JULY. 173 



In bizarres, Charles X., Polyphemus, Lord Milton, Magnum Bonura, 

 Emperor Charles, Catafalque, were amongst the winning flowers. 



In bybloemens, Bienfait, Queen Charlotte, Louis XVI., Salvator 

 Rosa, &c. &c. were good ; whilst Heroine, Emily, Camillus, Vesta, 

 &c. were conspicuous amongst the roses. 



The breeders were shewn in great force ; amongst the best were 

 Ada, John of Gaunt, Sir Thomas Picton, Lord Derby, Pilot, &c. &c. 



Altogether the exhibition passed off most satisfactorily ; and pre- 

 vious to the separation of the florists, it was agreed that the next 

 year's exhibition should be held at Derby. 



FRAGMENTS FOR THE FLORIST. 



What a beautiful tufted mass of bright yellow is formed by that 

 very old plant Alyssum saxatile ! From the middle of April to the 

 same period in May does this and its congener, Alyssum gemonense, 

 with a more compact habit and flowers of a more golden hue, en- 

 liven our flower-borders. Aubrietia purpurea, of the same dwarf tufted 

 habit, with light purple flowers, blooms at the same season ; as 

 does Arabis albida : thus we may form pretty masses of pale yellow, 

 deep yellow, purple, and white, in April and May, when flowers are 

 so fresh and gay and acceptable. 



Another old favourite, Polemonium reptans, deserves a passing 

 word. This, like many other old herbaceous plants, is not suffi- 

 ciently known ; it is very hardy, will grow in any soil, is dwarf and 

 neat in its habit, and gives flowers of a most lovely blue, or perhaps 

 purple, in April. Pulmonaria virginica, with its soft silky foliage 

 and beautiful blue flowers, is another April friend, which every lover 

 of spring flowers should plant. Now these are all cheap, and cul- 

 tivated by almost every nurseryman ; and yet how rarely they are 

 seen! 



There are perhaps no shrubs more beautiful and graceful than 

 the diflierent species of the Broom (Genista and Spartium). 



The earliest of the tribe to give us its flowers is Genista purgans, 

 a dwarf compact- growing shrub, covered early in May with its golden 

 flowers. It also forms a pretty lawn-tree when grafted as a standard 

 on the Laburnum, on which it seems to succeed admirably. We 

 have but few, very few hardy climbers that flower in early spring, 

 which gives increased value to the genus Atragene ; its species are 

 very old plants, and yet but rarely seen. For several years past, how 

 constantly have the nurserymen been dinned with the inquiry, 



" Well, Mr. , have you any thing new?" If we continue to 



neglect our old friends as we have done, the inquiry will soon be, 

 " Have you any thing old?" Well then, Atragene austriaca, with 

 flowers of a beautiful azure blue, and its variety with white flowers, 

 are both worth inquiring after. Atragene americana, with purple 

 flowers, blooms somewhat later in the season, about the same time 

 as the Clematis montana, which, with its large white flowers, is one 



