1 
s^»^_ 
THE METROPOLITAN JULY EXHIBITIONS. 
I 
not been brought to bear upon the subject, but we were told on the day that he could have shown 
three hundred pots in full bloom, and we believe his flowers at the present time are in splendid condi- 
tion, and will well repay a visit to Slough. The days of showing florists' flowers in a cut state, at least 
at the leading exhibitions, are now numbered ; and consequently floriculture may be said to have been 
raised a step in the scale of cultivation. The prizes offered in our last volume for the best twelve 
Picotees were awarded respectively to C. P. Lochner, Esq., of Paddington, and J. W. Newhall, Esq., 
of Woolwich. The contributors in the Nurserymen's class were Mr. N. Norman of Woolwich, Mr. 
Bragg of Slough, and Mr. Wilmer of Sunbury. John Edwards, Esq., also sent Carnations and Picotees, 
but not for competition. Other florists' flowers consisted of Pelargoniums, of which a nice group (not 
for competition) was sent to Chiswick by Mr. Turner, and Mr. Gaines had good plants of both kinds. 
Two very interesting and remarkable groups were, the variegated plants from Messrs. Henderson 
and Messrs. Lee of Hammersmith. Mr. Ivison, gardener to the Dowager Duchess of Northumberland, 
sent a picturesque group of rare and singular plants, and Messrs. Veitch had their matchless collection 
of Pitcher Plants, which improve upon acquaintance. We were vexed however to learn that, by a very 
stupid rule, which precludes the rewarding of the same plants twice in the same season, no prize was 
awarded to them, but 
we should hope the Ex- 
hibition Committee will 
not fail to reward 
Messrs. Veitch for their 
trouble in taking them. 
In the same class we 
may mention Messrs. 
Standish and Noble's 
new evergreens, which 
are really very fine 
things. The indispen- 
sability of infusing new 
blood into these exhibi- 
tions becomes more ap- 
parent, and, in prepar- 
ing their schedule for 
1852, we hope the ma- 
nagers of both societies 
will not forget the ar- 
tistic group alluded to 
in our last number : — 
for a change, mclo-cacti 
might be introduced in July with considerable effect. 
Among miscellaneous collections the prevailing plants were, as they always arc in July, 
Allamandas and Kalosantheses, and of both some most remarkable plants were shown. The large 
collections were rich and fresh for July. Mrs. LawTence maintained her position at the Park, though 
witli considerable difficulty; but at Chiswick Mr. Colyer's plants were placed first. Both collections 
contained plants of wondrous beauty, the ferruginous Heath from Mr. Cole, and the Java Ixorn in 
Mr. May's collection, being masterpieces of cultivation. Scarcely less remarkable was Mr. Cole's 
Ixora alba, a neat bush completely sheeted with flowers; and he had a richly-bloomed plant of 
Dipladenia splcndcns. Such plants do one good to see them, and they appeared to strike foreigners 
with amazement. Messrs. Fraser, Mr. Green, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Speed (a new exhibitor of unmistake- 
able promise), and Mr. Croxford, each produced some admirable plants. Orchids were less numerous 
than at preceding shows, and perhaps not quite so rich, but they were gorgeously beautiful. Certain 
kinds, however, like certain plants in other collections, as the lovely l'haheiiopsis for instance, begin 
■et common. As a matter of course, Mr. Rucker's plants were first at both places j indeed liis 
■Hon is so rich in fine specimens of the most rare kinds, thai it appears almost impossible to over- 
In his collection we noticed the noble "tree"ot Vanda Batemanni with two spikes of 
bloom, mid the most admirable plant of Dendrobium formosum it is possible to conceive. It is 
represented by the annexed engraving : and when we Bay it was clothed with more than one hundred 
of lis pure white and orange tinted flowers, some idea may lie formed of its beauty. Orchid growing 
such as this, is indeed matchless. 
DKNDltOUU'M t'OUMOSUM.* 
tc 
eolk 
take him. 
g 
