1870. ] 
NOVELTIES, ETC., AT FLOWER SHOWS. 
141 
from the same exhibitor also received First-Class Certificates :— Monarchy Selina, 
and Black Prince, all three having the ground-colour of a rich, dark mulberiy, 
and forming good additions to these beautiful flowers. Clipper and Etna^ two 
striking flowers, received Second-Class Certificates. 
A white-edged Variegated Pelargonium, named Avalanche^ from Mr. William 
Paul, a good companion to Waltham Bride, with the flowers perhaps a little whiter, 
received a First-Class Certificate. Both of these are new silver-edged varieties, of 
dwarf, bushy habit, and produce numerous trusses of white flowers, so that 
whether allowed to bloom or denuded of their flowers, a good surface of white 
will be presented. Another of Mr. C. Noble’s early-blooming race of Clematis, 
named Lord Londeshorougli, received a First-Class Certificate. The flowers have 
a deep blue ground-colour, banded with bronzy-red; and have, in common with 
the several varieties of this strain, a somewhat slender but very free-blooming 
habit. Viola lutea major, from Mr. Robert Parker, of Tooting, the finest form 
of V. lutea grandiflora yet seen, received a First-Class Certificate ; the flowers 
are of a deep yellow hue, large, and very freely produced. Peseda odorata 
eximia, shown by Mr. F. Parsons, of Brighton, a large-flowered Mignonette, the 
individual blooms of which are of great size, received a First-Class Certificate 
also. This is a fine variety for pot-culture, and the flowers are highly fragrant. 
The bi-monthly meeting of the Society, held on May 18th, had as its leading 
feature Ericas and Pelargoniums. There were a good many plants of the former, 
and, as a general rule, the smallest were the best flowered. The most effective 
kinds were Erica magnijica, grandiflora, and coccinea minor^ all varieties of E. 
ventricosa; E. Lindleyana^ mutahilis, Victorias, Candolleana, eximia superha, 
and aristata superha. Show Pelargoniums were pretty good, but the six Fancy 
varieties shown by Mr. Windsor, gardener to J. R. Ravenhall, Esq., were perhaps 
some of the best ever seen, being large in size, and superbly grown and bloomed. 
The varieties were Mrs. Ford, Lady Craven, Madame Sainton Dolby, Godfrey 
Turner, Roi des Fantaisies, and Ellen Beck. Generally, the Zonal Pelargoniums 
were even grotesquely-trained plants, tied down as flat as possible to wire 
trellises, and at the highest point not more than 10 in. or 12 in. above the pots. 
Such a style of training is but a burlesque of plant cultivation, and deserves 
condemnation. Very different indeed was a group of Clematises from Mr. C. 
Noble, Bagshot, most superbly bloomed ; and a very fine strain of dwarf 
Ilerhaceous Calceolarias., from Mr. James, Isleworth. There was also a fine lot 
of cut Tulips., from Mr. C. Turner, Slough. 
A brilliant-coloured Azalea., named Poi d'Ilollande., from Mr. C. Turner, 
received a First-Class Certificate. The flowers were of a rich salmon-scarlet hue, 
stout, and of good form, and freely produced. The double-flowered Hydrangea 
stellata flore-pleno., from Messrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, was awarded a First-^ 
Class Certificate ; the plant was small, and the flowers of a pale pink hue, 
and very pretty. Two capital Alders, good additions to these useful hardy 
