248 THE FLOE 1ST. 



BRIGHTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The sunest of all tests in reference to the fuller development of the 

 beauties and utilities of fruits and flowers is that of the periodical 

 dis])lays and competition which horticultural fetes elicit and engender, 

 diftusing gratification and improvement through a wider range of 

 hitherto neglected country ; or bringing into luller force localities but 

 partially represented. Observers of nature, and many there are, who 

 boast of such penchant, fail too frequently to give due importance to 

 the good that must arise from the rivalry consequent upon these 

 exhibitions. Nature in her dishabille must command attention; but by 

 art how is nature improved ! the wild flower how beautiful ! But 

 cannot such beauty be enhanced by the cares of the " practical?" Are 

 not our daily increasing wants the better satisfied by the improved 

 qualities obtained through the energies of those whose callings and 

 duties direct them to supply such wants, be they real or imaginary, 

 pertaining to luxury or necessity ? And the first step in the course ot 

 improvement is to arouse the spirit of inquiry, even to demonstration, 

 and to prosecute both to open competition. 



All that the most ardent could desire was traceable in every subject 

 displayed by the county exhibitors. At the first meeting for the year, 

 of this Society, in the Pavihon, on the 28th ult., no longer were the 

 London lions all predominant, the honours this time being fairly shared 

 and nobly won, and wifl each year be augmented so long as the 

 sinews are forthcoming, to enable the management to secure the co- 

 operation of the great and good men of all England, on the generous 

 soil of Sussex. 



Much could be advanced on the good which these national demon- 

 strations bring into play ; the Carnation, Picotee, and Tulip, are each 

 ably cared for under this irresistible national banner ; the Dahlia, as 

 the leading autumnal flower, received a most important " fillip" at the 

 hands of the Sussex gentlemen last season, as was duly recorded in 

 these pages. Would that every county of this our tight little island 

 would go and do likewise. 



Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and cut Verbenas, were by far the most 

 prominent features of the meeting; for while other subjects were 

 amply represented, these were in all their peculiarities produced in the 

 highest order, the Verbenas, indeed, superlatively fine. Mr. G. Smith, 

 of Tollington Nursery, Hornsey, Middlesex, only just maintained his 

 A 1 position, with nothing to spare, disputed by C. P. Lochner, Esq., 

 Paddington, 2nd ; Mr. Weatherall, of the home division, 3rd ; and 

 INIr. Atkins, 4th. Often have 1st prizes been awarded to much worse 

 specimens than were contained even in a rejected stand on this occasion ; 

 the most striking varieties were Shylock (in No. 2 stand). White 

 Perfection, St. Margarets, Violacea, Boule de Feu, Mrs. Gerard Leigh, 

 Caliban, Beauty, Islington Rival, King, Nobihssima, Geralda, Purple 

 King, ]\Iadame Schmidt, Pandora, Koh-i-noor, Madlle. de Freleuse. 

 Best Six Fuchsias, ]\Ir. Knight, with Duchess of Lancaster, Voltigeur, 

 Prince Arthur, Bride, Glory, Madame Sontag ; 2nd, Mr. Atkins, with 

 England's Glory, Expansion, Cartoni, and three others already named. 



