1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 189 



liams, Lord Londesborough, and others ; and they made a charming display. 

 The demand on our space forbids any mention of these in detail. 



Prizes were also offered for new and also for late-kept Grapes, but the former 

 were not represented. In the way of late Grapes, Mr Bannerman, gardener to 

 Lord Bagot, Blithfield, Rugeley, sent some excellent bunches of Lady Downes 

 that were of fine flavour. Mr Johnstone, Glamis Castle Gardens, had some Mus- 

 cat of Alexandria, which, though somewhat shrunken, were very finely flavoured, 

 and some thought the preference should have been given to these over Lady 

 Downes. The Muscats were ripe in the beginning of August, and were cut from 

 the Vine on the 2d of November last. Mr Meredith had some Black Alicante and 

 Lady Downes cut from a north-house much shaded by Elm-trees, but they were 

 of very good quality. In addition to other vegetables, such as forced Asparagus, 

 Seakale, &c, there were some specimens of variegated Brussels Sprouts sent by 

 Mr G. Beech, the Gardens, Castle Ashby, Northampton : the variegation was not 

 very distinct, while the probability of the plant being of any use for decorative 

 purposes seemed very small indeed. 



On March 16 th, the annual show of Hyacinths and other spring flowers, in con- 

 nection with the Royal Horticultural Society, was held at South Kensington. It 

 was not so extensive as last year's, owing to Mr William Paul not appearing as 

 an exhibitor, though had he done so, there is reason to believe he would have 

 carried off some of the leading honours. Mr Paul, instead of exhibiting, concen- 

 trated his strength on his spring show in the northern arcade, and made a most 

 excellent display, groups of flowering and foliaged plants being nicely alternated. 

 The Hyacinths were not so fine as last year — there was lacking that massiveness 

 of spike and superb finish that characterised last year's growth in so remarkable 

 a manner ; but so fine a development appears to happen only at intervals of a few 

 years. With eighteen Hyacinths distinct, as well as with eighteen blue Hya- 

 cinths distinct, Messrs W. Cutbush & Son were first in each instance, having in 

 the former case General Havelock, Baron Van Tuyll, Nitnrod, De Candolle, 

 Charles Dickens, Lord Palmerston, and Grand Lilas, shades of blue ; Von Schiller, 

 Macaulay, Mrs Beecher Stowe, Florence Nightingale, Charles Dickens, a very 

 handsome pale - pink variety, and Princess Charlotte, shades of red ; Emme- 

 line, Grandeur a Merveille, Snowball, and Mirandoline, white ; and Haydn, mauve. 

 There was no competition in this class. The eighteen blue kinds comprised 

 General Havelock, Lord Melville, Baron Van Tuyll, Mimosa, Prince Albert, 

 Hamilton, Raphael, Nimrod, Pieneman, very large bells and spike ; Charles 

 Dickens, Grand Lilas, Van Speyk, Lord Palmerston, Blue Mourant, Garrick, 

 Marie, Argus, and De Candolle. Mr C. Turner was second, the best spikes being 

 Marie, Charles Dickens, General Havelock, De Candolle, and Czar Peter, a large- 

 belled pale-blue variety. 



The most interesting class was that for 36 Hyacinths in 12 varieties, 3 of each, 

 the sum of fifteen guineas being offered in 4 prizes by some of the Haarlem bulb- 

 growers. Messrs W. Cutbush & Son were the only exhibitors here, having 

 Argus, very fine ; Baron Van Tuyll, Charles Dickens, and Grand Lilas, blue ; 

 Von Schiller, Macaulay, and Florence Nightingale, very pretty indeed, and Due 

 de Malakoff, red ; Haydn, mauve ; Mont Blanc, Queen of the Netherlands, and 

 Gigantea, white. Mr T. A. Steel had the best six Hyacinths in the Amateur 

 Class. They were, Baron van Tuyll, Charles Dickens, Von Schiller, Gigantea, 

 Grand Lilas, and Alba Superbissima. The second and third collections were very 

 nearly equal. Messrs W. Cutbush & Son offered a prize of three guineas for the 

 best 12 Hyacinths, distinct, grown by amateurs or gentlemen's gardeners. This 

 was won b) T Mr Weir, gardener to Mrs Hodgson, Hampstead, who had Charles 



