206 
THE FLORIST. 
j 
Of the whole, that part of the 'water-works comprising the central 
fountain, opposite the steps to the terraces, the two temples and the 
long cascades on each side of the central walk, will be popularly 
considered the most striking. We should have liked the central jets 
(seven in number) in the fountain concentrated into one ; but not¬ 
withstanding this, this series is exceedingly well adapted to the style of 
gardening, and has been admirably carried out. Had the designs been 
confined to this and the terrace fountains, a more continuous display 
could have been supplied, which, to our minds, would have gone far 
towards compensating for the loss of the gigantic works at the lower 
basins; and possibly might have prevented the Palace from being dis¬ 
figured by the water towers on each wing. In the building itself the only 
part which looks out of character is the square elevations at the lower 
or southern extremity of each wing, which certainly do not harmonise 
with the transepts, and reminds one of the worst features of the Hyde 
Park Palace. 
The Rose Temple (!) is as ugly as ever; and we were told the Roses, 
&C.,, refuse to grow and cover the so-called temple. It were well if it 
could be covered at any cost, or buried, which would be better still. 
G. F. 
THE ROYAL AND NATIONAL TULIP SOCIETY. 
The ninth annual meeting of this Society was held at the Botanic 
Gardens, Manchester, on Friday, May 29. The Exhibition was much 
too late for the Southern growers, yet there was a large number of blooms 
staged, including some beautifully marked flowers, but the majority of 
the blooms were certainly below the average size. Purity, form, and 
marking, all agree to be most essential points; but below a certain size 
there is nothing noble about them. The stand that obtained the second 
prize in twelve blooms we would not have placed at all—they were too 
small to notice. 
There w^ere but few stands exhibited but what could have been 
greatly improved with better arrangement of colours, and placing the 
largest blooms at the back instead of the front, as many did on this 
occasion. 
In new or but little known flowers we observed Slater’s Masterpiece, 
a pure and finely-marked flamed bizarre of excellent form ; Groom’s 
Mr. Perkins, a strongly flamed flower is very fine in shape; also Peter 
Ralt and Groom’s Omar Pacha, of the same class. Sir J. Paxton, 
and Willison’s King were fine as feathered bizarres. In bybloemens, 
Willison’s Gem of Gems, Byzantium, and Coupe d’ Hebe were fine, 
feathered. Ftamed bybloemens, Walker’s Duchess of Sutherland and 
Nepaulese Prince were conspicuous. Roses consisted of Sarah Headley, 
very fine ; Vicar of Radford, alias Fanny Ceiito, and Aglaia, feathered 
Fanny Elsler, Rose Celestial, and Lachisis were very good flamed kinds. 
These were staged for competition. 
Twelve collections each of 12 blooms, 26 of six blooms—of which 
one half were rectified and the remainder in the breeder state—and 
