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JOUBNALi OF IIOBTICULTUEE AKD COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



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were some good dosigna, and one or two now ones deserving o( 

 lurther improvement ; sti)!, as a whole, they did not exliibit 

 that advance which bo niuny of the other features of the Show 

 presented over its contt mporaries. The window-boxes offered 

 little but what may be met with in most squares in London, 

 the hanging-baskets were not by any means good, and the 

 head-wreaths were confined to one set. The plant cases for 

 drawing-rooms, however, were good ; and there were some good 

 designs for dinner and drawing-room table decoration, the former 

 especially being well represented, and deserving of special no- 

 tice as a class. 



" Excellent and meritorious as was the arrangement of the 

 plants which constituted by far the most important feature of 

 this remarkable Show, the same care and attention to grouping 

 the objects here alluded to were certainly not exercised — in 

 fact, it is not saying too much to observe that many visitors 

 never saw thtm, tlioy being arranged in the arcades at the 

 farthest end of the Horticultural Garden, near the conserva- 

 tory ; and even there they were placed without that regard for 

 general effect which was manifested in the tent. They were, 

 however, near enough the observer to be scrutinised in detail ; 

 and a fair competition was entered into for the prizes for 

 Dinner-table Decoihtions ; and one or two depaitures from the 

 original design of the Misses March showed an advance in the 

 right direction. I must, however, first endeavour to describe 

 those to which the prizes were awarded, and in doing so I at once 

 admit that I cordially agree in the judgment. The first prize 

 was awarded to a neatly dressed glass basket, the bow or handle 

 scarcely exceeding 10 inches high, measuring from the table- 

 cloth ; but springing up by the sides of the handle were glass 

 sprigs resembling some of those fine forms of marine produc- 

 tion 80 often met with in collections of such things. This, 

 being white, hut not transparent, formed a nice gi-oundwork on 

 which to lay a Fern or other foliage ; and in the example given 

 only one small frond was reared against this glass hedge, and 

 it was ample. The body of the basket was also very sparingly 

 dressed, and that, too, with very common things ; and the 

 whole befitted either a dinner table, or, if taken singly, each of 

 its parts might do for the drawing-room. I have said that the 

 whole framework and its dressing were low — not exceeding a 

 foot high at most, thereby enabling company seated at table 

 to have an unlimited view of each other, as has been at times 

 nrged by writers in this .Journal. 



" The second prize was for a return to what may be called the 

 March design of years ago, though in point of artistic merit 

 the design fell slaort of it. It was a top dish elevated on 

 an ornamental stalk, with the bottom dish divided into com- 

 partments, each containing some good specimens of fruits, 

 as Grapes, Ktrawberries, &c. Valuable flowers tastefully 

 arranged in the dressing of it gave it an imposing appear- 

 ance. There was, however, a sort of intermediate stand or 

 dish up the side of the central stalk, which might, if not care- 

 fully dressed, interfere with that important feature which it is 

 evident the Judges wished to keep clear — that is, the Une of 

 yision. 



" The third prize was given to Mr. T. C. March's design, 

 which I hope to see again exhibited in a reduced form. A glass 

 stalk rose perpendicularly from the centre of a circular glass 

 mirror, and from the outer edges of this mirror glass chains 

 connected it with the tup of the central stalk. These glass 

 chains were not by any means small and fragile, hut sturdy- 

 looking links, stouter than those of iron tho,t are used by wag- 

 goners for yoking horses, and they, not being tight, gave a 

 graceful and easy bend to what was in reality a brace. The 

 outer rim of this mirror was very tastefully dressed with flowers 

 and foliage; and a little, but very little, of these was laid against 

 the three chains, which formed so important a part of the 

 design, the whole requiring very little of either flowers or foliage. 

 It was the impression of mauy that this design was the most 

 meritorious one shown, and I am inclined to the same opinion ; 

 but it was much too large, and I hope to see it reduced quite 

 one-third in all its parts. 



•• Following these was a design at once novel and pleasing. 

 A central stem rose from the bottom dish ; and midway up this 

 stem branches, hooked at their ends, projected a little way on 

 each of the three sides, on which small baskets were hung, 

 there being a small top dish as well, but the latter, of course, 

 fixed. The whole apparatus was of glass, and I hope to see it 

 again, or some modification of it ; unfortunately, it struck mo 

 at the time as not being very neatly dressed, otherwise it might 

 have stood a better chance. It was, however, superior to mnuy 

 that were there, and as a move in the direction of furnishing 



something in the way of a glass cpcrgne, I expect to see it 

 further improved ; as it is, it may be dressed without the pen- 

 dent baskets, but the latter seemed to give it importance. 



