EEBRUARY. 
43 
have purses, perhaps, corresponding thereto—amateurs who, in their 
little boats, keep nearer shore—and editors of gardening periodicals, 
sharply on the look-out for some pabulum for their next number ; a 
goodly medley, and yet, from that very circumstance, the most suitable 
court of appeal. Were all nurserymen and growers for sale, it could 
not but be that there would be the same sort of collusion that ruined the 
National Floricultural Society ; and were all amateurs, it would be more 
likely that they would pass encomiums on some flowers which had 
already been out in the trade, and so injury be done ; but men of long 
experience in business wall at once say whether a thing is so or not. 
A case occurred at this very meeting, when that lovely Thibaudia was 
placed on the table; the exclamation of every amateur would be at 
once to honour it; but then came the cautious question, has it ever 
been let out? And though it was ultimately decided in its favour, yet 
the question being started shows the value of such a counterpoise. 
These members, be it observed, are not necessarily Fellows of the Hor¬ 
ticultural Society, the Couucil having thought it wise to obtain what 
aid they could from those who knew the science, whoever they were. 
In fact, I believe seventeen out of the thirty, exclusive of President, &c., 
alone are entitled to add F.R.H.S. to their name. Thus seated around 
their table, the Chairman announces that the proceedings are to 
commence, the minutes of the last meeting are read, and now the 
members look round to see what is to be brought on the tapis first. 
Alas! on an unlucky day (nay, we must not call it so) last summer, 
the Committee had met at Chiswick, and there had an inspection of 
various things sent in to them to test the merits of, and the Secretary 
announces that he has a long paper to read on the merits of Stocks, 
Heliotropes, &c., very ably drawn up, and likely to be very useful; but 
whoever can exhibit any degree of patience under the reading of a 
report, be it religious, political, or floricultural, especially when you 
know you are about to read it in print in a short time ? The first object 
for exhibition is now placed on the table; incontinently one of the 
members takes up his hat and walks out of the room. Have any of his 
co-censors insulted him ? Is the plant produced of so contemptible a 
character that he can only express his disgust by this summary mode 
of proceeding ? No such thing ; the plant produced is his own child, 
and by the rules of the Committee he is not allowed to remain while 
its merits or demerits, as the case may be, are discussed. In the case 
of plants forwarded from a distance, a detailed account of them is 
expected At the meeting on the 13th ult., an interesting discussion 
arose as to the Erect Yew, forwarded by Mr. Crowder, of Horn- 
castle, it being by some considered very similar to others already in 
cultivation. However, the previous award of the Committee was con¬ 
firmed. By the Messrs. Veitch & Co. was exhibited a specimen of 
I'hibaudia macrantha, a most lovely but comparatively little known 
greenhouseshr;^, producing clusters of large handsome pendant blos¬ 
soms, three or icur in a bunch, from the woody part of the branches. 
Each flower is about two inches in length and an inch in diameter, 
angular, narrowed at the base and point of the flovver; the general 
colour white, with beautiful wavy lines of mauve or rosy red colour. 
