252 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
Paul and Son; and the chief prize-takers in the amateur classes were Mr. Baker, of 
Heavitree, and Mr. George Rushmore, Tendring Hall, Colchester. 
Tug ALEXANDRA Parace Rose Suow, on July 6 and 7, was unquestionably the 
best of the season, the date being just right for the flowers and the competition 
spirited. The great hall has lost its pre-eminence as the place for exhibitions, and 
the concert-room, where this show was held, answers the purpose much better, 
being less gaily coloured, and admitting of more compact arrangements. When 
the crowd came in to enjoy the feast of roses, the spectacle they encountered was 
one of extreme beauty, the fine long tables being well filled with cut flowers, and 
these in combination with the collections of pot roses, produced a surprisingly rich 
effect. Trade and amateur exhibitors appeared in about equal force, and the quality 
of the roses throughout was above the average, as in most other instances they have 
been this season. It was interesting to observe how the flowers corresponded in 
character with the several districts that produced them ; for while Messrs, Paul and 
Son, of Cheshunt, with heavy-soil flowers, took the lead in the great trade class for 
seventy-two, Mr. Keynes, who had an extra in this class, put up the prettiest lot of 
flowers that were shown init, and yet was thrown out in the judging because his 
light-soil flowers were wanting in substance. Mr. Cant, of Colchester, and Mr. 
Turner, of Slough, were also strong, both representing strong land, which this 
season produces the finest roses. ‘Those who have watched the winnings at rose 
shows during the eighteen years that have passed since the foundation of the 
‘“‘ National” will be able to call to mind how the cold wet seasons have given the 
light lands the lead, and the hot dry seasons have been especially favourable to the 
heavy lands. 
NorrinecuamM Anp MiptanD Counties Horticunturat Exuisition, from 
July 6 to 10, which was held under the direction of the municipal authorities of 
Nottingham, was on the whole a manifest improvement upon that held last year, 
and may be ccnsidered one of the most important of the provincial exhibitions of 
the year. There was a most excellent display of flowering and fine foliage, stove, 
and greenhouse plants. British ferns were contributed in magnificent condition and 
in sufficient numbers to fill alarge tent. Exotic ferns were well represented, and 
roses, which had no less than fourteen classes provided for them, formed a large and 
most attractive feature of the exhibition. The fruit was not, perhaps, quite so 
plentiful as at the previous exhibition, but every dish staged was of splendid quality 
and most creditable to the exhibitors. Vegetables also evinced a slight falling off, 
but this may in a large measure be attributed to the lateness of the season. The 
exhibition was again held in the Arboretum, which is exceedingly well suited for 
exhibitions of this kind, and the plants and cut flowers, instead of being arranged in 
one monster tent, as was the case last year, were tastefully disposed in six or seven 
tents of medium size. That the exhibition was by no means of a limited character 
may be gathered from the fact that the six or seven tents under which the principal 
productions were staged were about 200 feet in length, and of a proportionate width, 
and in addition a large marquee was provided for the fruit and the decorated 
dinner tables. 
Tue Eventnc Fete or THE Royat Boranio Socrery, held on July 5, was 
fairly successful, inasmuch as it brought together some 5000 or 6000 visitors, who 
paid a high fee for admission. There was an exhibition of dinner table decorations 
in connection with the féte; but the chief attraction was the illumination of the 
gardens with lamps and coloured fires. 
THE Porrrair oF THE LATE Mr. Stanpisu, the cost of which has been de- 
frayed by subscription, has been made over to the trustees of the Lindley Library, 
and is now suspended in the council-room of the Royal Horticultural Society at 
South Kensington. 
AZALEA INDICA IMBRICATA, recently exhibited in London, is a valuable addition 
to the list of varieties with double flowers. ‘The flowers are pure white, occa- 
sionally flaked with carmine, and perfectly double. It will probably prove of 
exceptional value for furnishing flowers for cutting and for decorative purposes 
generally. 
Tuer Lonpon Parks, in which bedding displays are made, are now in splendid 
condition in respect to promenade colouring. Country horticulturists, amateur and 
professional, who are desirous of making notes of bedding effects, may now 
find agreeable occupation in London. It may be well also to remind Londoners 
