JUNE. 141 



arrogate to itself infallibility, it does claim to be pre-eminently enti- 

 tled to support from the known ability of its censors, and the strict 

 impartiality of the awards." It is impossible for any society to exist 

 v/ithout its acts being sometimes questioned ; but when any soc'ety, 

 organised for a proposed purpose, so wields its influence as closel/ to 

 attain the accomplishment of that purpose, it is entitled to full and 

 vigorous support. So it is with the National Floricultural Society ; 

 and I hope that all who are members will continue their support, and 

 that many who are not will lend their helping hand, and, by becoming 

 members, sanction and support the existence of the Society. When 

 raisers like Mr. Beck of Isleworth, Mr. Foster of Clewer, Mr. Hoyle 

 of Reading, and other eminent amateurs, cheerfully send their produc- 

 tions to be commended or condemned as the Society thinks just, so 

 long must the Society be free from partiality. These gentlemen are 

 too honourable to sanction any partiality, and by their presence and 

 support, as well as by submitting their flowers to the Society's tribu- 

 nals, bear ample testimony to its influence. 



It will probably be a question with the Journal Committee as to 

 the beneficial results attending an extension of the Transactions, so 

 as to render it more valuable as a work of reference to distant contri- 

 butors. Should such be the case, not a distant amateur or Florist 

 should be unconnected with the National Floricultural Society. 



Observer. 



MEMORANDA FROM KEW. 



The bad effects of the past winter on the hardy evergreens here are 

 now very apparent, the greater portion of them having suffered more 

 or less, particularly those that were removed last autumn or towards 

 the end of the previous spring ; many that were well-established, 

 such as the common and Portugal Laurels, have most of their last 

 year's shoots nipped. Berberis repens and B. aquifolium, Cotoneaster 

 microphylla, Spartium junceum, Benthamia fragifera, a few An- 

 dromedas, standard trees of Magnolia grandiflora, Taxodium sem- 

 pervirens, Juniperus recurva, one or two Pinuses and Eucalyptuses 

 are all injured, and in many instances completely dead ; the Eucalyp- 

 tuses have stood out for several years : one of them is twenty feet 

 high, but it is now destroyed. 



One of the most interesting things lately in flower has been Rho- 

 dodendron ciliatum, which is one of the many kinds found by Dr. 

 Hooker in Sikkim Himalaya. It quite equals all that is said of it, for 

 it is one of the best and most useful kinds in cultivation, being of a 

 dwarf bushy habit, an abundant bloomer, and by far the largest flower- 

 ing one of all the low-growing kinds, many of the blossoms being three 

 inches in diameter. A close greenhouse suits it best, as the foliage 

 is more healthy and the flowers are of a pinkish or light rose-colour ; 

 if it is kept in a cold frame or planted out, it has rather a sickly ap- 



