136 THE GARDENER.. [March 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



As yet, the Royal Horticultural Society is alone in the field ; but with the 

 month of March the Royal Botanic Society will commence a series of five exhi- 

 bitions announced. The meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, on the 19th 

 of Jauuary, brought together a most attractive display of Orchids, and foremost 

 were some fine examples from the gardens of Lord Londesborough, at Grimston 

 Park, comprising a noble specimen of the handsome Lselia Anceps Barkeri, with 

 upwards of twenty fine spikes ; L. furfuracea, a fine Mexican variety, somewhat 

 difficult to cultivate, with one good flower ; Odontoglossum Alexandra?, a noble 

 spike, with ten large and finely developed flowers ; the curious though pretty 

 Oncidium Kramerianum, and 0. leucochilum. From Mr Parsons, The Gardens, 

 Danesbury, came a fine specimen of the dwarf Odontoglossum Rossii, with six 

 fine white and purple flowers. Mr B. S. Williams finished a large specimen of 

 Ansellia Africana, with five fine spikes ; Angrsecum sesquipedale, with four superb 

 flowers ; A. eburneum virens, a very healthy robust specimen, with four nice 

 spikes, and some fine cut flowers of various Laelias, &c. Messrs Veitch & Sons 

 also had some grand things, such as Barkeri Skinneri, with thirteen fine spikes of 

 warm rose-coloured flowers ; the new Cypripedium Harrisianum, Saccolabium 

 giganteum, with two handsome spikes ; Lcelia anceps, with ten fine spikes, &c. 

 &c. Cyclamens and Primulas were furnished by Mr Wiggins, of Isleworth, both 

 very fine, the last containing some fiue striped flowers of great beauty ; and a few 

 other things bright and pleasant as these were also present. 



Prizes were offered for nine Ivies in pots and nine hardy Conifers. Of the 

 latter, the Messrs Veitch were the only exhibitors. Their collection comprised 

 well-furnished specimens of Thujopsis dolabrata, Picea bracteata, and P. magni- 

 fica; Retinospora plumosa, R. obtusa nana aurea, a small plant of stunted growth, 

 but pleasing in colour, and the graceful drooping R. filifera; with a fine specimen 

 of the handsome Cryptomeria elegans. In the class for Ivies the competition was 

 very good, considering that this group of plants is a comparatively new one for 

 show purposes ; now, however, that the growers have taken them in hand, judg- 

 ing from the neatness of the specimens shown, there is no reason why the boldest 

 foliaged variegated forms should not be improved, and grown for the decoration 

 of cool greenhouses, and indoors in winter, and for terraces in summer, for which 

 purposes they are eminently adapted. The first prize was taken by Mr Turner 

 with compact pyramidal specimens of H. Algeriensis, H. grandifolia (canariensis) 

 latifolia maculata, a large-leaved showy kind ; H. grandifolia (canai-iensis) arbore- 

 scens ; and of small-leaved varieties, H. Helix major and H. Helix minor ; H. 

 elegantissima, silvery variegated ; H. lobata major ; H. marmorata minor, and 

 H. lucida; all very healthy and well furnished specimens. Mr W. Paul was 

 second with H. Roegneriana, a dark leathery-leaved variety ; H. Rcegneriana 

 arborescens, a shrubby-growing kind, with bright dark-green foliage ; H. arbore- 

 scens baccata lutea, in fruit ; H. canariensis follis aureis, &c. Messrs E. G. 

 Henderson & Son also staged a nice group of smaller plants than the above, to 

 which an extra prize was given ; also a large and beautiful collection of green- 

 leaved and variegated forms, which received a special certificate. 



Several prizes were offered for culinary Apples and Pears. The competition in 

 the class for the former was very spirited, good collections being shown by Mr 

 Gardiner, gardener, Eatington Park ; Mr Parsons, gardener, Fairlawn Acton 

 Green ; Mr Parsons, gardener, Danesbury Park ; and Mr Earley, gardener, Digs- 

 well Park, &c. Mr Parsons, Danesbury, took the first prize with fine dishes of 



