AND OFB GARDEN. 705 



shrubberies of an impenetrable and persistent verdure. So the 

 trees and the meadows have a fresher and more productive 

 appearance than in our country. The climate of Great Britain is 

 somewhat like that of our greenhouses, Tvhere the light always 

 reaches the plants accompanied by humidity. The mossy-cupped 

 i^Rk{Quercus cerris)y the Cedrus deodara, and even the Araucaria 

 imbricata, prosper in the open air, without fearing anything from 

 the climate. 



*' We have neither the capital of the English nor the climate of 

 their country ; these are two important causes of inferiority. 

 Nevertheless, these are not insurmountable obstacles, and we have 

 much to learn, much to imitate in England. The superiority of 

 Great Britain, in place of discouraging us, should serve as an 

 example and a stimulant. 



"We have recently visited two great exhibitions of flowers 

 which have talvcn place in London, at eight days' interval, the one 

 held by the Royal Plorticultural Society of London, the other by 

 the Royal Botanical Society. Both have borrowed an exceptional 

 character of magnificence from the neighbourhood of the Great 

 Exhibition of Industry and the Fine Arts. We shall endeavour 

 to express the observations which they have suggested to us, and 

 the remembrances which they have left us. So far as regards 

 the emotions which we have felt, we are unable to translate them 

 into words. Never in Belgium, and still less in France, has 

 been seen a spectacle so magical, anything so marvellously fine, in 

 floriculture- 



r 



*' One of these exhibitions — that of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society — took place on the 11th of June, in the garden at Ken- 

 sington, adjoining the International Exhibition, The second 

 was opened on the 18th of June, under two enormous tents 

 raised in the garden of 4he Botanical Society of London, at the 

 Regent's Park. These two establishments are worthy of a city 

 of nearly three millions of inhabitants! What more could be 

 said, 



" The floral exhibitions of London differ from ours not only in 

 their results, but also in their organisation. With us, and still 

 more in France, every exhibition of flowers is a work of devotion. 

 Great pains have to be taken to draw together the plants, and 

 etill more to attract the public. An exhibition costs money to 

 the society which organises it, to the exhibitors, and even to the 

 successful competitors. It exacts sacrifices from every one 

 sacrifices scarcely recompensed by a little honour and publicity- 



