140 THE FLORIST. 



volumes in praise of British gardening. Considering the weather 

 that had so long prevailed, the productions were marvellously fine ; 

 and our only cause for regret arises from the absence of visitors, and 

 the consequent loss sustained by the Botanic Society in particular. 

 From the close manner in which the exhibitors tread on each other's 

 heels is evidenced the spirit of emulation that these meetings awaken, 

 and the taste for high cultivation fostered by them in both employers 

 and gardeners. 



On account of the cold and backward weather above alluded to, 

 many of the specimens exhibited at Regent's Park were hardly for- 

 ward enough, particularly the stove and greenhouse plants, of which 

 a large number was furnished. These were tastefully arranged in a 

 tent by themselves, on earthen terraces faced with turf ; a novel and 

 interesting mode of exhibiting such plants, especially when placed 

 close together. Among the various collections, we observed beautiful 

 specimens of Pimelea spectabilis ; Oxylobium Pultenseae, a pretty yel- 

 low-flowered plant ; Boronia pinnata ; Chorozema Lawrenceanum, a 

 very graceful species ; Hovea Celsi, and many others. Various Ever- 

 lastings were shewn ; and really they are very pretty things, and not 

 so much cultivated as they should be. The best of them is Aphe- 

 lexis purpurea grandiflora. Of Eriostemons decidedly the best is 

 intermedium. Gompholobium polymorphum is a charming plant, 

 either on a trellis or grown in the form of a bush : the latter is 

 perhaps the most natural way of managing it. Adenandra speciosa, 

 well flowered, is tolerably attractive. And we noticed some nice ex- 

 amples of the brilliant Epacris miniata ; as well as many other stove 

 and greenhouse favourites. 



Orchids were not numerous at " the Park ;" but a few remarkable 

 plants were exhibited. Foremost among these was a large and fine 

 Dendrobium cserulescens, from Messrs. Lucombe and Pince of Exeter ; 

 and an equally fine plant of D. nobile was furnished in the collection 

 sent from Worton Cottage by Mr. Dobson. C. B. Warner, Esq. 

 sent twenty-five plants ; and there were groups of fifteen from J. H. 

 Schroder, Esq. and Mrs. Lawrence. Sixes were shewn from Wor- 

 ton Cottage and from Mr. Ker of Cheshunt. There was little new, 

 except it was the Bornean Cypripedium Lowei. 



At Chiswick, the Orchids formed, as they always do, one of the 

 chief features of the exhibition. Excellent collections were contri- 

 buted by Mr. Rucker, Mr. Warner, Mr. Blandy, Mrs. Lawrence, 

 Messrs. Veitch and RoUisson, Mr. Dobson, Mr. Farmer, and Mr. 

 Schroder. Among these were some admirable specimens. We no- 

 ticed a Saccolabium prsemorsum, quite a fountain of flowers ; some 

 fine Aerides, many species of Dendrobes, the chaste Phalsenopsis, a 

 fine Acineta Humboldtii, Cattleyas intermedia and Mossiae, and many 

 other charming members of this delightful family of plants. 



Azaleas made a grand display both at Chiswick and "the Park." 

 We saw at both places magnificent specimens of Gledstanesi ; late- 

 ritia ; optima, one of the best reds ; ref ulgens ; Bianca, one of the best 

 whites ; exquisita, and others. 



Roses in pots were really splendid : those at the Botanic were 



