242 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
corymbose beads of an exceedingly rich character. It is a fine 
"Wardian case and dinner-table fern, and well adapted for exhibition. 
We met with it in the nursery of Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper 
Holloway. 
Pteeis sebeulata Dixoni. — This is a grand companion-plant 
to the last-named, and in every way its equal in merit, though 
somewhat difi"erent. It grows rather tall, and the fronds spread 
out into crisped tassels six inches wide, and four inches thick, 
the colour a brilliant grassy- green. This is in the possession of 
Messrs. Dixon and Co., Amhurst Nurseries, Amhurst Road, 
Hackney. 
Lomakia Gibba cetspa. — A superb variety of one of the finest 
ferqs in cultivation. This, we believe, is the variety raised ^ome 
five years ago by Messrs. Cole, of Withington, which we remember 
having to adjudicate upon when it was in a very small state, and 
then had a most charming appearance. We have lately seen large 
specimens, and they are wonderfully distinct and beautiful, the 
fronds being crisped their whole length, and crested at the tips. 
S. H. 
A FEW WORDS ON THE CRYSTAL PALACE 
ROSE SHOW. 
BY W. D. PEIOE, ESQ. 
MOST the first question asked by those interested in 
roses, not present at any of the great shows, is, “ Was it a 
good one ? ” To the exhibition in question it might be 
answered relatively. Yes ! absolutely. No ! according to 
the stand-point from which it might be viewed. What- 
ever shortcomings, however, were manifest' on the occasion, were 
neither owing to the “Company” nor to exhibitors, but to the 
precarious character of our English springs, always more or less 
abounding in cold winds and night frosts, which act most prejudi- 
cially on those incipient buds from which ordinarily the show boxes 
of June are supplied. This year several nights towards the end of 
May were particularly detrimental to the young buds in the rosery, 
placing many well-known exhibitors utterly hors de comhat, as the 
gaps on the “tables” abundantly proved. Of course there were 
many beautiful specimens to gratify spectators, which must neces- 
sarily be the case when the picked produce of some of the most 
celebrated nurseries in the kingdom are brought together, but they 
were fewer in number and more unequal in quality and development 
than on several previous occasions, and several noted exhibitors were 
absent altogether. Indeed, considering the enormous pressure on 
the Company’s resources in preparing for the Shah’s visit on the 
Monday — a dies non, Sunday, intervening — it would perhaps have 
been better to have postponed the show. However, everybody ap- 
peared in a gratified and admiring mood, which, considering the 
feast of beauty spread before their eyes, was not surprising, espe- 
