DEVON AND EXETER SOCIETY. 
305 
bergia seedling, a variety from Aiata, was a splendid specimen, it being 
perfectly white. Orcliideous plants, from Messrs. Loddiges’s, were 
extremely fine, and they also exhibited a beautiful specimen of Ron- 
deletia speciosa. The mimuluses, from the garden of the Society, were 
novelties, and attracted much notice. The general collection of balsams, 
cacti, alstromerise, &c., from the garden of Lady Antrobus, was of the 
first order. The cockscombs, from the garden of Mr. Palmer of Cheam, 
were perhaps never surpassed : the collection was much admired. The 
dahlias, from Mr. Hopwood, were also beautiful specimens. Grapes, 
peaches, pines, melons, strawberries, and other fruits, were produced in 
the greatest perfection. Mr. Wilmot’s red currants were of an extra¬ 
ordinary size. There were also numerous other specimens of fruits 
and flowers, which were much admired. Every exhibitor is required 
to sign a written document, that the articles intended for show have 
been in his possession at least four months, which is an excellent regu¬ 
lation, and ought in all such cases to be strictly adhered to. The award 
of a large silver medal for Sweet-William excited surprise, as being 
thought less worthy reward than many other things on the stages* 
which cost much more labour and expense to bring to perfection. 
Devon and Exeter botanical and horticultural society.— 
The twentieth exhibition of this society, and second for the present 
year, took place on Thursday last, at Congdon’s Subscription Rooms, 
in this city, and was magnificently rich in plants and flowers, among 
which were most elegant Fuchsias, Ericas , &c. Sec,., while it is believed 
the show of the Geraniacecz family, as well for number as transcendant 
splendour, has never been surpassed. There were also rare and singular 
plants that were objects of great curiosity, among which was a specimen 
of the Aroidea: or Arum from the grounds of Lucombe, Pince, and Co. 
the properties of which are probably not yet fully known in this 
country. In the large contributions of this firm also to this exhibition, 
was an air-plant of the Orchis tribe, the cultivation of which was not 
long since supposed to be attended with insuperable difficulties. 
Formerly, indeed, they were scarcely known to us, except from draw¬ 
ings, and the imperfect dried specimens that were brought hither, and 
so unacquainted were we with the habits of the plant that no one 
expected to preserve them beyond a few months after their importation. 
Perserverance, however, together with studious attention and increased 
knowledge, having led to the application of physiological principles, 
difficulties in this way have been so far overcome, that Mr. Pince 
showed on this day that Orchideous air-plants may be rendered common, 
and that the time may come when its beautiful flowers may diffuse their 
delicious fragrance as generally in the drawing-rooms in this country, 
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VOL. iv.—no. L. 
