MAY. 
145 
an axis of co’our up the centre of the room which would ha^e added 
materially to the harmony of the display, more particularly under the roof 
of an arched room; and the side tables would have looked equally 
well with the smaller plants ranged on their front. But while we make 
these observations, we are perfectly aware that under present arrange¬ 
ments anything approaching even to a correct grouping is impossible ; 
the late hour at which plants are received for exhibiting barely allows 
time for setting them up before the censors have to pronounce their 
scrutiny. Without going so far as the continental practice, where 
plants are judged first and arranged afterwards, under the direction of 
the manager, we think an improvement on the present system might be 
made by every exhibitor placing a private mark on his plants, so as to 
allow the manager of the exhibition, after the censors have looked over 
them, to carry out any alteration in their arrangement that would 
increase the general effectiveness of the exhibition as a whole, if thought 
desirable. We may add that the drawing up of the schedules for the 
jurors, whereby the awards and amounts are at once entered, saves 
much time and trouble, and we commend Mr. M‘Ewen’s system to the 
authorities of other exhibitions. 
A friend, in whose judgment and good taste w r e have every confidence, 
sends us the following :—“ Clianthus Dampieri deviates more from any 
of the more familiar plants than anything besides in this exhibition of 
novelties. The dead rich scarlet blossom is blotched with a jet black 
boss, which it is quite impossible to describe by words.” The double¬ 
flowering Peaches, from China, had a beautiful effect, their gay blossoms 
rivalling and even surpassing the Oleander, the tender green leaves 
only half developed, when the flowers are in all their glory, so peculiarly 
characteristic of Chinese flowers, remind one of the Chinese paper with 
which it was once the fashion to paper drawing-rooms, and which yet 
remains in some old mansions. We have heard the remark that those 
must be “fancy flowers” which the Chinese painters had invented; and 
so it was said of the Tree Paeony, Magnolia, and other unusual forms in 
their Flora, which we have seen delicately pencilled on priceless porce¬ 
lain. The Chinese, however, are patient and faithful copyists of nature, 
and many of their wonderful enamels are botanically correct in drawing, 
and exquisitely correct in colouring. The warm colour of the gorgeous 
Azaleas and some of the Cinerarias most effectively harmonise with the 
delicate tinting of the walls and the various embellishments of this right 
regal room, and when viewed by night from the gallery, with the rich 
flood of light from the burners thrown on the masses of colour below, 
relieved by the glittering cressets of the roof, the scene was altogether 
enchanting, and occasioned universal expressions of admiration from 
the visitors. 
Notwithstanding the lateness of the season for Hyacinths, Tulips, and 
Narcissi, there was a fair display of these gay spring flowers. Collec¬ 
tions of them were furnished by Messrs. Cutbush, of Highgate, and 
Mr. Mackintosh, of Hammersmith. Those from the former were neatly 
arranged in Moss and were highly effective. Among the Tulips we 
noticed Yellow Prince, a pale yellow kind with a black centre, sweet- 
scented, and excellent either for pots or borders; Couleur Ponceau, 
VOL. XI., NO. CXXV. L 
