APRIL. 



59 



Japan Lilies, some Ranunculus and Tigridia pavonia. I intend also to make an attempt 

 with some Q-ladiolus in pots, in the hope that I shall not altogether fail. If failure comes, 

 the very attempt to secure its converse will yield some degree of the gratification sought to 

 be acquired in the larger result, and I can at least deserve the success it is not in mortals to 

 command. Quo. 



THE SPRING EXHIBITION OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 



SOCIETY. 



The opening Exhibition of the Royal Horticultural Society took place on March 19th, 

 the primary features being that of Hyacinths and Camellias. The former were finely 

 shown, and must have afforded a rich treat to the lovera of this favourite spring flower. 



Mr. James Cutbush, of Highgate, was first, with a magnificent collection of eighteen 

 varieties, all single flowers. Of Beep Beds,^ there were Lina, very bright and fine ; Lord 

 Macaulay, deep carmine, very handsome ; Princesse Clotilde, very fine ; Howard, rich fiery 

 carmine ; Von Schiller. Light Bed and Slush.— Aurora, a yellowish light pink ; Gigantea, 

 delicate Mush, very large spike ; Grandeur a Merveille ; Koh-i-noor, fine pink. Whites. — 

 Orondates, Mont Blanc, Mandoline. Beep Blue. — Prince Albert, a wondrous spike, rich 

 glossy black purple ; General Havelock, another fine dark blue ; Argus. Light _ Blue. — 

 Grand Lilas ; Haydn, mauve, or violet magenta, a fine variety, very novel and striking ; and 

 Ida, a fine bright canary yellow. Mr. W. Paul, of YValtham Cross, was second, with Beep 

 Blue, Prince Albert, General Havelock, Argus. Light Blue. — Charles Dickens, Baron von 

 Tuyll, Orondates, Grand Lilas. Beep Bed. — -Lord Macaulay. Light Bed and Blush.— Lord 

 Wellington, Tubiflora, Grandeur a Merveille, Lord Wellington (double, a very fine spike), 

 and Madame Van der Hoop, Mont Blanc, and Alba Maxima, Whites. But one double 

 variety was exhibited in the two collections. For the prizes offered by Mr. Cutbush, Mr. 

 Young, gardener to R. Barclay, Esq., Highgate, was placed first with twelve fine varieties. 

 They ^comprised, of Beep Beds, Lina and Von Schiller. Light Bed. — Lord Wellington 

 (double) ; Susannah Maria, Grandeur a Merveille, Madame Hodson, and Gigantea. Beep 

 Blue.- — -Argus (a very fine spike, but not sufficiently developed), Prince Albert, and General 

 Havelock. Light Blue. — Grand Lilas ; and, White, Mont Blanc. With six varieties Mr. 

 Young was again first with Prince Albert, Charles Dickens, and Mrs. B. Stowe (a bright single 

 red), La Dame du Lac (a light red), and Madame Van der Hoop ; second, Mr. Carr, gardener 

 to B. Noakes, Esq., Highgate, with Princesse Olotilde, Aurora, Lina, and Sultan's Favourite 

 (single red) ; Queen Victoria (single white) ; and Argus (blue). W T ith six new varieties Mr. 

 Cutbush was again first with Pelissier, a brilliant fiery single red, very striking ; Peine des 

 Hyacinths, single red, deep carmine, and fine spike ; Due de Malakoff, single red, nankeen, 

 striped with reddish-orange ; Sir Bulwer Lytton, a large double blush, but coarse : Paix de 

 l'Europe, a single pure white ; and Lord Macaulay. Second, Mr. Young, with Milton (a 

 fine light single red), Aurora, Haydn, Paix de l'Europe, Miss B. Coutts (a large coarse single 

 white), and Princesse Clotilde. Third, Mr. W. Paul, with Lord Macaulay, General Havelock, 

 Honneur d'Overeen (single crimson lilac), Von Schiller, Alba Maxima, and Cosmos (a light 

 carmine-striped single variety). 



A good quantity of Tulips were staged ; but they were far below the Hyacinths in point 

 of merit. Mr. Cutbush was first with 24 pots, six distinct kinds. They were, Royal Standard 

 and Braid van Haarlem, two pretty white-ground kinds feathered with scarlet ; Vermilion 

 Brilliant and Scarlet van Thol, both very showy and similar, except in point of size ; Canary 

 Bird, and White Pottebakker. Mr. Young was first both with 18 and 12 pots. Exclusive 

 of those just named, he had Tournesol, a showy double variety ; Yellow Tournesol, and 

 Imperator Eubrorum, both doubles ; and Gold Prince, a small single yellow. 



It was somewhat surprising that so few Camellias were present, none being staged for 

 the prizes offered for two groups of these. A very handsome bright pink variety, from Mr. 

 John Standish, of Bagshot, named Sarah Frost, was placed first in the class for a single plant. 

 Mr. Salter, of Hammersmith, was second; and Messrs. Henderson, Edgware Eoad, third. 



Mrs. Conway, of Brompton, had some Lilies of the Valley in pots, and a large quantity 

 of the same came from the gardens of the Society. 



Two groups of Amaryllis were staged. The best was from Mr. Parker, of Tooting ; the 

 other from Mr. Lakeman, of Hendon. They were very handsome, but wanted distinctness 

 and brilliancy of colour. 



Some very pretty Chinese Primroses enlivened the Exhibition with their gay flowers. 

 E. Hudson, Esq., of Clapham, was first with three plants, each of white and purple ; they 

 formed perfect bouquets, while the quality was first-rate. Messrs. Dobson & Son and Mr. 

 Cutbush also showed, and Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son exhibited a group called Primula 

 sinensis filicifolia alba, with long, serrated leaves, very like a Lomaria. Some double white 

 and purple varieties also came from the same. 



