THE EXHIBITION. 



PRIMROSES IN GENERAL. 

 (Classes V.— XI.) 



The Exhibition was large and varied, although the cold, which 

 had been so prevalent in this country and on the Continent 

 shortly before the Exhibition, exerted an unfavourable effect on 

 the plants. Living plants from the Continent especially were 

 scantily represented, while some sections, as of the Chinese 

 Primrose, were inadequately or not at all represented. This was 

 the more unfortunate, botanically, for while in Auriculas the 

 enormous amount of variation is due to the intercrossing of 

 different species and varieties, the numerous forms of P. sinensis 

 are all derivatives from one uncrossed species, and therefore 

 better adapted to show the limits of variation. 



The best show, among British Exhibitors, was made by the 

 veteran Alpine plant growers, Messrs. Backhouse, of York, whose 

 collection as a whole was ahead of the others, and which was 

 enriched by many rare species. Next to this, so far as size of plants 

 was concerned, may be placed that from the Edinburgh Botanic 

 Garden, and then came the collection from the Royal Gardens, 

 Kew — the nursery trade being well represented by Messrs. Paul 

 and Son, The Old Nursery, Cheshunt ; Mr. T. Ware, Hale Farm, 

 Tottenham ; Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea ; and Mr. 

 Dean, Ealing. 



The exhibits made by private growers were not numerous, 

 but, consisting as they did of the more popular kinds in good 

 flowering condition, they made a more generally attractive show 

 than some of the larger collections. 



Botanic Gardens. 



Royal Gardens, Kew. — This was a most interesting collection, 

 reflecting great credit on Mr. Dewar, the foreman of the hardy 



