14 
THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 
ALEXANDRA PARK, May U. 
A MELANCHOLY interest attaches to this Exhibition, 
owing to the calamitous fire which a fortnight afterwards, 
in the space of a couple of hours, reduced the whole of 
the building to ruins, and destroyed the hopes of those 
who were looking to this new place of amusement as a 
boon to the north end of our huge metropolis. The Ex- 
hibition was altogether one of the finest ever held in 
London, and the indefatigable exertions of the able 
Superintendent, Mr. Mackenzie, were rewarded by the 
presence of most of our leading exhibitors, the prize list, 
amounting to 1200^., being a very tempting one. The 
plants were to a great extent those which had been ex- 
hibited at the other great Shows; but in addition to the 
usual classes, the schedule included a considerable number 
of prizes for Dracaenas, Cycads, Palms, Cordylines, Tree 
Ferns, and other ornamental plants, which by the fresh- 
ness of their foliage tended to relieve the masses of 
colour. Then Mr. Mackenzie had deviated from the 
usual plan of arrangement, for instead of placing the 
various groups in continuous order, they were arranged 
for effect, and the whole was thus made to subserve the 
grand purpose of making a brilliant display. This is the 
plan adopted on the Continent, but there the judging 
takes place on the previous day, and it involves an 
immense amount of labour on the part of the judges to 
ffet through their work before the great crowd of visitors 
come. This was intended to have been the first of a 
grand series of Exhibitions. Alas ! for the present all is 
j)ut a stop to; and although the Directors, with true 
English pluck, have determined on the rebuilding, yet 
for the present year at least we shall miss the grand 
Exhibitions they had intended to have held. 
THE USE OF PALMS FOR TABLE 
DECORATIONS. 
A GREAT deal has been said of late on the desirableness 
of using plants for table decorations, and of the value of 
Palms for that purpose ; and in the exhibition for prizes 
which have been offered for this end, they have been 
largely shown. AUe question, however, whether this is a 
step in the right direction. In the first place, the eye 
soon wearies of looking at one object for a couple of 
hours, whereas a tastefully arranged stand of cut flowers, 
with its charming variety of form and colour-, does not 
weary; and then, if plants are to be used, there is a 
stiffness about these in their young growth which mili- 
tates against their use. They are by no means so grace- 
ful as ferns, and these are now so numerous, so varied in 
form and character, that the choice of kinds suitable for 
this purpose is very great. For the decoration of large 
rooms, halls, entrances, &e., the palms are invaluable; 
but we do not feel inclined to give them a place on the 
dinner table. 
LEE’S VICTORIA REGINA VIOLET. 
This very fine violet, which was exhibited at one of the 
meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, promises 
j to be a valuable addition to our large-flowered single 
j violets of the Czar” type, of which it is a seedling. 
The flowers measure sometimes I^ inch in diameter, 
and it is very sweet scented. It may also be the pre- 
cursor of other flowers of a similar character ; at any rate 
it will be prized, we think, by all who delight in this 
1 fragrant spring flower. 
THE REAIOA' AL OF LARGE CYCADS. 
The following notice, of interest to all who value these 
ornamental plants, appears in the Gardener’s Chronicle : 
“ The following note, received from Baron Ferd. von 
Mueller, the Director of the Melbourne Botanic Garden, 
as to the possibility of moving large Cycads, will be read 
with great interest. The Baron’s success in removing 
and forwarding huge Tree Ferns is now suppleinen^^ed by 
his good fortune with C}cads. In these days, when 
people’s palaces aT’gment, and the winter gardens of the 
wealthy multiply, the introduction of these noble plants 
becomes more and more imjiortant. 
“ ‘ It may interest some of your readers to know that 
I have proved the possibility of moving from distant 
localities very aged Cycad trunks, deprived of their leaves, 
and without any earth being left with their roots. Many 
months ago I succeeded in getting, from North Queens- 
land, a stem of Cycas angulata about forty years old, which 
was sent as mere dead wood, like ordinary merchandize. 
The stem was more than a month out of the ground be- 
fore it arrived here; it was planted in the centre bed of 
the Palm-house, and is now just pushing forth its foliage. 
All the Cycadese are of very slow growth ; to obtain a 
tall stately plant of any species would require many years’ 
cultivation. This tedious process is now rendered unne- 
cessary (as in the case of Fern trees) by shipping from 
native localities aged stems. For long sea voyoges the 
trunks should be packed in cases, to prevent injury; thus 
the Indian and Chinese species would be rendered easily 
available in a fully developed state, although they do 
not attain the great height of one of the North-East 
Australian kinds. I have had large specimens of Natal 
j Zamias dormant for four years, and yet after applying 
bottom-heat they started into growth. 
I “ ‘ Ferd. von Mueller.’ ” 
Snsfficrs to (Eorresponhents. 
T. N. — Yes, we are surprised that the herbaceous Calceolaria is not 
more grown than it is; its treatment is not difficult, and its variety of 
colouring is charming. No more effective display can be made than a 
large number of these plants in flower in a greenhouse. There is no oc- 
casion to try and preserve the plant ; but save seed, and sow every year. 
i*'. S. — We have seen a pink-flowered Uloire de Dijon Rose, but we 
do not think it will be verj’ valuable. 
R. W. S. — There are no stands for the dinner-table that we prefer to 
that which is called the March stand. 
