530 
THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
We have, however, said enough for the 
present to direct the attention of Dahlia 
growers to the subject. 
THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF 
LONDON. 
Final Exhibition for 1845. 
The May show was upon a larger scale 
than any we remember, chiefly owing to the 
unwieldy size of many specimens which ought 
never to have left the conservatories in which 
they had been grown. In the winning collec- 
tion there was a common Acacia alata of enor- 
mous dimensions ; Citissus racemosus, which 
is a rapidly growing plant, much about the 
same size; and the old Azaleas, indica, alba, 
and Phcenicea, which are completely thrown 
in the shade by the new ones, lateritia, 
variegata, Glaclstonesii, and others so infi- 
nitely superior, were of large size. Pimelea 
spectabilis, and three Ereostemons, were the 
best plants in the collection, if we except some 
Ericas, of which the best was E. depressa. 
The next collection in the scale of winners, 
and which ought to have stood first for the 
value, the condition, and rarity of the plants, 
as well as the exhibition of skill, contained 
specimens of rather less size: — A plant of 
Daviesia saligna, nearly five feet high, and 
more than five feet through. Erica grandi- 
nosa, Oxylobium Pultensea, Aphelexis (Heli- 
chrysum) humilis, and others of enormous size, 
and a perfect mass of flowers, were specimens 
of skill not often met with. Pimelea Hender- 
sonii was perhaps as fine a specimen as there 
is in the kingdom. Many plants of extraordi- 
nary growth graced this collection, which was 
certainly never equalled at that or even any 
former exhibitions. 
Among nurserymen, Mr. Frazer, of the Lea 
Bridge Road, has so completely taken the lead, 
that no one stands the slightest chance with 
him. Among his plants there were some be- 
yond all praise. Pimelea linifolia and Pimelea 
spectabilis were grand indeed. Podolobium 
staurophyllum, and Polygala acuminata, were 
good ; but the crack plants of his collec- 
tion were perfect specimens of first-rate plant 
growing, — Boronia serrulata and Chorozema 
Henchmanni, whose colour was exquisite, 
though perhaps, without exception, the most 
difficult of all plants to grow to any size of a 
good colour. Most of the collections, large 
and small, contained nearly similar plants. 
Mr. Bruce showed Azalea Gladstonesii and 
variegata, very fine. Mr. Epps, of Maidstone, 
showed Leschenaultia formosa, very finely 
grown. Ixora grandiflora, and Erica Hartnelli, 
in excellent condition. From these rough 
sketches of the best plants, it will be seen there 
was little or no novelty in the collections. In 
orchideous plants, there was not much to 
boast as to quantity, but there were some su- 
perb specimens. J. J. Blandy, Esq., sent a 
specimen of Saccolabium guttatum, in a wire 
basket, nine feet in circumference ; from this 
plant, the grand and numerous spikes of flow- 
ers, like plumes of rich rosy feathers, hung, or 
rather lay, on a bank of moss. 
From the Botanic Garden, Birmingham, 
was sent a Chilian plant of great rarity, said 
to be never before bloomed in this country, 
called Chlorasa chrysantha, with yellow flowers, 
and the habit of an orchideous plant. Sobralia 
macrantha, a very grand orchideous plant, and 
Vanda teres, so seldom seen in flower, were 
shown by Mr. Rucker, with many beautiful, 
but more familiar subjects. C. B. Warner, 
Esq., of Hoddesdon, showed a new species of 
Oncidium, something like O. papilio, but 
fringed, and some others. Messrs Veitch, 
of Exeter, exhibited some fine orchideous 
plants, especially Cattleya Mossias, in fine 
order. Sir George Larpent sent Vanda 
Roxburgki, and V. R. coerulea, very interest- 
ing plants. J. Schroder, Esq., showed Vanda 
cristata. The Azaleas were very finely grown, 
but except the new, close, and round flowering 
ones, they possessed no interest. Mr. Smith, 
of Norbiton, had some double purple and some 
double pink, but of no form. Knight and Co. 
showed one called Exquisita, one of the light 
grounds, after the fashion of Glandstonesii, 
and, if it be sufficiently distinct, it is an acqui- 
sition. Mr. Cole sent a plant of Brugmansia 
Knightii, which is a double variety of the old 
Datura arboria, or Brugmansia suaveolens, and 
a much more rich looking plant, in every way 
better. The tube is somewhat longer, and the 
habit decidedly better; but, of course, botanists 
object to it because it is double, upon the same 
principle, and with as much sense, as they did 
to the double Dahlias, until they bore down all 
before them. A new Syphocampylus, exhi- 
bited by Messrs. Veitch, with rich scarlet 
flowers, and of a fine shrubby habit, attracted 
great attention ; and Crotolaria elegans was 
shown by E. Wigram, Esq., a pretty pea- 
flowering plant, but of rather weedy appear- 
ance. Mrs. Lawrence showed a plant of 
Daviesiaj cordifolia, a straggling specimen, that 
may perhaps be grown better hereafter. Tro- 
pseolum Lobbii, already noticed at the Royal 
Botanic Gardens, and Franciscea pohliana, 
were sent by Messrs. Veitch. Mr. Pawley 
exhibited plants of Stephenotus floribunda, one 
of which was better bloomed than it has ever 
been seen before in this country, and Mrs. 
Lawrence exhibited one of enormous size, but 
with scarcely half as many flowers. This is a 
fine evergreen plant, of the climbing kind, with 
bunches of large white, highly-fragrant flowers. 
Roses were plentiful, but, as usual, sadly 
