THE FLORAL MAGAZINE 
NEW SERIES.] MAY, 1877. [No. 65. 
FLORAL EXHIBITIONS. 
The fortnightly meetings of the Royal Horticultural 
Society are of ever-increasing interest, and now that 
the present Council, with Lord Aberdare at its head, 
have been successful in attracting Royalty once more 
within the South Kensington Gardens, it is to be 
hoped that a brighter future is not far distant, and 
that the .Society will, with the influx of new Fellows, 
be enabled to advance the cause of horticulture even 
to a much larger extent than has already been the 
case. What is most requisite is a broad and liberal 
policy, more especially in the matter of exhibitions ; 
and now that we have seen the lively interest excited 
by the show of Covent Garden produce, it is to be 
hoped that other fields hitherto neglected may be 
broken up with the prospect of a rich harvest. Our 
horticultural exhibitions have been so numerous of 
late years, and unfortunately so monotonous, that it 
need occasion little surprise to hear that many of 
them have been bankrupt in interest and instructive¬ 
ness, as well as unremunerative to their promoters. 
Why should exhibitions be limited to collections of 
fresh fruit, vegetables, or to decorative plants and 
implements ? When horticultural industry affords such 
a wide and varied field, why not organise an exhibition 
of dried, canned, and candied fruits and vegetables, 
both home grown and imported, and let the Scientific 
Committee tell our own fruit growers and preservers 
why it is that our continental and American neighbours 
almost entirely monopolise the market in respect to 
these products. Let us have a comprehensive exhi¬ 
bition of garden implements, machinery, and appliances 
of all kinds, from which competent jurors may select 
the best examples. Again, an exhibition of garden 
literature and drawings would surely be interesting 
to many. At any rate the Scientific Committee might 
offer some slight encouragement to induce authors or I 
publishers to lay new or rare works before them, and I 
in many cases such works might eventually be added 
to the now excellent Lindleyan Library. Again, much 
might be done by evening meetings, at which short 
papers could be read, or lectures given, on important 
points of culture, vegetable physiology, or other 
interesting topics connected with gardening. Another 
point worth the attention of the Council is whether an 
amalgamation of the two Horticultural Clubs with the 
Society could not be effected with advantage to all 
concerned. At any rate, nothing should now be left 
undone in the way of conciliating all classes of horti¬ 
culturists, and in throwing light and encouragement 
on their labours. 
Certificates have been awarded to the following new 
plants during the past month:—Anthurium Scher- 
zerianum Wardi, as exhibited by Messrs. Yeitch, is 
undoubtedly the best variety in cultivation of a well- 
known and handsome plant, some of the spathes 
being nearly 7 in. in length, and over 5 in. in breadth. 
It is named in compliment to Mr. Ward, gardener to 
the late Mr. F. Wilkins, Leyton, and was recently 
acquired by Messrs. Yeitch and Sons at a cost of nearly 
£80. Dendrobium barbatulum grandiflorum, sent by 
Sir T. Lawrence, was awarded a second-class certi¬ 
ficate. It is a large flowered form of the plant grown 
in some gardens under the name of D. Fytchianum; 
it bears from ten to twenty white flowers on a slender 
raceme, produced from near the apex of the leafless 
pseudobulbs. The individual flowers measure from 
If in. to 2 in. across, and are pure white, or in some 
cases very faintly tinged with rose or lilac; well 
worth culture. Clematis, “ Aurora/’ exhibited by Mr. 
Noble, is a semi-double flower of the J. Gould Yeitch 
or Fortunei type, having lance-shaped segments of a 
rosy-colour, shot with lilac. The plant shown was 
but a small one, and only bore a solitary flower; 
when better established, however, it will doubtless 
prove more floriferous. Primrose, “ Brilliant,” sent by 
Mr. R. Dean, is a bold and distinct variety, the rich, 
full, crimson-tinted petals surrounding a bright golden 
centre or eye. The plant is robust in habit, and 
its flowers are well elevated on stout stalks. It is a 
valuable addition to dark-coloured, hardy Primroses. 
Dendrobium sculptum, sent by Sir T. Lawrence, is a 
plant belonging to the D. speciosum section, which it 
closely resembles in growth, except in being more 
slender. The flowers are borne in clusters of five or 
six together, the sepals and petals being pure white, 
and the saddle-shaped lip flat with a blotch of orange 
in the centre. The flowers are 2f in. wide, and 
slightly fragrant. Cyclamen persicum, “ Brilliant,” ex¬ 
hibited by Mr. R. Clarke, is a compact-habited plant, 
its heart-shaped leaves being distinctly marbled with 
silvery grey on a darker ground. Its flowers are 
rather small, but wonderfully dense and vivid in colour, 
their tint being midway between ruby and crimson 
purple. It is well worth culture as a seed parent, and 
