EDITOR S TABLE. 



Jtlorticultucal "B^liiMions. 



The Twenty-sevexth Annual Exhibition of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 

 was held in Philadelphia on the 11th, 12th, and loth of September. As no hall could be 

 found large enough to accommodate the Society, the City Councils of Philadelphia very lib- 

 ewlly granted them the use of one of the Public Squares, and in it the Society have made 

 one of the most brilliant displays our city has ever witnessed. The whole square was 

 covered with canvas tents and marquees, so as entirely to cover the trees growing in it — 

 while to prevent any injury to the public property, the whole surface of the ground was 

 planked over ; gas and water were introduced at great expense, and eveiy effort made to 

 render the exhibition worthy of our Horticultural farmers. That the exertions of the 

 Society were eminently successful, was attested by the continuous streams of human be- 

 ings that poured in and out during the whole period of three days and evenings. It was 

 estimated by good judges that not less than 30,000 persons must have attended the Fair. 



All that we can do in this place to interest the genez-al reader, is to give a few notes of 

 anything that strikes us as novel or interesting. 



A specimen of Nymphcea Cerulea, a water plant with blue flowers about 6 inches across, 

 was very attractive. It is* of very easy culture, and does well in the open air in summer — 

 a leaf of the Victoria Regia was placed near it, but no flower. The pretty Bouvardia long- 

 iflora, seen here for the first time, gives promise of being a valuable introduction. It has 

 large white flowers, in size, shape, and odor, resembling the common Jessamine. Weigela, 

 or rather Diervilla amabUis, was also in flower ; this, though something like D. japonica, 

 (W. rosea,) will always be prized for its constant blooming property. Begonia umbilicata, 

 a very pretty individual of the herbaceous section, with brilliant scarlet vermillion flowers, 

 and leaves pretty much of the same hue. Eranthemum leuco-nervum, not exactly new, 

 but very sti'iking by its white veined foliage. Coleus Blumeii, though now rather common 

 in Philadelphia collections, was much admired for its finely variegated foliage, as also were 

 Tillandsia Zebrina, Hydrangea hortensis variegata, Echites nutans, Dioscorea variegata, 

 Maranta vittata, and M. albo-lineata. In the same class of variegated plants, we saw for 

 the first time, Aphelandra Leopoldii, a stove j^lant, and very pretty. The competition for 

 the best twenty specimens of plants in pots, was very brisk ; there being no less than six 

 entries, besides the exhibitors in the class of 12 and 6. 



The Allamandas were in most collections, showing how popular they are with plant- 

 growers. Stignaphyllon cilicctum, Begona Xanthina, Bouvardia Leiantha, the Clerodend- 

 rons and Mannettias, also seem to be employed extensively to make good displays. 



The display of Dahlias was very good, but the exhibitors having named their flowers on 

 loose strips of pai^er, which every little breeze carried around the tents, they lost much of 

 their interest with the fanciers. 



The Orchideous plants were not as numerous this season as they have been in former 

 years. Odontaglossum grande, was the best present, and is one of the very finest serial 

 orchitis grown. 



A collection of China Asters exhibited, was the theme of universal admiration. The poor 

 " Queen Margaret's" have fallen into something like neglect with cultivators, during the 

 past few years ; such fine specimens as these go far to resuscitate them. 



The fruit department was as usual with our Society's exhibitors, brilliantly sustained. 

 Amongst the novelties, we noticed fine specimens of the Philadelphia pear, for it is a rarity 

 now with us ; good specimens of the white Doyenne or Butter pear. Some pine apples 

 grown in pots were exhibited, one of which of the Providence variety, was said to weigh 

 8 1-2 pounds. There "were also a great many grapes exhibited in the pots in which they 

 were grown, each specimen having on about six fair sized bunches, well illustrating the 

 convenience and economy of this mode of cultivation. 



