THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



of Verbenas. There were a few 

 moderately good Gladioli. Mr. Treen, 

 of Pugby, sent a lot of twelve, which 

 were disqualified, because there were 

 no names attached. Messrs. Paul 

 and Son sent a fine twenty-four. 



Hollyhocks. — Messrs. Minchin 

 and Son sent collections of superb 

 hollyhocks ; the twenty-four com- 

 prised Argentine, Purple Standard, 

 Excelsior, Majestic, William Dean, 

 Rev. J. Dix, Joshua Clarke, Miss 

 Burrell, E. B. Uilett, Beauty of Mit- 

 ford, Princess of Wales, Stanstead 

 Rival, Lord Loughborough, Invin- 

 cible, Emmeline, Excelsior, Pericles, 

 Queen Victoria, Compacta, Gem of 

 Yellows, Mrs. Chater, Boyal White, 

 Erebus. 



Crystal Palace, Sept. 7 and 8. 

 —The Crystal Palace, within and 

 without, never looked more charming 

 than on this occasion. Having looked 

 over the gardens of the Boyal Horti- 

 cultural Society the day previous, 

 and noticed the general decline of 

 floral colouring, we were not a little 

 surprised to find the grounds at 

 Sydenham in the full tone of their 

 summer splendour, not the smallest 

 shadow of autumnal decadence being 

 anywhere perceptible. The fruit and 

 flower show was a real show in the 

 Crystal Palace style, and hence a 

 blessed relief from the Kensington 

 sham. It occupied the whole length 

 of the nave, with the exception, of 

 course, of the water basins at either 

 end, and a great space allowed for 

 promenading in front of the orchestra. 

 It was not a bright day, or probably 

 the number of visitors would have 

 been augmented considerably beyond 

 the 10,555 who were present during 

 the day ; but that is a respectable 

 total, and it probably comprised a 

 larger proportion of gardeners than 

 usual, for everywhere the merits of 

 the various subjects were discussed 

 with energy and ability, and those 

 who sent things worth seeing had 

 honours awarded over and above the 

 prize money, for after all what re- 

 ward can be so sweet to a cultivator 

 as the approbation of a crowd 10,000 

 strong, a very large proportion of 

 whom are capable of intelligent criti- 

 cism? 



Geapes were as attractive to 

 sightseers as to cultivators, and al- 

 though among the new grapes there 

 were none that are likely to create 

 any excitement, there never was a 

 better show of grapes, and Black 

 Hamburghs, which abounded, were 

 everywhere so fine, that we must 

 consider this the most generally use- 

 ful of all dessert grapes known, and 

 1864 as one of the best seasons for its 

 growth and ripening. For boxes of 

 not less than twelve pounds weight, 

 the first prize went to Mr. Meredith 

 for a box beautifully filled with Black 

 Hamburghs — hugh bunches as black 

 as ink, and with a delicious bloom 

 upon them, the weight not stated, 

 but at a guess not less than thirty 

 pounds. Second, Mr. A. Henderson, 

 of Trentham. Mr. Henderson's bas- 

 ket was very artistically filled with 

 bunches of Lady Downes, weight not 

 stated. Equal second, Mr. Wills, 

 gardener to Sir P. Grey Egerton, 

 M.P., Tarporley. Mr. Wills had 

 Lady Downes, the weight twenty- 

 eight pounds, the sample absolutely 

 perfect. Third. Mr. A. M'Kay, Wo- 

 burn, Beds. Extra prize to Mr. C. 

 F. Harrison, of Weybridge, for a 

 superb box of White Muscats ; also 

 extra to Mr. J. Monk, gardener to 

 Mr. Alderman Sidney, Southgate for 

 superb Black Hamburghs. 



For the largest bunch of grapes 

 of any kind, the first prize went pro- 

 perly enough to Mr. Meredith, for 

 a bv nch of white grapes weighing 

 8^ lbs. This was a seedling called 

 Child of Hale, to all appearance bred 

 from White Tokay. The bunch was 

 of course of immense size, triangular, 

 irregular, confused in outline, rather 

 small berry, the colour greenish-am- 

 ber. It is as shown on this occasion 

 an ill-looking grate; respecting its 

 flavour we know nothing at present, 

 not having seen it early enough to 

 taste a berry. Second, Mr. Dwerri- 

 house, with a seedling white grape, 

 not named. Itwas a handsome bunch, 

 well shouldered and tapering, berries 

 medium size, colour clear amber, 

 weight not stated, but probably about 

 5 lbs. This is an inviting grape of 

 the Sweetwater strain. Messrs. Lane 

 and Son were third, with Muscat 



