174 THE FLORIST. 



THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION. 



The first exhibition of the Horticultural Society of London took 

 place on the 12th ult., and, although the day was one of the most enjoy- 

 able for the purpose that we remember, yet, owing to the launch of the 

 Royal Albert man-of-war at Woolwich occurring the same day, the 

 company was very small in comparison with the numbers generally 

 seen at the Society's Exhibitions. On walking round the tents, under 

 which the Exhibition is held, it was evident at a glance that the num- 

 ber of plants entered for competition was much below the standard of 

 former years, both in quality and quantity. The Ealing Park collection 

 having gone into various other hands, Mrs. Lawrence of course was not 

 expected ; neither could the present OAvners of the plants show such 

 recent purchases, and it came to our knowledge, that one or two exhibi- 

 tors refrained from sending their plants, from a feeling — highly 

 honourable to them — that their competitors might surmise that recent 

 purchases from the Ealing Park collection might be among them. In 

 addition to these losses, neither Mr. Colyer of Dartford, Mr. Speed, 

 Messrs. Eraser, Mr. Quilter, Mr. Turner, nor several others exhibited, 

 whose productions have hitherto held prominent positions, whether 

 owing to the recent alterations in the Society's schedule of prizes (which 

 was hinted on the grounds) or not, we are unable to say ; but let the 

 cause be what it might, their loss was sensibly felt by those who for 

 years have visited the gardens on the fete days. We regi'et, too, that 

 the prizes have been withdrawn for Indian Rhododendrons and Cine- 

 rarias, which used to form a good feature at the May shows ; and the 

 absence of the principal exhibitors of Pelargoniums caused a blank in 

 the Pelargonium tent, which elicited regret from all parties. As a 

 compensation, the Roses were superlatively good, and the fruit such as 

 we never saw at a May show before, and among which, some articles 

 demand special notice. We must first point to the basket of Black 

 Hamburgh Grapes from Oak Hill, which certainly was the finest 

 sample of grape-growing ever seen in May, and much before any others 

 exhibited, although many fine dishes from various parts of the country 

 were shown. We must next notice some Nectarines shown in Mr. 

 Fleming's collection, as exhibiting in point of size and colour all that 

 could be desired. Peaches were not so good, and wanting in colour. 

 Strawberries were exceedingly well done, and were shown in large 

 quantities. The British Queen still claimed pre-eminence, and some in 

 pots showed a fine crop of handsome fruit. We noticed a fine dish of 

 Trollope's Victoria, a large, round, pale red fruit of good size ; and a 

 dish of an exceedingly handsome seedling variety, called Sir Charles 

 Napier, with the appearance of the British Queen, but regularly 

 coloured all over. We understood the judges considered the flavour 

 not equal to its appearance ; but having since tasted the fruit, we con- 

 sider it of fair average quahty, and its fine colour and large size will, 

 we consider, render it a valuable market fruit. Pines were shown 

 largely, but in this section there was nothing remarkable, and one or 

 two were very inferior. The best Pines shown were the Black Jamaicas, 



