HORTICULl'RAL, NATIONAL FLORICl'LTl'RAL, AND GARDENERS' BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 201 
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THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 17. — Mr. May, gardener to E. Goodhart, Esq., Langlcy Park, Beekcnham, Kent, sent a 
beautiful purple and white striped Phlox, called Mayii variegata; it is one of the prettiest we have 
seen of the many seedlings obtained from Phlox Drummondii crossed with other kinds ; and, if 
constant, will no doubt be an acquisition. Mr. Mackintosh, nurseryman, Maida Vale, Edgeware 
Road, furnished a small example of a white Chrysanthemum in blossom, in order to prove that this 
favourite autumnal flower may be made to bloom in the middle of summer ; it was raised from a 
cutting put in in December last, and had been grown on ^i greenhouse shelf near the glass. Mr. 
Chapman, gardener to J. B. Glegg, Esq., was awarded a Knightian medal for beautifully ripened 
Grosse Mignonne Peaches and scarlet Nectarines ; and two dozen finely swelled and highly coloured 
Elrnge Nectarines, which received a Banksian Medal, were produced by Mr. Tillyard, gardener to 
Lord Southampton, at Whittlebury. Mr. CuthiU, of Camberwell, obtained a certificate of merit for 
very fine fruit from the open ground, of his Black Prince Strawberry, a useful sort, now becoming 
pretty well known. It is certainly the earliest and most prolific of Strawberries, yielding as it does a 
constant and plentiful supply of good fruit from tliis season up to the very latest period at which 
Strawberries can be gathered out of doors. A singular circumstance connected with this variety is, 
that blossoms have been detected on some of the plants exhibiting a beautiful crimson colour. Melons 
came from Mr. Chapman, and Mr. Eekford, gardener to C. Child, Esq. The former sent two oblong 
fruit of the Sweet Melon of Cashmere, a white-fleshed sort of which little is at present known ; it is, 
however, evidently related to the Persian kinds and looked as if it would be very good. Mi'. Eekford 
had two fruit of the Bromham Hall, one not externally different from it, named Brown's Grecu-flcshcd, 
and two of the Trcntham Hybrid. It may be worthy of remark that the Bromham Hall, which last 
year bore away first prizes at all the great flower-shows, has this year as yet proved little more than 
third-rate. From the garden of the society came the scarce Brassavola Digbyana, with a broad fringed 
lip ; Cyrtochilum stellatum, having bright green healthy leaves, a rare occurrence with this plant ; 
Cyrtoccras reflexum, Pranciseea Hopeana, a profusely-flowered medium-sized bush of Pimelea decussata ; 
Dillwynia clavata, one of the handsomest of the genus ; an Epacris ; two Cape Heaths ; eight varieties 
of Achimcucs; an Everlasting; and the Chinese Indigo plant, Isatis indigotica. 
THE NATIONAL FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 12. — There was a good display of Seedling Pelargoniums on this occasion. A first-class 
certificate was awarded to Elise, a large flower, with pink under-petals, and white eye, upper petals 
maroon, edged with delicate pink. A similar award was made to Ganymede, a distinct nice-looking- 
flower with delicate pink under-petals, shaded with lilac, upper petals dark, narrowly edged with 
lilac. Also to Magnet, on account of its fine colour and profusion of bloom. The above came from 
Mr. Hoyle, of Reading. Mr. Beck, of Isleworth, received a certificate for Arethusa. a nice variety, 
with maroon top, very delicate salmon under-petals and a light eye. Incomparable, from the same 
raiser, was commended for fine colour. Purple Standard, from Mr. Foster, of Clewer, received a 
certificate ; and so did the same grower's Enchantress and Ariadne, both highly desirable sorts, more 
especially the latter. Mr. Ayres, of Blackhcath, was awarded a first-class certificate for a Fancy 
Pelargonium, named Advancer, a well-shaped very desirable flower, and certificates for Caliban, 
Miranda, and Gipsy Queen, which were pleasingly-marked nice varieties. Beauty of St. John's 
Wood, from Mr. E. G. Henderson, was commended for its colour; but in its present state it is too 
small, 'fhe same nurseryman's Queen of the Fancies was commended for tine form and general pro- 
mising appearance. Dr. Maclean had a seedling Pink called Mrs. Maclean, which was considered 
promising. Some Calceolarias were shown; but none were considered worth rewarding; a shrubby 
yellow-flowered bedding kind, from Messrs. Wood and Ingram, of Huntingdon, was very showy : but 
it was loose in habit : Wellington Hero (bright yellow), from Mr. E. (1. Henderson, was commended for 
bright colour. Mr. Turner, of Slough, bad the beautiful seedling Pausies named National. Blanche, 
Swansdown, and Eupnemia, and five Pelargoniums. Messrs. Henderson sent a nice light Fuchsia. 
GARDENERS' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. 
The anniversary dinner of this excellent institution took place on June 9th, Mr. Paxton officiating 
as chairman, supported by Mi'. Chadwick, Dr. Hummel of Si. Petersburg, Mr. Charles Dickens. 
Douglas Jerrold, many of the elite of the literary world, and upwards of one hundred and twenty 
nurserymen and gardeners from all parts of the country. Tile speeches delivered during the evening 
