184 
THE FLORIST. 
managed this by interposing a canvas screen between the plants and the 
glass roof, sufficiently high not to attract attention, and affording a suitable 
shade and relief to the flowers, the effect of which is further increased by 
a green screen running down the centre of the long tables in the nave, on 
which the Pelargoniums, Azaleas, &c., were staged; this afforded a good 
back ground for the flowers, and considerably heightened their effect. 
Besides these improvements, the stages in the nave were kept further from 
the central groups in the transept, and allowed more room for the visitors 
to inspect the different productions without being inconveniently crowded. 
We took a careful look at the exhibition before the public was admitted ; 
and, considering that only a partial arrangement for effectiveness can 
be carried out, owing to the necessity of keeping certain classes together, 
for the purpose of comparison, Mr. Eyles had succeeded in placing the 
most conspicuous colours at the best points for effect. For instance, we 
may refer to the grouping round the circular stage under the grand tran¬ 
sept, where the warm rich colours of the Chinese Azaleas told with 
admirable effect, contrasted with the more sombre shades found among 
the miscellaneous plants. 
Taken as an exhibition of horticultural skill, we may term it a very 
successful one. We have seen more Orchids, and, perhaps, larger 
Azaleas than some were in the Azalea classes; but there was an absence 
of everything at all inferior, and some individual specimens in the mis¬ 
cellaneous collections were most superb. Then, again, Pelargoniums 
certainly had never been seen so good before, and a group of seedling 
Pelargoniums presented novel shades of colour combined with exquisite 
form and large size, exhibiting altogether a marked advance in this 
popular tribe of plants. The same may be also stated in reference to 
new Chinese Azaleas, three or four new ones being remarkable for a 
delicacy of colouring and perfection of form greatly superior to the older 
varieties. As regards this tribe, those of best form, or having the most 
regular-shaped flowers, are the original species—.Lateritia, variegata and 
Gledstanesi; and it is only very recently that anything equal in form to 
these have been produced, a point which must now be conceded to 
Model, Standard of Perfection, Roi Leopold, Rosy Circle, Sir Charles 
Napier, and a few others. * 
We noticed a variety of the amoena class called obtusa, a brilliant orange 
scarlet, with very small petals, but which will make a very desirable 
plant for decorative purposes, and also for the hybridist. In hardy 
shrubs, Mr. Yeitch had the rare Libocedrus tetragona, a Conifer 
growing to a large tree, with foliage closely resembling a Lycopod. 
Viburnum plicatum, though better known, is to be one of our gayest 
hardy shrubs. 
The fruit was of a fair average quality ; there were certainly no very 
remarkable exhibitions, but there was a general uniformity without any¬ 
thing inferior. The long continued dull weather may perhaps account for 
this, and disease in some quarters has made havoc. British Queens 
and Keens’ Seedling Strawberries still maintain their supremacy as the 
best kinds; Sir C. Napier is handsome, but not so well-flavoured. 
There was a fine-looking Melon called Bousie’s Incomparable, though 
we understood it was too over-ripe to obtain more than a third prize. 
