92 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST, 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. — May 21st. 



This magnificent Exhibition was held in that part of the grounds immediately con- 

 tiguous to the Great Exhibition, under a monster tent constructed for that purpose. In 

 approaching the grounds from the main entrance, visitors passed through a large tent of 

 Rhododendrons from Messrs. "Waterer & Godfrey, of Knaphill, that in a few days will be a 

 mass of brilliant colours, intermingled with flowers of lighter hue. Next was a smaller 

 group from Mr. Standish, of Bagshot, and further on was the larger tent in which the plants 

 were arranged. The groups of plants for showing effective arrangement in the decoration 

 of a small conservatory were arranged in the western terrace ; and the vases of cut flowers 

 for drawing-room- table decoration, for which Lady Dorothy Nevill had announced prizes, 

 found a lodgment in the conservatory. Some very pleasing and even unique designs were 

 contributed here ; but the arrangement was not completed until tbe day was somewhat 

 advanced. The groups in the terrace were furnished by Messrs. Turner, Slough ; Bull, 

 Chelsea ; Yideon, Edgware Eoad ; E. & A, Smith, Dulwich ; and Mr. Young, gardener to 

 B. Barclay, Esq., Highgate. Of these, Messrs. Turner's and Vid eon's were on raised stands, 

 and formed very pretty displays, especially the former, which had a margin of variegated 

 Geraniums, with, an outer edging of the hardy Lycopodium. Mr. Bull seemed to have 

 approached nearest to the idea of conservatory arrangement, as they were arranged on tho 

 ground, with walks among the plants ; but the sober green of his collection was eclipsed 

 by the gay colours of tho florists' flowers, that entered so largely into the composition of 

 his neighbours' designs. 



The gardens are commencing to look gay ; the process of " bedding-out " is fast approach- 

 ing completion, and the two large bronze fountains were enlivening the scene with spasmodic 

 attempts to emulate an April shower ; and a group of talkative foreigners formed a foreground 

 to the picture, puffing away at cigarettes, despite a polyglot notice conspicuously posted about 

 the grounds, announcing the indulgence to be strictly interdicted. 



On entering the tent the effect was very beautiful, the plan of the exhibition resembling 

 that of the Eoyal Botanic Society both in regard to the ground plan and in the arrangement of 

 the subjects; but the visitor here seems to get a better grasp of the whole exhibition than at 

 the Eegent's Pailr. The outer circle was formed of gigantic Azaleas, collections of greenhouse 

 plants, and Eoses in pots. The centre was devoted to florists' flowers and Orchids ; the 

 intermediate spaces being filled with groups of new plants, small Azaleas, &c. A supple- 

 mentary tent also had collections of miscellaneous plants, the contributions of seedling 

 florists' flowers for the supervision of the Eloral Committee, cut Eoses, new plants, &c. A 

 goodly number of Judges were engaged : this insured duo deliberation, while it also promoted 

 expedition. Nearly 20,000 tickets had been disposed of up to the eve of the 20th ; it was, 

 therefore, highly necessary on this occasion, as on all occasions, that the judgment be 

 accomplished ere the company is admitted. 



Stove and greenhouse plants were in abundance ; the same exhibitors that are chronicled 

 every year, with about the same plants, and occupying about the same positions in the order 

 of merit. Here and there a gay Allamanda, a brilliant Ixora, or a showy Pimclea seemed 

 to struggle hard to impart a little cheerfulness to the inevitable dulness that characterises 

 the sombre and unwieldy subjects that make up one of these collections — a gloom that was 

 the more apparent from the close proximity of the groups of brilliant Azaleas. 



Mr. May, gardener to J. Spode, Esq., Eugeley, Staffordshire, was first with fifteen 

 varieties, comprising Azaleas, Eriostemons, Pimeleas, an immense Hedaroma tulipiferum, 

 well flowered, Boronias, Ixora coccinea superba, Allamanda sepamoides, and a fine plant of 

 Gompholobium polymorphum grandiflorum. Second, Mr. B. Peed, gardener to T. Tread- 

 well, Esq., Streatham, with the inevitable duplicates of the first group. Third, Mr. Thomas 

 Whitbread, gardener to H. Colyer, Esq., Dartford. With twelve plants, Messrs. J. & J. 

 Fraser, Lea Bridge Eoad, was first with two varieties of Epaeris, Azaleas Minerva and 

 Eieldneri, three Ericas, two Polygalas, Boronia serrulata, Ixora javanica, and Pimelea 

 spectabilis rosea. Second, Messrs. T. Jackson & Son, Kingston. Third, Mr. O. Rhodes, 

 Sydenham. AVith nine plants, Mr. John Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, Cheam, was 

 first. Second, Mr. S. M. Carson, gardener to J. C. Sim, Esq., Nonsuch Park. "With six 

 plants, Mr. Ingram, gardener to J. J. Blandy, Esq., Reading, was first with Tetratheca 

 ericif'olia, Aphelexis macrantha rosea, Erica Cavendishii, Ebyncospermum jasminoides, 

 Lcschenaultia formosa, and Chorozema varium nanum. Second, Mr. T. Page, gardener to 

 W. Leaf, Esq., Streatham. Third, Mr. C. Penny, gardener to W. H. Gibbs, Esq., Eegent's 

 Park. 



Orchids were well represented, and generally had good bloom. Mr. George Baker, 

 gardener to A. Bassett, Esq., Stamford Hill, was first with a fine collection, among which 

 the foUowing were most conspicuous : — Cattleya Mossiaa, C. citrina, Laslia purpurata, 

 L. cinnabarina, Angulosa Clowesiana, Yanda tricolor, Y. suavis, Phalamopsis grandifiora, 

 Dendrobhun Devonianum, D. macrophyllmn, and Cypripedium barbatum. Second, Mr. Mil- 



