NOVEMBER. 
329 
them being occupied by the simple, little white flowers of a 
Clematis, and edged with the fronds of Adiantum cuneatum—the 
effect was charming. 
The collections of stove and greenhouse plants were very good; 
one seldom sees such a specimen of Aphelandra cristata as that 
there exhibited. This is a very old and familiar plant, but still 
few people seem to appreciate it as it deserves to be; it is, as we 
there saw, capable of being made a first-rate show plant. We are 
sadly in want of variety among the plants which are exhibited 
under the title of “ stove and greenhouse.” One sees, year after 
year, the same kinds of Ixora, Allamanda, Echites, Rondeletia, 
Stephanotis, Vinca, and the like, and we shall still continue to see 
them until some new arrangement is made in the schedules of 
prizes. Why may not prizes be offered for collections containing 
the greatest number of new plants, or of old plants which are 
seldom met with ? It would give an ever-increasing interest in 
our flower shows, and nothing which can promote their popularity 
should be omitted. Plants suitable for the purpose are plentiful 
enough, but, of course, they cannot in a year or two be grown into 
such large specimens as we are accustomed to meet with, and 
novelty, rather than size, should be the point aimed at. Such soft- 
wooded, easily-grown plants as Vinca, Pentas, and such like, should 
also be excluded from first-class collections, and only such plants 
as really require skill and attention to grow, should be looked upon 
as Avorthy of receiving the highest prize. Our floral exhibitions 
have been much enhanced by the introduction of the so-called 
foliage plants. There were splendid sets of these at Brighton. 
The neAv Caladiums came out Avell, but I am inclined to think that 
the variegated Begonias do not look so bright and attractive when 
grown into immense specimens as they do when comparatively 
small and groAving quickly. 
The whole suite of apartments in the Pa\Tlion was filled with 
plants and fruits, the latter being very fine; but I Avas so much 
engrossed Avith the plants that I did not pay so much attention to 
it as I ought to have done. There were also collections of the cut 
floAA^ers of stove plants, annuals, and hardy perennials. Among the 
latter, for instance, Avere sets of Phloxes, Pentstemons, Salvias, 
and so on. I Avas Avell pleased among the Salvias, to meet with an 
old acquaintance Avhich I had not seen for many years. It was 
Salvia ianthina, a plant with a bad habit of groAvth it is true, but 
it Avould be invaluable in the hands of a careful hybridiger. 
Celosia aurea pyramidalis has already been done justice to in these 
pages; some beautiful plants of it were shoAvn by one of the 
Brighton nurserymen. There Avere also seven Fuchsias, the like 
of Avhich I never saAv exhibited in London; and on the same table 
there Avas a funny little seedling Fuchsia, it was only remarkable 
for having yelloAvish foliage, Avhich, to my thinking, gave it an 
unhealthy appearance. 
I cannot say that I am an admirer of those models of gardens 
Avhich one is almost sure to see in a provincial shoAV. Some of these 
