3S4 THE GARDENER. [Aug. 



splendid lot of plants suitable for room and table decoration ; also cut Roses, 

 and Orchids in bloom. 



The next table was very effectively furnished by Downie & Laird, and con- 

 sisted of Palms, Rhododendrons, Gloxinias, Pelargoniums, Ferns, Heaths, and 

 other flowering and foliaged plants; also an assortment of blooms of Pyreth- 

 rums, Pansies, and bedding Violas. A table furnished by Messrs Methven 

 & Sons consisted of beautiful Pelargoniums, Heaths, Tree and other Ferns, 

 Palms, &c. Conspicuous on this table were a large number of the New Zealand 

 Filmy Fern (Todea superba), and a collection of cut blooms of Iris. The last 

 of the large tables in the centre of the market was furnished by Dicksons & 

 Co., Waterloo Place, and was made up of Tree-Ferns, Pelargoniums, and foli- 

 age plants ; also a large display of Pansies, Violas, Geraniums, Pyrethrums, 

 herbaceous plants, and alpine plants. 



One of the most interesting tables in the show was furnished from the 

 Botanic Gardens, and consisted of Pitcher-plants, Darlingtonias, Sarracenias, 

 Droseras, Diona?a muscipula, Filmy Ferns, a large specimen of the Elk-horn 

 Fern (Platycerium grande), and a beautiful specimen of the Lattice-leaf plant 

 of Madagascar ; also a large basin tilled with the water-plants Pistia strati- 

 otes and Pontederia crassipes. It is to be hoped that this or similar collec- 

 tions may be exhibited on future occasions, as they attracted a very great 

 amount of attention. 



For the table of plants in the gardeners' section, three competitors entered 

 the lists — viz., Mr James Spence, Grange; Mr Robert Grieve, Falcon Hall; and 

 Mr A. Stalker, St Roque. The prizes were awarded in the order named. 

 The tables were all beautifully arranged, and the judges had some difficulty in 

 awarding the prizes. They consisted generally of Palms, Dracaenas, Crotons, 

 Ferns, Heaths, Pelargoniums, Achimenes, Fuchsias, Petunias, &c. &c. A very 

 showy table came from Drummond Brothers, George Street, and consisted of 

 well-bloomed plants, in 5-inch pots, of the finest kinds of Pelargoniums, set in 

 a groundwork of small plants of Adiantum cuneatum, and edged with a very 

 fine Lobelia named "Brighton." 



A similar table at the opposite end of the market was furnished by John 

 Makenzie, florist, Grange Loan, on which were some very fine Petunias, 

 Fuchsias, and a large quantity of bouquets for hand, table, and button-holes. 

 A table consisting of Palms, Ferns, and cut flowers was also exhibited by 

 Todd & Co., Maitland Street. As usual, Mr Robertson Munro, of the Aber- 

 corn Nursery, sent a very interesting display of hardy herbaceous and 

 alpine plants, and also a box of cut Roses. 



The greenhouse flowering-plants were not up to the usual standard, though 

 some good specimen Heaths were shown, but not well flowered. The same 

 may be said of the Pelargoniums. Some well - grown Fuchsias were ex- 

 hibited in 9-inch pots, which were of considerable merit. The show of fruit 

 was a very small one, only one collection of six sorts being staged, and which 

 came from Mr Johnstone, Glamis, but as usual was very fine. Some excel- 

 lent Peaches, Nectarines, Figs, and Melons were also shown. Very few vege- 

 tables were shown, and those poor in quality. 



In cut flowers, Mr Dickson, Belmont, Belfast, was to the front with his 

 Roses, very little inferior to those usually exhibited by him. There were 

 some nice boxes of Tea-Roses shown also. The arrangement of the tables, &c, 

 was chiefly under the superintendence of Mr M'Leod of the City Gardens, 

 who carried out a new feature in the way of large hanging-baskets suspended 

 from the girders, and draped with Palms, Ferns, sprays of Ivy, Box, and 



