THE ELOEAL MAGAZINE 
NEW SERIES.] 
EXHIBITIONS. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Ueckmber, 4. 
To hold a Flower Show in December seems somewhat a 
Quixotic attempt ; but a visit to the Council-room on 
the above day would have convinced the most sceptical 
that such a thing is not only possible^ but that a display 
may be got together which would not discredit even a 
more favourable time. Groups of plants were contri- 
buted by some of our most successful caterers for novel- 
ties. Messrs. Veitch and Bull’s collections of cut blooms 
of Chrysanthemums, collections of Cyclamens, of her- 
baceous plants suitable for out-door winter decoration, 
hardy Conifers, and Hollies; of vegetables and salading; 
TreeCarnationsand Roman Hyacinths — all tended tomakc 
up a very pretty show. Amongst the subjects submitted to 
the Floral Committee were Aphelandra nitens, with hand- 
some deep green, glossy foliage, and rich orange-crimson 
flowers, exhibited by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, to which a 
first-class certificate was awarded. The same award was 
given to Poinsettia pulcherrima major from the same 
firm, in which the rich-coloured bracts were more nu- 
merous than in the old form. First-class certificates 
were also awarded to Mr. W. Bull, for Croton spirale, the 
leaves of which, yellow and crimson and purple, were sin- 
gularly twisted ; Croton majesticum, a very handsome 
species, with leaves fifteen inches long, mottled and veined 
with crimson and yellow ; and Zygopetalum cerinum, a 
very handsome Orchid, with sepals and petals greenish- 
white, the lip yellow, and the throat barred with crimson. 
Mr. Croucher, gardener to J. Peacock, Esq, Sudbury 
House, Hammersmith, also obtained a first-class certifi- 
cate for Agave Corderoyii, with light-green leaves and 
purple spines ; and Air. Green, gardener to Air. TMlson 
Saunders, Hlel field, Reigate, received a second-class cer- 
tificate for Coeleopsis hyacinthosma, with waxy white 
flowers. Amongst the Chrysanthemums exhibited were 
Dr. Alasters^ Grandiflora, Alagnum Bonum, and Comet, 
John Salter, Princess of Teck, Lad)" Slade, Rev. J. 
Dix, Pink Perfection, and Empress. Mr. Turner’s col- 
lection of Tree Carnations was very beautiful, and com- 
prised Avalanche, Blanche, Purity, Rosy Alorn, Alice, 
Princess Christian, King of the Belgians, Attila, Alinerva, 
Valiant, and Vestal. On the whole, the exhibition was 
a most successful one. We are glad to state that an 
[No. 13. 
admirable portrait of the late Rev. Joshua Dix, for 
many years Chairman of the Floral Committee, has been 
hung up in the Council-room, it having been subscribed 
for by some friends, and permission obtained from the 
Council for its being placed in the Council-room. 
ALPINE PLANTS. 
No one who has ever seen some of the beautiful gems of 
the Alpine Flora in their native habitats, but must have 
felt how utterly inadequate a representation of them can 
be given in any rockery, however extensive it may be; 
but at the same time, there has been no doubt the im- 
pulse to carry home some of them, and attempt their 
growth. It was with such feelings that we, in the month 
of June last saw, for the first time intermingled Silene 
acaulis and Gentiana alpina on the very summit of the 
Col du Baume ; and as we thought of our home garden, 
wondered whether it would be possible to transport some 
of them. We essayed it ; but alas ! the grass in the 
turf is all that remains— the Gentianas and Silene are 
gone. However, the plants are obtainable at home, and 
the grass will probably be as good a reminder of one of 
the most pleasurable days we have ever spent. But it 
has suggested to us the thought that in these days of 
sensational gardening, it is well to remind our readers 
that there is a! source of great enjoyment open to them 
in the cultivation of these beautiful gems, and that it 
may be attempted even in places of limited extent. 
In forming a rockery there are often many mistakes 
made ; some seem to imagine that any out-of-the-way 
shady place will suit them, whereas in truth no plants 
rejoice more in bright sunshine than they do. Others 
build up an elaborately formed piece of rockwork, and 
think that this is an imitation of nature, and then put 
their plants in, in any way, not considering their peculiar 
habits or the soil that they delight in, whereas no plants 
are more chary of displaying their charms unless their 
wants are properly attended to. Alany of them, although 
never rising above a few inches in height, yet strike 
their roots deep down in the soil. Others make their 
rockery, and then allow all sorts of coarse and rampant 
weeds to grow over it, thus choking and destroying 
many of these slender-growing gems. We ourselves 
have formed one on the border of a shrubbery fully 
exposed to the sun, but slightly overshadowed with 
JANUARY, 1873. 
