PROCEEDINGS. 



xxxi 



May 18, 1850. (Garden Exhibition.) 



The morning was misty and unpromising", but as the day- 

 advanced the weather brightened. Dark threatening clouds, 

 however, and a slightly falling barometer, with a chilly atmos- 

 phere, made the afternoon upon the whole uninviting, and no 

 doubt kept back numerous visitors, who, under more favourable 

 circumstances, would have been present. The total number was 

 3142, exclusive of exhibitors and persons officially employ ed. 

 The exhibition itself was a triumphant display of native skill and 

 industry. The Roses, the Azaleas, the Heaths, the Orchids, and 

 the various races of Stove and Greenhouse Plants have never 

 been excelled, and rarely equalled. But the Queen of the whole 

 was the Victoria Regia, two leaves and a flower of which were 

 shown from the Duke of Devonshire's garden at Chatsworth, and 

 one leaf and a flow er from that of the Duke of Northumberland, 

 at Syon. The leaves were about five feet across, circular, and 

 perfectly rimmed. One was placed in water, the other two on 

 damp moss, and notwithstanding the low temperature to which 

 they were subjected they maintained their condition to the end. 

 The flowers were in perfect order, and during the afternoon 

 expanded very nearly, throwing orf now and then volumes of 

 fragrance which diffused itself around whenever the large bell 

 glasses which protected them were removed. It may be added 

 that the new arrangements for facilitating the access to the tents, 

 and for the accommodation of exhibitors, appeared to be uni- 

 versally considered as great improvements in the appearance of 

 the Garden. Fortunately, however, their value as a protection 

 against rain was not put to the test. 



The Award was as follows : — 



The Large Gold Medal : To Mr. May, Gardener to Mrs. 

 Lawrence, F.H.S., for a collection of twenty Stove and 

 Greenhouse Plants. To Mr. Mylam, Gardener to S. 

 Rucker, Esq., jun., F.H.S., for twenty species of Exotic 

 Orchids. 



The Gold Knightian Medal : To Mr. Cole, Gardener to H. 

 Colyer, Esq., of Dartford, for a collection of twenty Stove 

 and Greenhouse Plants. To Mr. Green, Gardener to Sir 

 E. Antrobus, Bart., F.H.S., for a collection of fifteen Stove 

 and Greenhouse Plants. To Mr. Williams, Gardener to 

 C. B. Warner, Esq., F.H.S., for twenty species of Exotic 

 Orchids. 



The Gold Banksian Medal: To Messrs. Fraser, of Lea 



