THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 



NEW SERIES.] 



DECEMBER, 1879. 



[No. 90. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



Save and except the Chrysanthemum shows, which 

 are now very frequent, especially within a circuit of 

 some fifteen or eighteen miles round London, the only 

 exhibition of any note, the proceedings of which are 

 worthy of record, is the monthly meeting of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society on November 18. 



New plants were not very numerous on this occa- 

 sion, and but three First-class Certificates of Merit 

 were awarded. One was for Lfelia Dayana superba, 

 a remarkably deep and rich-coloured flower ; the 

 lustrous purple on the upper lip was very conspicuous, 

 and the specimen was much admired. This came from 

 Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, King's Road, Chelsea, 

 who also had Cypripedium Spencerianum, which 

 received an award at the last meeting, but was shown 

 again to illustrate the very distinct colour of the upper 

 division of the flower ; also Cattleya Fausta superba, 

 a fine hybrid between C. Exoniensis, itself a hybrid, 

 and C. Loddigesi, and partakiug in a remarkable 

 degree of the former type. Another hybrid, named 

 C. Mastersouiae, was also produced, and is the result 

 of a cross between C. Labiata and C. Loddigesi, but 

 very distinct from either. 



From the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 at Chiswick, came a collection of varieties of Primula 

 Sinensis fimbriata, and to two of them, viz., Chiswick 

 Red, the nearest approach to a red Primula we have 

 yet seen, remarkably bright and high coloured, and 

 Rubro-violacea, rich purplish crimson, First-class 

 Certificates of Merit were awarded. In this collection 

 were several other exceedingly pretty types, all very 

 pleasing, for pot culture. 



From Mr. J. Roberts, gardener to the Baroness 

 Lionel de Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park, came a very 

 fine variety of Odontoglossum Alexandras, having very 

 large and beautifully-marked blossoms on two spikes. 

 This was awarded a Cultural Commendation. From 

 Mr. W. Bull, Nurseryman, King's Road, Chelsea, came 

 a group of plants containing several notable Orchids, 

 such as Cymbidium Giganteum, the superb C. Mastersi, 

 the rare Trichosma Suavis, Oncidium Rogersi, Laelia 

 Autumnalis, and some others. With these there was 

 a group of choice Palms, such as the very elegant 

 Macrozaima Plumosa and M. Denisoni, Kentia Aus- 



tralis, Areca concinna, Thrimax elegantissima ; and 

 the beautiful Tillansia Lindeni, with its rosy flower 

 spikes and rich purple flowers. 



Mr. R. Gilbert, gardener to the Marquis of Exeter, 

 Burghley Park, Stamford, sent a large group of very 

 fine new varieties of double Chinese Primroses, raised 

 at Burghley, two of which have been figured in the 

 Floral Magazine. In the group were Marchioness of 

 Exeter, white, suffused with pink ; Mrs. A. F. Barron, 

 blush- white, delicately spotted; White Lady, pure 

 white ; and Earl of Beaconsfield, salmon-rose. These 

 fine novelties have passed into the hands of Messrs. 

 Osborn & Sons, the Nurseries, Fulham, by whom they 

 will be distributed in the Spring. The more we see 

 of these new double Chinese Primroses, the more we 

 are led to admire their large, full, and handsomely- 

 formed flowers, and we think they will prove very 

 useful indeed for wiring for bouquets and other pur- 

 poses. The trusses of flower are very large 



Mr. H. Cannell, Nurseryman, Swanley, sent cut 

 blooms of some interesting Salvias, viz., S. Splendens 

 Bruantii, having remarkably brilliant scarlet flowers ; 

 S. Bethelli, thought to be in all probability S. involu- 

 crata ; a most charming variety, with bright, deep, 

 rosy-pink blossoms ; and a very dark blue form, 

 received from America, under the name of S. Hoveyi, 

 but which was thought to be S. ianthina. Mr. Cannell 

 also had a new Pompome Chrysanthemum of a hybrid 

 character, named Princess Meletia, a pretty laciniated 

 white flower of good form. From Messrs. Sutton and 

 Sons, Reading, came a group of charming varieties 

 of Cyclamen Persicum, the plants obtained from seeds 

 sown in October last, thus clearly showing that good 

 flowering plants can be had from seed almost within 

 the space of a year. Messrs. T. Jackson & Sons, 

 Nurserymen, Kingston, showed a collection of cut 

 blooms of Japanese Chrysanthemums, in which were 

 found good blooms of Peter the Great, large clear 

 yellow ; and Magnum Bonum, a large purple-flowered 

 variety of excellent quality. Mr. R. Dean, Ranelagh 

 Road, Ealing, sent plants of the new Marigold Meteor, 

 bearing large double flowers, the florets arranged 

 with excellent symmetry, the yellow stripe in the 

 centre being banded with orange on either side. 



