JULY. 
213 
the best of which were Janet Hope Masson, Admiral Dundas, and the 
Rev. J. Dix. There were some Fuchsias, from Chelmsford, as good, 
but no better, than existing kinds. The next meeting will take place 
July 22. 
OUR GREAT METROPOLITAN EXHIBITIONS. 
The past month has been remarkable, among other things, for the 
number and beauty of its floral exhibitions. Most of the great London 
displays of fruits and flowers have taken place since our last issue. 
Let us, therefore, now proceed to give an account of some of their more 
prominent characteristics. 
The Grand Summer Exhibition of the Horticultural Society at 
Chiswick took place on the 9th and 10th ult. The display of 
Plants and Fruits was fine and well varied ; while the exhibition of 
Garden Buildings, Implements, and Decorative Objects was very 
extensive, and added very materially to the interest and usefulness of 
the meeting, affording country gentlemen and their gardeners a rare 
opportunity of examining and judging for themselves on many objects 
not generally placed together so as to afford a fair comparison. 
The miscellaneous groups, including Orchids and fine-foliaged plants, 
were exceedingly well done, and appeared in admirable condition as to 
health and freshness of bloom. The mixed collections were principally 
shown under the old-fashioned canvas tents, and it was unanimously 
admitted, by those very competent to give an opinion, that they never 
saw exhibition plants under more favourable conditions for showing 
their bloom to advantage. A fair comparison of judging of the effect 
of this was afforded at this exhibition, as the Orchids and fine-foliaged 
plants were shown in the large conservatory, and their effect—though 
the plants themselves were superb—was not so striking as when shown 
in the tents. An exception, however, may be claimed for foliaged 
plants, of which the graceful habit of many, and the beautiful variegation 
of others, were seen perhaps to more advantage under glass than is the 
case when exhibited in tents. Many of the Fruit specimens were first- 
rate, including the Pines shown by Messrs. Bailey, Burns, and 
others. Mr. Allen showed some well swelled and coloured Hamburgh 
Grapes, which were also exhibited good by Messrs. Hill, Frost, and 
Fleming ; the latter had very fine Murray ^.nd Yiolette Hative Nec¬ 
tarines. Peaches were not remarkable. The Queen and Sir Charles 
Napier Strawberries of Mr. Smith were grand; there were also two 
other dishes of large kinds—Myatt’s Surprise and Sir Colin Campbell 
—but there is nothing out yet equal to the Queen, when grown like 
those Mr. Smith exhibits. 
The Pine-apple prize, given by Mr. Vice President Dilke, was nobly 
won by Mr. Bailey, of Shardeloes; and the same gentleman’s prize for 
a basket of Grapes, by Mr. Frost. 
Mr. Standish had a group of new Rhododendrons, some of them 
remarkable for delicacy of colouring, and others for their distinct and 
