214 THE FLORIST. 



CHELTENHAM EXHIBITION. 



The following is some account of the grand display of horticulture, 

 which recently took place here — the Arts and Sciences connected there- 

 with, and designs taken therefrom. One of the best results of the 

 World's Fair of 1851 has been its stimulating people to get up exhi- 

 bitions of a similar kind — a fact well exemplified by the product of 

 the united energies, dictated by the sound sense, of the good folks of 

 Cheltenham. Who would have conceived, prior to the glorious exposition 

 in question, that a small provincial town in the " beautiful west," could 

 originate, erect, elaborately occupy, and maintain for weeks, a Crystal 

 Palace ? Such is, however, no longer a matter of experiment ; the 

 successful issue of the undertaking has, beyond doubt, been demon- 

 strated. To what practical uses may we apply ourselves, when pure love 

 for the prosperity of a town dictates our actions ! That the gentlemen of 

 Cheltenham have sho\Mi the way in many a good work, their annual 

 horticultural fetes testify ; and whatever they may have done for the 

 good of the science and pursuit of gardening, few would have been 

 bold enough to have foretold the immensity and glories of the tout 

 ensemble offered on the 20th and 2 1 st of last month ; for, in addition to 

 their Palace (a representation of which is given in next page), a building 

 400 feet in length, of glass, both sides and roof, the latter on the 

 Paxton ridge and furrow system, with noble transept, and well 

 appointed interior decorations, trere were five monster marquees 

 of plants and flowers. Never could the " Old Wells" have been gayer ; 

 artistic fountains, well kept lawm, the Coldstream Band, the "fair crea- 

 tures of the Creation," and fine weather, each lent that powerful aid 

 so necessary for the cUmax of eclat, commanded and deserved by the 

 several committees of management ; in their programme is set forth 

 " Of all sciences, few are more useful and interesting than horticulture; 

 and of all arts, none more pleasing and beautiful than the imitative. 

 How few articles are manufactured, where it is not introduced with 

 effect ! And when we examine the beautiful representations that pro- 

 ceed from the pencil and the brush, the moulder and the carver, the 

 engraver and the printer, the weaver and the embroiderer ; or the 

 elegant works of drawing-room pastime, as wool and needlework, 

 crochet and netting, &c., &c. — and observe, on so turning them over, 

 how many of the most attractive and beautiful are designed from the 

 vegetable world, and represent the chaste and pleasing productions of 

 horticulture — none can help coming to the conclusion that a collection 

 of all such works of art, designed from such objects in nature, must in 

 in itself form one of great attraction ; and hence the origin and title of 

 the exhibition, affording alike to the lovers of nature and art both 

 pleasure and instruction. 



' The works of Nature's growth, 

 And works of art adorned.' " 



A few years since it was the general impression that it was an im- 

 possibility to get up a really first class horticultural exhibition, out of 

 the great metropolis. The provincial affairs, proud as their promoters 

 were of them, and creditable as they were in days sans steam and rail, 



