Plate 31. 



HYACINTH EXCELSIOR. 



The prizes that are annually offered by the Eoyal Horticultural Society for new- 

 Hyacinths have been the means frequently of bringing out some remarkable novelties, 

 although, as we have frequently stated, nothing can be more delusive ; for owing to the 

 difficulty of their propagation, a great many years must elapse before they can be generally 

 grown, and even the present generation may not see them so cheapened as to be within the 

 reach of the general mass of growers. This season, however, there were no very great 

 novelties introduced, possibly because there is very great difficulty in obtaining flowers that 

 are in advance of those we already possess. Very few flowers of the last twenty years 

 surpass the Grand Vanaquier, Grand Vedette, Waterloo, Orondates, &c, that former genera- 

 tions knew and grew. 



Among the flowers exhibited by the Messrs. Veitch there was one which, from the 

 novelty of its colouring, seemed an advance, and which consequently received a first- 

 class certificate from the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, and which 

 we now figure. Excelsior has a fine large spike of flowers, the individual pips being 

 small, but, as they are very numerous, they form a dense head of bloom. The colour 

 is a very delicate fawn, each segment of the flower being tipped with crimson, and growers 

 of the Hyacinth know that while red, blue, and white flowers are numerous and good, those 

 of the shades of yellow and anything approaching thereto are comparatively scarce — hence 

 the variety should be a valuable addition to the class. 



Plate 32. 

 CATTLEYA MENDELI. 



It was our privilege, at the time of the Manchester National Show, to visit the gardens of 

 Samuel Mendel, Esq., at Manley Hall — a place which has not its equal in the whole kingdom 

 in its own peculiar way. There are places of greater extent, and gardens containing probably 

 a larger extent of ground ; but for the amount of glass and the value of the collections con- 

 tained in the houses, we believe it to be approached by no other place in the kingdom. 

 Under the able superintendence of Mr. Petch, everything is in the highest state of order ; 

 no part seems to suffer neglect, and the frames of Auriculas and beds of Pansies seem equally 

 to share his attention with the magnificent collection of Orchids and the lovely exotic Ferns. 



In passing through the Orchid houses, our attention was attracted by a Cattleya which 

 was not only new to us, but for its beauty seemed to surpass most of those with which we 

 were acquainted, and through the kindness of Mr. Petch we are enabled to figure it. 



Cattleya Mendeli, named after the generous patron of horticulture who has been the first 

 to flower it, was received from the Messrs. Backhouse and Son, of York, by Mr. Mendel. 

 They had obtained it from their collector in New Grenada, 200 or 300 miles up the Magda- 

 lena River, and, we believe, a region from whence Triana? Cattleya has been before sent. 

 The flower is very large, the petals and sepals of the most delicate lavender-blue, and the lip 

 deep brownish crimson and yellow ; and, although we have figured many varieties of Orchids, 

 we do not think that it has fallen to our lot to figure a more beautiful one than Cattleya 

 Mendeli. 



