THE FLOEAL MAGAZINE 



NEW SERIES.] JUNE, 1872. 



EXHIBITIONS. 



CRYSTAL PALACE, May 11. 



This, the first of the Grand Exhibitions of the Metro- 

 polis, was a complete success ; for although the number 

 of plants exhibited was probably not so large as on 

 some former occasions, yet the general excellence of 

 the exhibits was far above the usual average; espe- 

 cially in the classes of stove and greenhouse plants, 

 heaths, and foliage plants. And indeed throughout the 

 Exhibition there were not, as far as we could judge, 

 any inferior specimens, while some were marvels of 

 excellence. We would single out, as perhaps the most 

 remarkable plants in the show, the two Sarracenias 

 exhibited by Mr. Baines. The large Azaleas are cer- 

 tainly inferior to what they used to be ; but then those 

 exhibited in smaller pots were decidedly far more 

 attractive, the collection exhibited by Mr. C. Turner, 

 of Slough, being especially beautiful. There were 

 some excellent miscellaneous collections of plants exhi- 

 bited by Mr. Williams, of Hollovvay, Messrs. Carter, 

 of Holborn, and Messrs. Downie, Laird, and Laing, of 

 Forest Hill. The roses in pots of Messrs. Paul and 

 Son were marvels of fine cultivation ; while the box of 

 cut blooms of Marechal Niel, exhibited by Captain 

 Christy, of Westerham, were probably the finest ever 

 seen. The Metropolitan Floral Society offered prizes 

 for Tulips and Pansies, which had the effect of bringing 

 together a larger number of the former than we have 

 seen for many years ; the principal exhibitors being 

 Messrs. Turner, Walker, and Hooper, amongst nursery- 

 men; and Mr. Norman and the Rev. H. H. Dombrain 

 amongst amateurs. Pelargoniums showed a great falling 

 off as compared with former years; but we fear the 

 rage for bedding out plants has driven them out of the 

 field. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, May 15. 



The principal features of this Exhibition were the pot 

 Roses and the Table Decorations, and as the latter are 

 not so often exhibited as the former, we prefer to notice 

 them. There were two classes — one for a dinner for 

 twenty persons, the other for a dinner for twelve. In 

 the former, Miss Hassard, of St. Ronan's, Church 

 Road, Norwood, took the first prize, and deservedly so ; 

 it carried out the conditions of good taste which we 



[No. 6. 



have always insisted upon — the one point that is 

 doubtful to our mind being, whether the letting of the 

 pot into the table is a legitimate plan The arrangement 

 of the table was — Two ferns (Pteris) were placed at 

 either end, and where the stem rose from the table 

 was a circle of fern-leaves ; the centre contained a tall 

 stand of glass, the base of which was surrounded by 

 fern-leaves on which were placed blooms of Cactus 

 speciosissimus and Lilies of the Valley, while Rliodanthe 

 and Maiden Hair fern filled up the stand. The top con- 

 tained some grasses and Hotteian Japonica, and was 

 exceedingly light and elegant. Between the ferns and 

 the centre-piece were two recumbent figures, sur- 

 rounded with Lycopodiums, and specimen grasses were 

 placed round the table. Altogether it was very elegant, 

 and deservedly merited the place it obtained. Miss 

 E. Blair was second, with a table similarly arranged. 

 There were some very remarkable instances of bad 

 taste, one especially, which was all colour, and the 

 stand surmounted with flags. We were told it was 

 exhibited by an American firm. We did not think the 

 second class by any means good ; but the vagueness of 

 the schedule, in which it stated economy of cost was to 

 be considered, led to poverty of appearance. We hope 

 that the decision of the judges in determining to ex- 

 clude from prizes those which were so over-done, will 

 have the effect of disseminating a better taste. 



The collection of Roses in pots was very good, and 

 a very intei'esting collection of agaves and succulents 

 added a feature not often seen. Dr. Kellock, and Mr. 

 Jean Verschaffelt, from Ghent, both exhibited a fine 

 collection; as did also Mr. Peacock, of Sudbury, but 

 his collection was not for competition. 



MANCHESTER HORTICULTURAL 

 EXHIBITION. 



Without exception the finest Exhibition that we have 

 seen for many years, not excepting those held in the 

 metropolis. There was a bank of Orchids shown which 

 we might challenge London to equal, and which has 

 not for many years been equalled there. Then there 

 was the magnificent collection of plants shown by Mr. 

 Baines, gardener to H. B. Micholl, Esq., of Southgate 

 House, which no other grower could produce ; while 

 Azaleas, pot Koses, zonal and variegated Geraniums, 

 herbaceous plants and Rhododendrons and Ferns, found 



