SEPTEMBER. 



139 



A first and great success is this " Midland Show," there cannot be two opinions in tho 

 matter. Such a display in a provincial town was never seen before ; for not only were all tho 

 finest blooms of the midland counties brought together at this great fete, but everything that 

 could delight a floral mind and taste, from the classic vase to tho rustic garden-seat, wero 

 there assembled. One thing, and one thing only, we thought a little overdone. The strains 

 of that mighty organ wero at times rather more powerful than we coidd wish. It is a great 

 addition to have something of the kind, and when played a little less forte is most agreeable, 

 and we might then be able to converse with our friends without doing violence to our lnngs ; 

 but when the full power of so magnificent an instrument is at play, we can only compare it 

 to sudden bursts of thunder in the room, and we should not be surprised to find some of the 

 looser-petalled Eoses shaken to the centre by the vibration, and their eyes becoming visible 

 to the great discomfort of the exhibitor. 



There were so many stands of lovely blooms that we constantly found ourselves repeating 

 our visits to them. Mr. Cant's were truly splendid, and so also were Mr. Reynolds Hole's. 

 Mr. Cant's Colonel de Rougeniont was most remarkable for size, shape, and colour, and looked 

 like a full moon in the midst of a constellation ; for truly his flowers were stars of the first 

 magnitude. Mr. Hole's Madame Furtado and Louis XIV. were also glorious specimens ; 

 indeed his forty-eight-stand was a show in itself, and we could scarcely make up our mind 

 to take a last fond look. We lingered late over them till the crowd came in the evening, 

 and we felt it selfish to remain longer. There were blooms of tho new Rose, " Reynolds 

 Hole; " a lovely cherry pink is as near to the colour as we can describe it, but we thought the 

 name rather out of place when we looked upon the original. Titania we may suggest as 

 being more appropriate ; and the worthy gentleman himself would be better represented in 

 such flowers as Charles Lawson or Anna Diesbach. The new Tea Rose 1' Enfant Trouve 

 was exhibited with portrait, but we think it would have been more judicious not to have 

 placed the portrait in such close proximity to the original— not that wo wish to spealc lightly 

 of the " Foundling," for we think it a great addition to our " Teas," but we have not seen it 

 so magnificent as represented. We have lately purchased one from under glass, from a local 

 nurseryman, that was most beautiful, and with finer blooms than any we have seen exhibited. 

 How it will rough it out of doors remains for us to see ; but we are much disposed to have a 

 good opinion of it. Of all the Roses of recent introduction the following we think have 

 proved to be the cream :— Louis XIV., Madame Charles Crapelet, Senateur Vaisse, Madame 

 Furtado (Mr. Cranston's were superb), Gloire de Santenay, Catherine Guillot, and Victor 

 Verdier. But we must hasten to our journey's end, for another little engagement awaits our 

 return which we have quite as great an interest in as these great "All England" meetings. 

 We must rally our little band once more, and meet opponents less formidable than the 

 Philistines from Colchester. As our week draws to a close we find ourselves busy in our 

 own rosarium, and the Roses all we can desire. The day of exhibition brings us a o a in into 

 the field of action, and our tour which commenced so ingloriously now ends in triumph. And 

 now that all is over we collect our scattered thoughts, together with other untidy ' things 

 strewed about the Roses, for shading and retarding add little to the neatness of a garden 

 This done, and the place once more put straight, we again begin to faddle with our favourites' 

 think on all we have seen and heard, and endeavour to profit by " Our Week anions- the 

 Roses." R Ti E s 



THE METROPOLITAN EXHIBITIONS. 



Royal Botanic Society, July 9M.— Here, in the large collection of Stove and Green- 

 house plants, Mr. May and Mr. Milford came to the front rank, and Mr. Whitbread and Mr 

 Baker retired to the second position. It is useless to particularise, as the varieties were those 

 at South Kensington. The other exhibitors of stove and greenhouse plants, Orchids, and 

 ime-lohaged plants were just about the same as at the Horticultural Society. Mr U Rhodes 

 had ten weU-flowerec 1 plants of Cape Heaths, and took first prize ; Messrs. J. Jackson & Son 

 being second. Mr. B. Peed, gardener to Mrs. Tredwell, Norwood, was first with eight 

 varieties; Mr Page, gardener to W. Leaf, Esq., being second. With six varieties Mr 

 Chillman, gardener to Mrs. Smith, Epsom, was first ; and Mr. Wheeler, gardener to J. Philnott 

 Esq., second. Mr. B. S. Williams was first with twelve exotic Ferns, and Mr II Lavev 

 gardener to E. A. De Grace, Esq., with twelve British species. Mr. Cannell was again first 

 with six luchsias, remarkably good plants— viz., Prince Alfred, Wiltshire Lass Madame 

 Cornehsseli, Little Bopeep, Sir C. Campbell, and Guiding Star. Second, Mr Garden o- a r- 

 ^ner to J. Stutter Esq., with Rose of Castille, Lord Clyde, Little Bopeep, Wiltshire Lass, 

 British Sailor, and Venus de Medici. ' 



Pelargoniums were still very good and showy, and as usual a great centre of attraction. 

 With ten varieties, Mr Bailey, Shardeloes, was first, having Lord Clyde, GuiUaume SeverZ 

 Monarch, Glowworm, Sanspareil, Desdemona, Picnic, Etna, Lady Canning, and Fire Queen 



