AUGUST. 251 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



July 8. — The last exhibition of this Society took place under more 

 favourable circumstances than the two former ones ; the day, on the 

 whole, was agreeable, and the Gardens being honoured with the pre- 

 sence of the Queen, Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and Prince 

 Alfred, in the afternoon, contributed largely to make the exhibition 

 especially attractive. The Royal party appeared to take great interest 

 in the various horticultural productions displayed for competition, which, 

 both in respect to plants and fruit, were superior to what we remember 

 ever having witnessed at a Chiswick July show. 



In addition to the usual amount of Stove and Greenhouse Plants, 

 were several collections with variegated finely leaves, furnished by 

 Messrs. Veitch, Rolhsson, and the two Hendersons. This class of 

 plants is fast becoming favourites, and, with some groups of plants 

 remarkable for fine foliage, contributed by the above-named gentlemen, 

 made an interesting feature. We must, besides, notice a most admir- 

 able collection of rare Ferns and Lycopods, sent by INIessrs. Veitch, 

 which attracted great attention. 



Several new plants of great promise were shoAvn, principally by the 

 I\Iessrs. Veitch ; among these, cut blooms of a charming species of 

 Dipladenia, \^^th deep rosy crimson flowers, much larger and deeper 

 in colour than crassinoda, struck us as being the finest. Having 

 obtained permission fi-om the IMessrs. Veitch to figure this and his 

 other new things in The Florist, our readers will have an opportunity 

 of learning full particulars respecting them in our coming numbers. 



The other plants were, in most respects, similar to those exhibited 

 at Regent's Park on the 5th, and therefore it would be a repetition to 

 enumerate them here. 



The show of Fruit was extensive ; several collections were exhibited. 

 Mr. Ingram was placed first, his collection containing some fine fruit, 

 particularly a Cayenne Pine, beautiful Eh-uge Nectarines, Bellegarde 

 Peaches, and four dishes of forced Plums, which were really admirable. 

 In the other collections we noticed some fine IMoscow Queen Pines and 

 good Grapes and INIelons fi-om Mr. Fleming ; Violette Hative Peaches 

 and Elton Cherries from i\Ir. Snow. After Mr. Ingram's Nectarines 

 and Plums, perhaps the next remarkable production was a bunch of 

 Cannon Hall Grapes, from Mr. Strachen, upwards of 4 lbs. in weight. 

 IMessrs. Frost, Hill, and Fleming again showed fine specimens of 

 Black Hamburgh Grapes, and some good INIuscats were exhibited, but 

 generally they were under-ripe. Messrs. Brown, Wright, Dods, Munro, 

 and others, had respectively fine Peaches and Nectarines. Of Straw- 

 berries, ]\Ir. Lydiard, of Batheaston, had some capital fi-uit ; but the 

 best dish of Strawberries (British Queen) was sent by Mr. Bates, of 

 Moulsey : five dishes of Seedling Strawberries were on the table, 

 which we shall hereafter notice. Cherries, Figs, and Melons were of 

 about average quality ; the latter, perhaps, o\Wng to the sunless 

 weather, excepted. 



Now that the great MetropoUtan Exhibitions are over for the 



