180 THE P HILADELPHIA FLORIST. [Oct'r- 



j§ 7%e Chiswick Flower-show will eclipse the exhibitions of Ameri-Qy 

 " can societies for many years to come ; specimen plants do not seem, to ^ 

 be much in vogue in our city; perhaps they would not be properly ap- 

 preciated. It will require years to attain to such a show of Orchids — 

 no natural order of plants is so various, or so beautiful as these ; but 

 the enormous prices charged by the European nurserymen for the 

 rarer kinds, put them beyond the reach of most of our collectors. — 

 Still, Philadelphia has many fine Orchids, Phalcenopsis amabilis, and 

 grandifiora are here, and many fine Dkndrobes and Cattleyas. 



in your calendar of operations we are recommended to take up for 

 greenhouse forcing; Spiraeas, Deutzias and Lilacs — why not add to 

 these Jasmlnum nudiflorum, Weigelia rosea, and Forsythia viridissi* 

 ma? This tast, by the way, we have seen in bloom in the last week, 

 caused by an insect having eaten the leaves off of the branch. 



Horticultural Societies.- — In your criticism of the schedule you are 

 in the minority as regards Dahlias. You will find they have, and 

 very justly too, very many admirers; for beauty of form they are only 

 excelled by the Camellia, although the colors are sometimes dull, and 

 the odor what Mr. Van Houtte calls fortpeu agr table. You still have 

 the bad taste to abuse Cacti; and you are not singular in it; so we must 

 wait for an improvement in the public taste, as well as in yours. 



Penna. Hort. Society. — We think that Dr. Brinckle's amendment 

 (with Mr. Hancock's insertion of the words pro rata) very reasonable 

 and just. There was little or no competition in plants and flowers, 

 so that we have nothing to say this time of the awards. 



Philadelphia has already become celebrated for the cultivation for 

 the first time in this country of the Victoria regia ; she owes to the 

 taste and spirit of another amateur the possession of an equally cele- 

 brated plant. A specimen of the Amherstia nobilis has lately been 

 introduced here, and we may hope in the course of another year or 

 two to see it in flower. The plant is of a most graceful habit, having 

 pendant branches and leaves, like the Brownea grandiceps, and long 

 racemes of rosy vermillion flowers, with yellow eyes on the petals, and 

 of the nat. ord. Leguminos^e. It seems to be a rapid grower. The 

 plant which flowered at Ealing Park was, when first brought there in 

 July 1847, less than two feet high ; and in two years, when it flowered, 

 it was nearly nine high and about thirty in circumference. It was 

 grown in a very damp hothouse, with a strong bottom heat. 



Hamilton Village Horticultural Society- 

 Held its exhibition on Tuesday, September 21st, and three follow- 

 ing days. A spacious edifice was erected for the purpose, and the 

 display of plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables was extensive and at- 

 tractive. Collections were deposited by J. F. Knorr, Esq., W. W. 

 Keen, Esq., and other residents of the village. Some handsome de- 

 l signs were also exhibited, as well as fine displays of fruit and vegeta- 

 ns bles. The exhibition was satisfactory to the enterprising promoters 

 (^of horticulture in this improving village. 