" The other designs were mostly such as have been described 

 in the reports of former shows, and with one or two exceptions 

 were all pretty well done. One cntrj-, however, in this depart- 

 ment had evidently been intended for the next number (222), 

 table plateau, as it presented a scries of scrollwork, being com- 

 posed of slight metal troughs, not more than 2 inches wide, and 

 not so deep, which being clothed with flowers and foliage looked 

 pretty well ; but occupying, as it did, a space of nearly 6 feet 

 long by 3 feet wide, its presence on the dinner table could not 

 be tolerated. The term, however, is evidently not well under- 

 stood by exhibitors, as the only entry fell short of what was 

 considered to imply a table plateau, and I am by no means 

 sanguine that this will ever be popular. It may be all very 

 well to copy a fashionable flower garden, and give its details in 

 miniature, but such things partake more of the toy than of 

 the ornamental. 



" Flower-stands for the drawing-room table were suppUed 

 by Mr. March, and to one of them the first prize was awarded. 

 It resembled in some degree one of the prize dinner-table de- 

 signs, and was tastefully supplied with flowers, not profusely 

 as were some others which were passed by, but carefully and 

 neatly arranged. I nevertheless think that designs for stands 

 in this department may be yet further improved, and if manu- 

 facturers would take the hint and supply us with something. 

 that required but little dressing, they would confer a boon on 

 those whose means are limited. I haU the first-prize design for 

 a dinner-tacle decoration as a step in the right direction, and- 

 trust to see others equally economically arranged with regard 

 to the flowers required to furnish them. 



" PiiiNT Cases for the drawing-room were shown in tolerable 

 numbers. Here, however lespecially in the prize ones), the 

 merit of the article was more due to the manager of the plants 

 inside than to the manufacturer; they were mostly glass cases, 

 plain at bottom, with curved or arched tops, and might contain 

 from G to 10 or more cubic feet. The plants generally em- 

 ployed were Ferns, Lycopods, Sedums, and the prize case had a 

 Cactus in flower in it. Most of the cases were planted so as to 

 show the contents on all sides, and many of them were well 

 done, and contained excellent selections of plants ; but it wa* 

 evident that some had been got up for the occasion, and their 

 good looks were not likely to continue. I would commend this 

 branch of the ornamental department to the mechanical world, 

 for it is evident that much improvement in the make of such 

 stands may yet be effected, while still more may be done for 

 window jardinets, which are as yet far from being complete. 



" Window Boxes were of the usual ornamental type, and 

 appeared to be composed of Staffordshire pottery ; perhaps 

 some were enamelled slabs, and possibly others of iron. A 

 very prettily filled box obtained the first prize, the plants 

 being Lobelia, Geranium, Calceolaria, Mignonette, itc, all wel^ 

 flowered. Those from the other competitors in this class were 

 not so well managed ; the box itself in the prize one was not 

 the best, but its contents were exquisite. 



" Hanoing Baskets were badly represented, and I do not 

 wonder at it. Plants suitable for this purpose cannot be put 

 in at the moment and made to look well — they must under any 

 circumstances have a few days to re-arrange their foliage ; so- 

 that to look well they ought to he carried to the Show intact, 

 which is not easily accomplished. The baskets to which a 

 second prize was awarded were not hung, and, consequently, 

 could not be judged of projierly. There was one exquisite 

 basket of Maiden-hair Fern, but the conditions required three. 

 Another set was entirely filled with Dracienas, not by any 

 means adapted to the purpose, for which, in part at least, pen- 

 dent plants are indispensable. 



'• Weddino Bodqlets were rather numerous, but the 

 make and material of one represented the many. Wedding 

 bouquets as a whole are not showy, the absence of coloured 

 flowers is against them. Camellias, Azaleae, Stephanotis, 

 Koses, Orange blossom, with sprigs of Lycopodium, Ferns, 

 and now and then Myrtle, formed the principiJ flowers nsed, 

 not forgetting Lily of the Valley. Generally the bouquets 

 presented the usual Mushroom shape, the flowers flat and 

 formal, which was, however, relieved by a spray of Adiantum, 

 or some other Fern overlying the mass. One or two exhibi- 

 tors had attempted to modify the stifi' Mushroom-headed out- 

 line by inserting sprigs of Spinia japouica and other flowers 

 of like character ; but the misfortune is, that such bouquets 

 wiU not bear the ordinary usage of being held horizontally 



