MAY. 
133 
of plants in such perfection, as Dr. Plant's, yet it had then (though, I 
believe, the liberality of my good friend, the Vicar of Alford, has since 
remedied that) one great defect, which I noticed at the time, a want 
of variety. It was a stage of six hundred blooming plants, in the 
highest state of perfection, any of them fit to place on an exhibition 
table, but then the same variety was repeated over and over again ; 
and thus an air of sameness was given to the stage, which considerably 
detracted from its value and beauty. At Slough, on the other hand, 
there is a very large variety; every kind nearly of known or unknown 
value is grown; and the whole are so done as to give an appearance 
of great effect and beauty. The growth of the plants, too, leaves 
nothing to desire ; the foliage is large and ample, in many instances 
entirely covering the pot, and displaying a vigour which was eminently 
characteristic of the success which seems always to attend Mr. Turner 
in whatever department he enters. They are not, however, what 
amongst growers for exhibition would be considered the thing, 
inasmuch as sometimes two or even three trusses are left on the same 
plant; and this in a strictly Auricula country would be fatal to a 
stand or pair on an exhibition table. It evidences a considerable amount 
of confidence in the vigour of his plants to enable a grower to draw 
thus upon them—a confidence which certainly, in the present instance, 
does not seem misplaced, as I never saw plants so evidently rejoicing 
in their treatment. The frame in which they are placed is a large 
two-light one, with a stage erected in it, giving successive steps 
suitable for the height of the plants. This, while an effective arrange¬ 
ment, is not by any means so much so as that adopted by Dr. Plant, 
where, the plants being ranged to the level of the eye, were all seen at 
once, and that without the need of stooping, no slight matter for those 
who feel their backs are not so pliable as they used to be a dozen years 
ago. I shall best serve the interests of the growers of the flower if I 
first give some remarks on those flowers which are either new varieties 
or were new to me, and then add some on the older varieties. 
Volunteer (Turner).—In many respects this is an advance on some 
of the older dark seifs. The petals are large and without any 
indentation, the whole appearance of the pip being flat; but it is 
deficient in both eye and paste, the former being small and of a 
watery colour, and the latter wanting solidity, not so much so as 
Oxonian certainly, but still sufficiently hlankeity to detract from 
the value of the flower. The foliage is good, and the flower 
altogether a striking stage variety, pleasing more at first sight 
than it does on closer inspection. 
Rifleman .—This is in many respects a similar flower, having the same 
excellencies as to size and shape, and the same defects as to eye 
and paste, in a stronger measure perhaps. 
No 7 'th /S/ar (Hichrnonds).—A decided acquisition. When I noticed it in 
the Florist a couple of months ago I only wrote from hearsay. 
Having now seen the flower, I can testify to its being an excel¬ 
lent variety, the colour being somewhat similar to what I remem¬ 
ber Keys’ Apollo, a bright lively blue, but a much better shaped 
