OF THE METROPOLIS. 201 



of all must be completed. Subjects of decidedly inferior quality 

 cannot be received for competition, and such subjects the judges are 

 empowered to reject ; and in order to uphold the value and impor- 

 tance of the Society's awards, the judges are authorized either to 

 withhold or to diminish the value of the awards ; that is, to grant 

 cither first, second, or third prizes, at their discretion. The judges 

 are also invited to recommend to the Council to increase the number 

 or amount of the awards, and to give prizes for subjects of extraor- 

 dinary merit which may be exhibited, although not specified in the 

 schedule. It is particularly desired by the Society that all plants be 

 distinctly labelled with their scientific names, and the places whence 

 introduced, where practicable ; and all cut-flowers are required to be 

 distinctly named. Should any exhibition contain one or more plants 

 which have not been in the possession of the exhibitor two months 

 previous to the exhibition at which the plant or plants are shown, 

 such circumstance will disqualify the exhibitor to compete for prizes, 

 except in the case of plants newly imported by the exhibitor, and 

 shown as new or rare. In the event of any dispute arising from this, 

 the exhibitor is required to sign a written declaration, which is con- 

 sidered final. The judges are not appointed from among the fellows, 

 members, or officers of the Society, which is a very good rule; nor is 

 any person who shall accept the office of judge allowed to compete 

 for prizes. Persons who supply subjects for competition for which 

 prizes are offered, are granted pass-tickets, and are re-admitted to the 

 show at two o'clock. At seven o'clock in the evening the exhibitions 

 close, and all articles exhibited will then be delivered up to the 



exhibitors. 



CLASS I. 



Miscellaneous Groups and Specimens. 

 In the collections of plants embraced in this class were numerous 

 magnificent specimens, as will be found detailed below. In the small 

 collections of tens and fifteens, — the former especially, in which there 

 was nine competitors, — a decidedly inferior plant could not have been 

 detected. No less than twenty-seven subjects were shown as speci- 

 mens of superior cultivation and ornament; and in new or rare 

 plants some very interesting ones appeared. Particularly captivating 

 was the excellent plant, four feet high, of the beautiful Dipladenia 

 moda, shown by Messrs. Lucombe and Pince ; it, indeed, fully 

 realised our Btatetnent, that the plant well deserves to be grown in 



