THE ELOEAL MAGAZINE 
NEW SERIES.] JULY, 1873. [No. 19. 
EXHIBITIONS. 
These come on in such rapid succession that it is quite 
impossible that we can do more than refer very briefly 
to them, and must notice only a few of the more salient 
features. The Royal Horticultural Societ}^ has held, as 
usual, its two Exhibitions during the month ; the Ro}"al 
Botanic Society its first great Show ; the Crystal Palace 
its great Show of the season, and the ill-fated Alex- 
andra Palace its first and only Exhibition ; and all of 
these have attracted not only large crowds of visitors, 
but have brought together some rare productions of 
horticultural shill. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
May 21. 
This Exhibition was held in those most unsuitable places 
the Arcades, where there is but poor light to show off 
the varied beauties which are brought together. It 
was, however, a most excellent Sho.w, and we may safely 
affirm that the most marvellous plants there — and we may 
add, the most wonderful results of plant-growing that 
we have ever seen — were those exhibited by Mr. Baines, 
for the Davis prize. It had often been said that he was 
enabled to hold the place he did because his plants were 
older and more fully developed ; but the condition of the 
Davis prize was, that the plants should be piu'chased at a 
nursery, sealed by a person appointed by the Society, 
and exhibited two years after. There could therefore 
be no mistake on the subject ; and here were plants 
which would have been considered an impossibility, had 
it not been seen that the conditions had been faithfully 
observed. Whatever doubt may have existed before, 
there can be none now ; and although, unfortunately, 
owing to some blunder of the Society, there was no 
competition, yet these plants were such that no compe- 
titor could have ventured near so formidable an anta- 
gonist, and Mr. Baines must be placed as our foremost 
cultivator of stove and greenhouse plants. 
June 4, 5. 
This (with the exception of the provincial Exhibition), 
the great Show of the year, was held in the large tent, 
and brought together a most excellent collection of 
plants of all kinds ; and although it might have been 
better filled, yet on the whole it was a very pleasant 
Show, and a very large number of novelties were brought 
forward, Mr. Bull and Messrs. Veitch, as usual, con- 
tributing a large number, and the former gentleman 
giving a still further stimulus to the growth of new 
plants by the very handsome cups which he offered for 
competition for new plants introduced by himself. 
Amongst the more remarkable plants were Dracsena 
Goldieana, with deep green leaves marked with trans- 
verse bars of white ; Bertolonia superbissima, with 
leaves elegantly spotted with pink ; Odontoglossum 
Insleayi, var. Leopardinum, more conspicuously barred 
than in the normal variety. These and many others 
were exhibited by Mr. Bull. Messrs. Veitch had 
Aralia elegantissima, Draciena Baptistii, Tillandsia 
Zahnii, and others. A very remarkable small plant, 
and one likely to be useful, was a double form of 
Lobelia pumlla, a very pretty and dwarf plant, which 
we hope to figure next month, and which will be a 
very desirable acquisition. Mr. Pestridge exhibited a 
new Tricolor Pelargonium, Marie Stuart, but we are 
inclined to think that the day for these has passed by. 
Mr. R. Dean also exhibited a very good Calceolaria, 
which promises to be good for out-of-door work, being 
very dwarf and free; and also a new Y'^iola, called 
Lothair, deep purplish-blue; for both of which first-class 
certificates were awarded. 
Several new Pelargoniums, both show and zonal, were 
exhibited by Mr. Foster, Mr. Wm. Paul, Mr. George 
Smith, and others that we have not space to particu- 
larize ; but it will bo seen that there is again no lack of 
novelties, and that the Society still maintains its posi- 
tion as an encourager of horticulture in this way — that 
here the raisers of new things are most desirous of 
bringing their productions. 
CRYSTAL PALACE, May 17. 
As usual on the occasion of the great May Show, a 
large number of magnificent plants were exhibited, and 
although the novelties were few, yet the splendid collec- 
tions of Mr. Baines, Mr. Ward, and others — the grand 
Roses of Mr. Charles Turner and Mr. George Paul; the 
Azaleas with their sheets of bloom ; the fragrant and 
curious Orchids — all contributed to make a display 
which was appreciated by a larger number of visitors 
than on any previous May Show, while the other attrac- 
tions of the Palace make it one of the most enjoyable 
exhibitions in the metropolis. 
