372 THE FLORIST. 



from which plants have been raised, as well as of a species from the 

 same quarter, named Pinus padufica, young plants of which we possess. 

 We are indebted to the kindness of Sir John Cathcart for permission 

 to figure our present engraving from a specimen now growing in the well- 

 managed grounds at Cooper's Hill. The tree is in the most vigorous 

 health, and is growing fast into a fine specimen. We un.lerstand it 

 was purchased of J\Ir. Pontey, nurseryman, Plymouth, who grows a 

 choice collection of rare Conifers. To those who intend planting Nord- 

 mann's Fir — and it merits a very extensive introduction to park and 

 garden scenery — we should recommend a loamy soil of rather heavier 

 character for it than would suit the generality of Conifers. Expe- 

 rience shows us that the Silver Fir section thrives best on soils of rather 

 a heavy nature, and the native habitat of Nordmanniana goes to prove 

 that it does not differ from our common Silver Fir in this respect. 



NATIONAL CARNATION AND PICOTEE SOCIETY. 



Feeling that your remarks, at page 267, on the late exhibition of 

 this Society, convey an expression of censure very undeserved on the 

 part of the management, simply in justice to those concerned, I ask 

 your permission to offer a brief explanation, and a short comment on 

 the latter portion of your criticism. 



In the first place, with respect to the alteration of the day of show, 

 I had hoped, after the falsification of all the prognostications with which 

 I was harassed up to the morning of the show, that any further stress 

 upon that subject would have been spared; but as it is introduced, 

 allow me to say, without troubling your readers with a long detail of 

 local circumstances, however important or influential in themselves, 

 that an alteration being almost imperative, the postponement of five 

 days was adopted, on the representation of eleven-twelfths of those 

 interested, that their flowers could not be ready by August 3d, 

 these representations being further supported by the statement of the 

 cultivators, that no Hollyhocks could be produced at that time. Con- 

 sidering these facts, I very much regret, and am somewhat surprised, 

 you should have adopted a tone of complaint, the more especially as, 

 when it is observed the two southern collections, though opposed by 

 upwards of twenty competitors, carried off one-half of the prizes in the 

 open class, the inference is inevitable that the southern flowers in their 

 decay are more than a match for the prime and maturity of the mid- 

 lands and the north. Such an inference is not consistent with the facts, 

 nor can I with all my predilection in favour of the south, and with an 

 unlimited admiration for the skill with which the collections in question 

 are managed, subscribe to it. Very far as the southern collections un- 

 doubtedly were from their best, the chief collections, both of the 

 midlands and of the north, were still farther from their prime. 



With respect to the exhibition of stands of Carnations and Picotees 

 in combination for the principal prizes, any mode which may tend to 

 limit competition is undoubtedly injurious, but that such was not the 



