158 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



of sprinor flowers, which took place on the 6th of April, in the Vestry Hall, at 

 Bow, This is the first time that a small local society has attempted anything of the 

 kind, and it was the more satisfactory that the exhibition, besides being novel, was 

 good. Hyacinths, Tulips, Dielytras, Auriculas, Narcissus, Cinerarias, Cytisus, 

 Primulas, Cyclamens, and Geraniums, were shown in plenty, and in excellent con- 

 dition. The most successful exhibitors were Messrs. Grove, Howard, Deacon, Sin- 

 clair, Grace, Cheshire, and Hardy. Air. Prestoe, superintendent of Victoria Park, 

 put up a fine collection of CaUdiums, Dracaenas, and other plants of fine character. 

 Mr. Forsyth, of Brunswick Nursery, Stoke Newington, presented a collection of 

 Cinerarias and Hyacinths, that were eminently effective ; Mr. Allen, of Norfolk 

 Nursery, Shacklewell, made an exhibition of tree ferns, miscellaneous plants, and 

 cut flowers, most tastefully displayed. 



The most important of the great shows, was that held at the Regent's Pabk, 

 on April 13. On that occasion Azaleas were superbly shown by Mr. Turner, 

 Messrs. Lane and Son, Mr. J3. S. AVilliams, and others. Pot roses from Mr. 

 William Paul, and Messrs. Paul and Son, were superb, and included examples of the 

 following : — Prince de Sortia, Anna Alexieff, Madlle. Berthe Leveque, Senateur 

 Vaisse, Madame Roussett, Centifolia R:sea, Marquis de Foucault, President Mas, 

 Fisher Holmes, Madame Boll, Madame Fillinn, Celine Forestier, Madame Hoste, 

 Madame Damaizin, Alba Mutabilis, Bernard Palissy, and Glory of "Waltham. One 

 of the most interesting features of the show was a batch of that most charming of 

 hardy herbaceous plants, Spirea Japonica, sent by Mr. Bartlett, of Hammersmith. 

 The plants were in 48-sized pots, with heads of leaves about a foot across, above 

 which were three or four spikes to each plant of their exquisitely beautiful snow- 

 white flowers. Not many novelties were shown, and amongst them there were 

 none of any great importance. 



TO COEEESPONDENTS. 



Ground Vineries.— /S'^^Ziucr will find in the Floral "World of April, 1866, a 

 practical description, accompanied with a figure, of Wells's ground vineries. 



Stove for Plant-house. — M. N. — You will find Hays's constant stove the 

 cheapest, cleanest, most simple and certain thing of the kind you can have to keep 

 the frost out of a house, measuring 17 feet by 10 feet. The other stove is more 

 powerful, hut, all things considered, less desirable, at least in your case. 



Greenhouse Construction. — S. N.—l. A lean-to facing south will be best for 

 most purposes, especially grapes, geraniums, succulents, and for pushing on odd 

 things to plant out. A lean-to facing west will be useful, and better than a south 

 aspect if you grow ferns, camellias, and azaleas in it. 2. An east aspect is to be 

 preferred for subjects that flower in spring, but a west aspect is best as a mere pre- 

 servatory, because warmer than east. 3 is answered in 2. 4. A flue need rise only a few 

 inches in a run of 24 feet ; if no rise at all no matter, as the chimney at the further 

 end will secure draught, and the taller the chimney the better the draught. The 

 flue need only be carried along one side, but as the house is small, it may be taken 

 all round, so as to have the chimney over the furnace ; in which case it must rise a 

 little all the way. A flue all round will consume more fuel and give more heat than 

 one through only. 5. We have known hundreds of span-roofed houses heated by 

 flu3s ; why, only a few years ago, all houses %vere so heated. 6. No, we avoid 

 prices as much as possible ; what is cheap in one place is dear in another. Ask 

 a tradesman in your district. 7- What you think is wrong. A Paxton house is the 

 best house any ine can have, and for almost any purpose. 8. No. 



Variegated Conifers.— TT. B. ^.— The great difficulty with these is the pro- 

 pagation. Two years ago a superbly variegated Araucaria imbricata was exhibited 

 at Regent's Park, but has not since been heard of; the difficulty was in multiplying 

 it. There are many variegated varieties of Thuia, Cupressus, Retinospora, and 

 Juniperus in cultivation, but these can be multiplied by cuttings ; so when a sport 

 occurs there is no excuse for losing it. As you are a collector of these things, you 

 niay hear of a few new and most beautiful varieties by sending a line to the Lough 

 Nurseries, Cork, and the Botanic Nui sery, Biggleswade. 



Plunging System. — Simson. — Any plant of somewhat compact habit, if suitable 



