130 NEW AND RARE PLANTS. 



Major Sir Thomas Mitchell, and presented to the London Horticultural Society. 

 The flowers are produced in a close umbel, of twenty or more in each. The flower 

 is about an inch long, on a lougish foot-stalk of a tine carmine-rose colour. , 



18. Centaurea pui.chra. Beautiful blue-bottle. (But. Reg. 28.) Synge- 

 nesia polygamia. Cynaiacese. A very beautiful flowering, hardy annual, grow- 

 ing about a foot high, and blooming freely. Each flower is near an inch and a 

 half across. The radial florets are of the finest bright blue, and the centre of 

 the flower a beautiful rosy-crimson. These being aga : n in contrast with the 

 silvery glittering scales of the involucie give a charming appearance to it. It 

 blooms nearly all the summer ; will grow freely in any usual garden soil. It 

 deserves a place in every flower garden. It bloomed in the garden of the Lon- 

 don Horticultural Society last season. 



19. Dahlia gi.abrat a, Smooth dwarf Dahlia. (Bot. Reg. 29.) Asteraceae. 

 Syngenesia Polygamia. A native of Mexico, and has bloomed in the London 

 Horticultural Society's garden. Its habit is quite dwarf, growing to about three 

 feet high ; it is quite smooth, and its roots have slender fangs of a uniform size. 

 It blooms during the season the other kinds do. Dr. Lindley states, " there can 

 little doubt that this and D. scapigera will give birth to quite a new race of 

 Dahlias, in which dwarfness, so much desired, will not bean accidental deviation, 

 but will be a fixed habit, and, which is very possible, will increase till varieties are 

 secured whose height, when in full bloom, will not exceed a foot. It answers 

 well when treated as a half hardy annual, which is the easiest way of its culture, 

 as by saving the seed every season the old roots need not be preserved. 



PART III. 

 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



THE HORTICULTURAL FETE. 



The first f£te for the season was given by the Horticultural Socitty on Satur- 

 day the ICth of May, at the Gardens at Chiswick. The company began to 

 arrive shortly after one o'clock, when the gates were opened. The attendance 

 was not so numerous as on former occasions ; but many, no doubt, were deterred 

 from paying their usual visit by the unsettled state of the weather; a fair 

 sprinkling of fashionables was however, present. The vain fell at intervals in 

 heavy showers until the afternoon, when the sun shone out, and lent its lovely 

 rays to the beauty of the gardens, which the rain had made redolent of freshness 

 and sweet odours. The specimens of fruit and flowers exhibited were of the 

 first order. Nothing could surpass in beauty the cacti, azalias, geraniums, 

 tulips, heartsease, and Cape heaths. The manner in which they were arranged 

 and grouped was also admirable. Due effect was given to light and shade. 

 There was no vulgar combination of colours, no repulsive contrast, but all was 

 in excellent keeping, and produced a tout ensemble of the most harmonious 

 character. The colours of one of the Cacti were so brilliant as to be dazzling. 

 Too much praise cannot be awarded to the cultivators, for so well carrying out 

 the principles of the beautiful science of floriculture. The fruits exhibited may 

 be truly called magnificent. Some giant Pears and Grapes, and Strawberries of 

 extraordinary dimensions, drew forth general admiration. The specimens of 

 Apples and Asparagus also showed the highest order of cultivation. The new 

 hothouse, which is of great size, and made of cast iron, was filled with exotics, 

 and was itself a picture. The subjoined list will show to whom the Society 

 awarded the prizes : — 





