1871.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 573 



smooth-leaved Cayenne Pine-Apple, grown from rootless suckers planted Septem- 

 ber 21, 1S70 : their united weight was 22 4 lb. A special certificate was 

 unanimously awarded. Mr Powell, of Frogmore Gardens, also sent a new Pear 

 raised by himself, and named Premier. It is distinct and good, partaking of the 

 character of Winter Nelis, but larger in size. Black Hamburg and Muscat 

 Hamburg Grapes were sent by Mr "Wells of Southend, grown in his ground 

 vineries. The Muscats were highly flavoured, and received a special certificate. 

 Thes3 useful little structures, though despised by the practical gardener, are 

 nevertheless a capital invention, and are invaluable to persons of small means. 

 Even this season, though a most unfavourable one, I have seen excellent Black 

 Hamburg Grapes grown in Rivera's vineries. They are not half the expense of 

 Wells's, are quite as useful, and are not patented. From personal experience I 

 recommend them. 



Most excellent fruit of Musa sapientum was sent by Mr J. Jaques, gardener to 

 H. P. Canliffe, Esq., Hooley House, Coulsdon. The individual specimens weighed 

 1 lb. each, the whole bunch weighing 62 lb. A special award was made to it. 

 Exceedingly fine Celery for the season was sent by Mr Lidgard, Albion Road, 

 Hammersmith. The best white sort was Knight's new White Grove. William's 

 Matchless White was more pithy. William's Matchless Red was the best-flavoured 

 Red, and Manchester Red the largest and most solid. This also received a special 

 certiflcate. 



Floral Committee. — This was a poor meeting, both as regards new things and 

 those of a miscellaneous character. Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son sent Sedum 

 acre elegans, a variety with creamy-white variegation. As it promises to be a useful 

 edging plant, it received a first-class certificate. The same award was given to 

 Mr Green, gardener to W. W. Saunders, Esq. , Reigate, for Bilbergia chlorosticta, 

 from Brazil, a species with brownish-purple leaves, blotched and spotted with 

 green ; also to Zomatophyllum Saundersii, with long, narrow, fleshy, sharp-pointed 

 and toothed leaves. Messrs Standish of Ascot sent a collection of Gladiolus, the 

 result of crossing hybrids of Gandavensis and Brenchleyensis with G. cruentus. 

 This last-named species has seldom more than one pair of flowers open together on 

 a spike ; so that the result of crossing with this has been to materially shorten the 

 flower-spike, and all of them where the crop was apparent were wanting in shape : 

 one variety named Alice Wilson is very distinct, and has narrow recurved petals 

 like some of the Lilies. The same firm also sent a plant of a new late-flowering 

 form of Lily of the Valley ; the leaves were quite green, very broadly ovate in 

 shape. It will, if it sustains its character, be a very useful plant. The flower-spikes 

 are very similar to the old variety. 



I also ought to state here that the beautiful new ^Masdevallia exhibited by 

 Messrs Veitch of Chelsea, and noticed in the October number under the provi- 

 sional name of amabilis, has proved to be distinct from that variety, and also from 

 Lindeni, which it resembles. It has been figured in the ' Floral j\Iagazine,' and 

 named by Professor Reichenbach, in honour of Mr Harry Veitch, Masdevallia 

 Harryana. Cultivators of cool Orchids will welcome this little gem, and eagerly 

 add it to their collections if they can get it. J. Douglas. 



