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Tlte HorticuUuri^l and Journal 



quested. Here was the most extensive col- 

 lection of Lettuce I had ever beheld, consist- 

 ing of forty-five varieties ; two pots of each. 

 Prominently was the noted Hanson, of Phila- 

 delphia origin, and, to my eye, one of the most 

 enticing sorts on the table ; but the commit- 

 tee thought differently, and declared it to be 

 an old variety under a new name — what, 

 however, they did not say. The Perpignon 

 is one of the newer kinds, and is valuable on 

 account of not running to seed quickly ; c[uite 

 a desideratum in an American climate. Lac- 

 tuca angustina is said to be a distinct species, 

 recommended only for cutting whilst in a 

 young state. Tom Thumb is well named, as 

 it is a little, round-headed, comptvct Cabbage 

 Lettuce, and just such a variety as we need 

 in this country ; as is, also, the Victoria, 

 which, perhaps, made the finest show of all; 

 being remarkably solid and regular in outline, 

 as well as very large. The Cos Lettuces, a 

 class that we are obliged to dispense with on 

 this side of the Atlantic, but which are the 

 perfection of crispness and delicate flavor, 

 were finely represented here. A curious form 

 with dark-red leaves, not unlike the Red 

 Cabbage, used for pickling purposes, was la- 

 beled Blood Red. Earliest White Stone- 

 head made a fine show, and, perhaps, was as 

 valuable as any, where these kinds succeed. 

 The committee awarded the depositors, Messrs. 

 Jas. Carter, Dunnett, and Beale, a bronze 

 medal for this collection. The same firm had 

 on exhibition a novel, yet beautiful display of 

 pressed plants, showing the vine, foliage, pods 

 and fruit of all the leading varieties of Peas. 

 Quite a number of melons, grown under glass, 

 were shown in this room ; and, through the 

 kindness of those in charge, I had the privi- 

 lege of testing several ; and, although they 

 were all fine, I was better impressed with the 

 quality of the Reed's Scarlet-fleshed than with 

 any of the others. A pew ( ? ) variety of 

 Coleus, sliown here for the first time, attracted 

 quite a crowd ; but, to the eyes of an Ameri- 

 can florist, it was nothing but the Chameleon, 

 a well-known variety here, although labeled 

 Duchess of Edi7iboro2igh. 



It was too late for Lilies ; and the display 



of cut blooms was poor. Leaving this ante- 

 room, we pass along an extensive, narrow gal- 

 lery, and emerge into a long room, or, rather, 

 corridor, abundantly lighted on one side ; 

 whilst on the other extends the one broad 

 table for the display of plants and flowers. 

 The excellency of this arrangement cannot be 

 disputed ; for the visitors, standing with their 

 backs to this strong light, see only the eff'ect 

 on the articles exhibited — consequently, show- 

 ing them to the very best advantage. 



The first group of plants on entering is a 

 superb collection of rare Conifers in large 

 tubs, shown by Messrs. Veitch & Son, the 

 celebrated growers of Japanese novelties in 

 this line. The specimen of Retinospora oh- 

 tusa aurea, fully eight feet high, was really 

 grand, reminding one of golden ostrich plumes. 

 Another especially attractive variety was the 

 R. filifera, with its rich, green, threadlike 

 shoots drooping gracefully down — such as I 

 believe never drooped a Conifer before ; and 

 then a fine plant of Abies polita, the hand- 

 some Japanese Spruce. Thitjopsii dolabrata, 

 five feet high ; its curious foliage, with silvery 

 white lines beneath, was more handsome than 

 T had expected to have found it ; and, lastly, 

 the rarest of all, the Umbrella Pine {Sciado- 

 pitys verticil I at a), at least five feet in height, 

 forming a perfect cone, and quite as attractive 

 as it was rare. This firm showed roses, such 

 as we in America can scarcely hope to equal, 

 much less to excel, in our dry climate. The 

 queen of this collection was, undoubtedly, the 

 Souvenir d^Elise, of enormous size, and pale 

 blush in color — a tea that everybody should 

 possess ; but we must praise the blooms of 

 the well-known Marechal Niel, for they were 

 actually the size of saucers, with the richest 

 tint of golden-yellow. 



Paul & Sons showed their new seedling, 

 the S. Reynolds Hole, with deep crimson vel- 

 vety petals ; a rose that must be popular. 



We may readily learn a lesson from the 

 manner of showing cut blooms of Carnations, 

 as practiced here. Each individual flower is 

 placed upon a circular piece of white paper, 

 thus bringing out its charms in perfection ; 

 and the display of these flowers was perfection, 



