170 THE METROPOLITAN FLORAL EXHIBITIONS. 



ARTICLE XII. 



THE METROPOLITAN FLORAL EXHIBITIONS. 



The Horticultural Society, May 9. 



We resume our reports of these exhibitions for another season, com- 

 mencing with the Horticultural Society's show of May 9, which was 

 an assemblage of almost hitherto unequalled splendour and beauty ; 

 a very gratifying feature was, that scarcely one plant throughout the 

 immense number could have been found deserving the name of an 

 ill grown one. 



We will proceed at once to describe briefly the principal prize 

 collections in the stove and greenhouse plants, and then enumerate 

 the florists' flowers. 



1. — Stove and Greenhouse Plants. 

 In collections of 40. 



Here the competitors were Mr. Robertson, gardener to Mrs. Lawrence, of 

 Ealing Park, and Mr. Barnes, gardener to G. W. Norman, Esq., of Bromley. 

 The first prize, value "20/., on this occasion was awarded to Mr. Robertson. The 

 collection was composed of large and altogether fine specimens of cultivation. 

 At the back stood a beautiful plant of the purple Azalea phcenicea, and support- 

 ing it were Epacris grandirlora, 3 feet in height, and nearly as much in diame- 

 ter; Eriostemon myoporoides, about 5 feet in height and 4 feet in diameter; 

 two immense bushes of Choruzema varium ; a Hardenbergia macrnphylla, 

 closely covering an upright cylindrical trellis, about 6 feet in height ; two fine 

 specimens of Pimelea spectabilis ; immense bushes of P. decussata, and P. hyperi- 

 cifolia, the latter covered with little tufts of white blossoms ; a Gnidia pinilolia, 

 about 2 ft. in height, and 3 ft. in diameter, perhaps the finest plant of the kind ever 

 exhibited. A tall Eriosti'mon cuspidatum, Zichya inophylla floribunda, trained 

 over a circular trellis, well bloomed plants of Leschenaultia Baxteri and L. fur- 

 mosa, a small but neat Hovea Celsi, in fine bloom; and the curious yellow- 

 flowered Anthocercis littorea, with a splendid Boronia pinnata, coveted with 

 multitudes of pink star-shaped flowers. In front were Acrophyllum venosum, 

 a pretty little plant with numerous spikes of white flowers; Chorozema Hen- 

 dersoni, trained over a wire trellis ; Podolobium staurophyllum, amass of bloom ; 

 Gastrolobium spinosum, a fine plant covered with multitudes of Chorozema-like 

 flowers; a neat well- bloomed Daviesia Fraseri ; and a luxuriant growing plant 

 of the scarlet-flowered Siphocampylus coccineus. Of Azaleas, in addition to the 

 centre one, the collection contained several finely-grown specimens. Of the 

 genus Erica, we remarked a large intermedia, wtdl bloomed; two fine specimens 

 of Persoluta alba, about five feet in height, literally masses of white blossom; 

 and a good Vestita alba, richly ornamented with whorls of white flowers. Mr. 

 Barnes received the second prize ; the most remarkable plants in whose col- 

 lection were a noble white Indian Azalea, and supporting it Epacris grandiflora, 

 a large plant in fine health ; an immense specimen, three feet in height and four 

 in diameter, of Phsnocoma prolifera, and a famous Aphelexis vestita. Polygala 

 oppositifolia, four feet in height, and a mass of blossom ; an excellent Podo- 

 lobium staurophyllum, covered with flowers; a pretty Pimelea Hendersoni, two 

 feet in height and the same in diameter; Daviesia latifolia, trained on a wire 

 trellis, with the lateral branches hanging gracefully, and loaded with flowers ; 



