THE METROPOLITAN JUNE EXHIBITIONS. W' 
THE METROPOLITAN JUNE EXHIBITIONS. 
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7JIHIS has been a busy month, and exhibitions teemed so rapidly upon us that our note book is more 
1\ than full. To give, however, a full detailed account of each gathering would be to fill our pages 
with this one subject ; we must, therefore, rest satisfied with " culling," in reality, " a few flowers " from 
each collection, and noting other things which may rank more as curiosities. To add another charm 
to the floral wreath of June, the American Exhibitions at the Regent's Park Garden, and likewise at 
Chiswick, have lent their aid, and what with the gay flowers in the tents and the American plants, 
such June exhibitions were never before seen. The American plants at Chiswick were supplied 
entirely by Mr. Hosea Waterer, of Knap Hill, whose resources in that way are known to be almost 
boundless, and well has he performed his task, for some of the plants are not only matchless as to size, 
but they are profusely rich in blossom, and the colour of the same character. The arrangement which 
is in the New E.ock Garden, though pretty, is not effective ; it is frittered too much into parts, and in 
no one place can you get an expansive or enlarged view of the whole, indeed it reminds one of the old 
nursery story : — « 
" The banks are so steep, and the "walks are so narrow, 
One can scarcely get along with a wheelbarrow." 
The awning which covers this garden is of the most paltry description, and, after the exhibition, on 
June 7th, was blown down, doing considerable injury to the plants. It was erected upon the "penny 
wise and pound foolish " plan. We learn, however, from the Gardener's Chronicle, that the fault 
rests entirely with the late Secretary, and if such is the case, it is a fortunate thing he has been 
removed. 
At the Regent's Park the contributors to the exhibition are the Bagshot Nurserymen, Mr. John 
Waterer, Messrs. Standish and Noble, and Mr. Baker, and as each has brought a quantity of his own 
seedlings, of course there is more variety, and the tout ensemble is consequently more imposing. The 
arrangement has been slightly altered since last year, and we think improved, for though the boundary 
is more distinctly marked, a breadth of feature has been imparted which is very desirable and impos- 
ing. In these days of scenic effects and panoramic views, how far might the scene-painter's art be 
brought to act upon the sides of the tents ? and what would be the effect of either of these exhibitions 
illuminated by night ? In colour, the American plants are right for artificial light, and we imagine " a 
feast of flowers" as well as lanterns, would be an imposing and attractive sight. The other night we saw, 
in the Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, a slight sample of an illuminated exhibition, which was so effective that 
we should like to see one upon a larger scale. The colours of some of the high-coloured flowers, as 
Pelargoniums, Heaths, Clerodendrons, were very rich, but the yellows were as might have been 
expected, very poor. It is possible that by using coloured lights, each plant might be made to assert 
its own influence. We believe it is the intention of the proprietor to try the experiment of a night 
exhibition, and if only for the purpose of rendering flowers still more attractive, we wish them every 
success. 
To return to the legitimate exhibitions, doubtless the most remarkable and interesting, because an 
unusual feature, was the magnificent'collection of Pitcher plants, Nepenthes, and Sarracenias, from the 
nursery of Messrs. Veitch & Son of Exeter. These plants varied in height, from the close-growing 
Cephalotus follicularis, like a nest of young birds, to some of the specimens of Nepenthes Rafflesiana, 
which were six feet high, and bearing at the extremity of each leaf a pitcher, which would hold nearly 
a pint of fluid. Among the thirty-two plants produced, we noticed the following, N. Phyllamphora, 
sanguinea, anipullacea, and a variety, kevis and distillatoria ; Sarracenia variolaris, flava, Druni- 
mondii, purpurea, and a new species. The effect of this group was really most imposing, and was the 
observed of all observers, not only as being a new feature, but also as exemplifying very superior 
management. It also gives us a foretaste of what may be expected from collections of plants artis- 
tically arranged, for we feel convinced the time is coming when the monotony of the present formal 
arrangements must be broken up and diversified, and when plants remarkable for their foliage and 
elegance of growth will be brought into competition. Such plants as low-growing Palms, Musas, 
Ferns of all kinds, Orchids, Crotons, Dracenas, Hedychiums, Ingas, Astrapasas, Browneas, and perhaps 
even the Amherstia itself, with hundreds of other plants which might be named, not forgetting the 
Musas and Cacti, would form a group with which all would be pleased, and which would impart an 
entirely new feature to the exhibitions. At the present time, to those who, like ourselves, have 
served several apprenticeships in these matters some change is needed, for grand and matchless as rp 
the various collections and individual specimens are, there is too much sameness in then' appearance, |f» 
Wl and the want of variety is becoming yearly more manifest. Take, for example, Mrs. Lawrence's or m^ 
