalea Iveryana so large and full of blossoms as to 

 strike all who saw it with admiration. 



As Chinese Azaleas were intended to be a prominent feature at this 

 exhibition, a large number was furnished by different exhibitors, which 

 produced a gorgeous effect, and contained some magnificent plants. We 

 do not, however, particularly admire the standards at these exhibitions, 

 believing that they may be much better done, which no doubt wiU be 

 the case in time. Roses are every year produced in greater perfection, 

 and this season were fully up to our expectations. The Messrs. Lane's 

 were magnificent plants. Of new varieties Messrs. Paul had a collec- 

 tion of thirty kinds. Conspicuous among them were Paul's Prince 

 Albert, a brilliant coloured Bourbon, which w^e have previously 

 figured ; Adam Paul, rose colour, large and full, and very sweet ; 

 General Castellane, brilliant crimson ; Jules Margottin, bright cherry 

 colour, apparently a very free hardy Rose ; Lady Stuart, flesh colour ; 

 Leon Plee, large bright rose ; Madame Duchere, blush ; Madame Phihp, 

 blush, with rosy edges ; Paul Dupuy, dark purplish crimson, very 

 velvety ; Prince Leon, large bright crimson, a very fine Rose ; Leveson 

 Gower, dark ruby red, large ; Triomphe de Paris, velvety purple ; Volta, 



