430 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



Keeler. Messrs Downie Laird, & Laing also had Black Douglas and Reine 

 Victoria; but, unlike the practice of other Pelargonium exhibitions, the judges 

 only awarded one prize to one exhibitor in each class, even though that exhibitor 

 might have plants of a better variety than the one gaining the second prize. A 

 single plant of an indifferent golden -leaved variety, named Golden Defiance, was 

 staged by Mr Ford of St Leonard's Gardens, Hexham, Happily for the interests 

 of floriculture, but one plant was staged, so no prize was awarded, or there is too 

 much reason to fear it would have been awarded a first, on the seeming ground 

 that the judges are bound to give the prize to the best thing staged in every class, 

 even though the best may be very bad. The best silver-edged variegated Pelar- 

 gonium was May Queen, from Mr C. Turner, who was the only exhibitor in this 

 class ; he had also Bright Star and Princess Alexandra, both well worthy the 

 second and third prizes, but they were not awarded. The best Ivy-leaved Pelar- 

 gonium was Compactum, a close wiry-growing variegated variety, from Mr C. 

 Turner, the only one staged for competition. The best Nosegay Pelargonium 

 was W. E. Gladstone, from Mr George Smith, Tottington Nursery, Islington, 

 with large trusses of bright orange- crimson flowers ; 2d, Mr H. Cannell, with 

 Master Christine, said to be a hybrid Nosegay, with large trusses of deep pink 

 flowers, and remarkably free. By many competent judges this was thought to 

 be the best of the two. Giant Christine was also shown by Mr Cannell, the 

 flowers pale pink and very large, the habit dwarf. The best Zonal Pelargonium 

 was Lord Derby, shown in fine condition by the raiser, Mr John Mann, Brent- 

 wood. The next best was Annihilator, from Mr J. George of Putney Heatb, 

 having glowing fiery-red flowers. Mr Mann had several other fine varieties, but 

 no third prize was given. Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing and H. Cannell were 

 the only exhibitors of double Pelargoniums ; the former had three well grown 

 and bloomed plants of Marie Lemoine, the latter the same number of small but 

 nicely-flowered plants of Madame Lemoine. 



Prizes were also offered for the best dish of early Plums. This was taken by 

 Mr Douglas, The Gardens, Loxford Hall, Essex, with Greengage ; the second 

 best being Morocco, from Mr Porter, gardener to C. Benham, Esq., Isleworth. 

 Some fruit of M'Laren's Prolific Raspberry, which was awarded a first-class cer- 

 tificate last year as a fine free-bearing autumnal kind, was produced on this occa- 

 sion, and much admired. It was exhibited by the raiser, Mr M'Laren, Ash, 

 Surrey. From the Orchard-house at Chiswick came some Mulberries, which 

 were found to be much finer in every respect, and more melting, than in the case 

 of fruits plucked in the open air. 



Royal Horticultural Society, Aug. 17. — This meeting proved extremely in- 

 teresting for the excellent display of cut Gladioli, Phloxes, and Hollyhocks brought 

 together. The former were very finely shown, and their superb beauty was much 

 admired. The 36 cut spikes staged by Messrs Kelway & Son, Langport, were 

 magnificent, and consisted of the following sorts : Homer, Ncemie, Anna, Canova, 

 Van Dyck, Sultane, Mons. de Brogniart,Orphee, Leonora, Mattrilde de Landevoisin, 

 Virgile, Norma, Due de Montebello, Prince Imperial, De Humboldt, Schiller, New- 

 ton, Lacepede, Le Gouve, Velleda, Eugene Scribe, Formosa, Rossini, Stella, Meyer- 

 beer, Elizabeth, James Veitch, Agnes Mary, Robert Fortune, Madame Desportes, 

 Freemason, Rosa Bonheur, Le Titien, Moliere, Spectabilis, and Madame Vilmorin. 

 The second prize was withheld ; but had not a collection of flowers from Messrs 

 Thomas Bunyard & Sons, of Ashford, arrived too late, it would have been placed 

 second. 3d, Mr Robertson, Helensburgh, Dumbarton. With 18 spikes, 

 Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing, Edinburgh and London, were placed first with a 



