JUNE. 139 



The subject of your plate was raised by Mr. Layton of Hammer- 

 smith, and will be valued by all who are foud of Mimuluses. The 

 flower from which your drawing was made measured two inches in 

 diameter. As will be seen by your representation, it is rich yellow 

 margined with crimson- maroon, and having a handsome blotch of 

 the same colour on each petal ; throat spotted. 



M. 



REGEXrS PARK A\D CHISWICK EXHIBITIONS. 



The former was held on the Sth of May, the latter on the ISth; and 

 considerins^ that the greater portion of the collections present at the 

 one were exhibited at the other meeting, it seems the better plan to 

 give our readers a general rather than a detailed account of both. 

 Previous to the Botanic Society's exhibition, the weather had been 

 most unpromisins: ; sour east winds and rain had prevailed for some 

 time, chilhng the atmosphere and saturating the ground. The day 

 itself was most unsrenial — a murky atmosphere and steady soaking 

 wet; yet H. R. H. Prince Albert found his way there on horseback, 

 and also several hundreds of those determined lovers of dowers and 

 plants who are deterred by nothing. Before the season is over, we 

 hope to be able to give a detailed sketch of the Botanic Society's 

 garden and its arrangements ; but for the present we must content 

 ourselves with the exhibition alone. 



The alterations at the Horticultural Society's gardens since last 

 year consist in the elevation of the ground on which the tents are 

 placed, so as to kee]i them dry in wet weather; a better arrangement 

 of the tents themselves; the formation of el-.vated dry gravel- walks, 

 an additional entrance, and more accommodation for the exhibitors' 

 vans, (Sec. ; all of which seem to have met with universal approbation. 



The morning of the Chiswick fete broke misty and uncomfortable ; 

 but as the day advanced, the weather brightened, and was really 

 cheerful for some time ; but dark threatening clouds and a slightly 

 faUing dass, with a chilly atmosphere, made it, upon the whole, un- 

 inviting. Still there were nearly 4000 of the Fellows and their 

 friends^ present ; many, no doubt, attracted by the promised exhibi- 

 tion of the Victoria Regia, which formed the lion of the day. and 

 which was produced in very fine condition : one leaf and one flower 

 by Mr. Ivison, gardener to the Duchess Dowager of Northumberland; 

 another flower and two leaves by Mr. Paxton, gardener to the Duke 

 of Devonshire. One of the latter was displayed in a reverse position, 

 so as to exhibit the very curious and beautiful formation of its under 

 surface. The flowers were placed under bell-glasses, and continued 

 expanding during the hours of exhibition ; the leaves were placed, 

 one in water, the others on wet moss, and, spite of the low tempera- 

 ture, maintained their condition to the end. 



Before we give a little detail of the principal objects exhibited, 

 wo mav observe that, in our estimation, both these exhibitions speak 



