May 29.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
123 
among the growers, and we can state positively that 
their specimens were certainly not ready to make any 
kind of creditable appearance. Had they been as for¬ 
ward on the third as they were on the fourteenth, when 
they were not even then fully blown, they would have 
been at Chiswick. 
We are quite aware that some endeavoured to have it 
inferred they were absent because the prizes were not so 
good as they wished, in the hope of moving the executive to 
more liberal encouragement; but the truth is, their plants 
; were not fit to be seen. 
People are now as much opposed to any removal of 
The Crystal Palace, when done with, as they were at 
j one time to its erection in the park, and schemers are at 
work already for suggestions as to its future appropria- 
| tion. We have never had more than one opinion—It 
; originated with a gardener, and it should be made a 
garden; not of a costly description, because that is un¬ 
necessary, hut it should be laid out in walks, clumps of 
shrubs and trees, and beds of flowers. It should be a 
promenade for winter, and should he open to all classes 
freely as the open park. Hundreds of interesting plants 
would thrive under glass without artificial heat, which 
would involve, perhaps, more cost than it is desirable to 
incur. And what if it cost the country a few thousands 
a year for labour ? The money would not go out of the 
kingdom, and it would he employment for so many 
more labourers in the English vineyard. Specimens of 
very choice plants would thrive there, and half-hardy 
plants would flourish there. But suppose it were even 
necessary to give artificial heat, who would begrudge 
the cost when it was to provide amusement for the 
million ? And who has a greater right to he considered 
than the million ? 
Mr. Hume, who has laboured often in behalf of amuse¬ 
ment for the people, would be delighted at the appropriation 
of a reasonable sum to provide so rational a means of giving 
enjoyment to the poor as well as the rich. The parks have 
always been a stain upon the English taste ; it is time that 
they were examples of English landscape gardening instead 
! of what they have been, and still are—beautiful plots of 
I ground, ill planted, and ill kept. We hope the gardeners 
| will speak out; we hope the mind that planned the palace 
! will be directed to its appropriation as a winter garden. 
A discussion has arisen among the learned cultivators 
! of Pinks and Carnations upon the fact that in “ The 
Properties of Flowers and Plantsit is said there should 
he six guard petals, whereas the knowing ones say it is 
i unnatural, and against the nature of the flower, which 
has only five. Upon this question we need only quote 
the actions of the learned disputants, for whenever they 
can find a sixth petal large enough to drag down into 
the lower circle, they do so; and why? because 3ix 
petals make a better approach to a circle than five do. 
They thus stultify their own argument, and supply from 
the other petals what should be produced by the flower 
itself. 
We all know the Polyanthus has five divisions on the petal 
naturally, but that it does come with six, and when so, the 
flower is greatly superior to the flower with only five, because 
it approaches the scollopped circle closer. It is not pre¬ 
tended in the “ Properties of Flowers” that the models laid 
down should be natural; it is the very essence of floriculture 
to produce things far removed from their natural state, and, 
in many cases, the best flowers are the furthest removed 
from their original form and texture. 
The Highbury and North London Horticultural Show 
took place on the 15th, in the grounds behind the 
Crescent, and a more complete exhibition was never 
witnessed. An immense tent, of elegant proportions, 
was furnished with a centre and two side tables, the full 
length, on which some of the finest specimens that have 
been shown this season were placed. The grass was 
matted, so that it was like walking in a drawing room. 
The plants were quite worthy of the preparation for them. 
Mr. Cole, gardener to Mr. Collyer, of Dartford, especially dis¬ 
tinguished himself, for better grown plants were never shown. 
Mr. Frazer also contributed largely. The amateurs of the 
neighbourhood evinced taste and skill. Mr. Bragg, of Slough, 
showed the best Pansies we have seen this season; large, 
well-grown, and well-chosen. The only seedling we observed 
worth notice was a Cineraria, a purple self, not an enticing 
colour, slightly cupped, and, therefore, the petals more 
closed than they would be if they came flat; it had a first 
seedling prize, but hundreds as good have been passed over 
this season. It was raised by Mr. Lockner, an amateur, 
self-sown in one of the named pots. The Boses in 2>ots were 
grand. Messrs. Paul, of Cheshunt, exhibited a collection— 
perfect models; Mr. Francis, of Hertford, showed some not 
for competition. A variety of cucumber called Huntley’s 
improved was exhibited in great style ; one on the plant in 
in a pot, others cut. One must have been thirty inches long 
we think, and for such large fruit handsome. Upon the 
whole this exhibition was so complete that it was Chiswick 
in miniature. 
The Royal Botanical Society's Show, in Regent’s ! 
Park, on the 14th, was attended by, according to their j 
own estimate, five thousand persons. It was, in the 
distinguishing features, much the same as that at Chis¬ 
wick; the plants, however, in many respects, were better 
flowered, being ten days forwarder. 
In the seedling way there was not much that we had not 
already seen. Hoyle’s Magnet, Pelargonium, of which we 
have already favourably spoken, confirms our former opinion. 
It will be a very useful flower in collection on account of its 
novel colour. 
At the Shacklewell Dahlia Show no less than twelve 
prizes are to he given for new flowers; no had specula¬ 
tion for dealers who subscribe a pound each ; and if 
they can only induce people to order two of their flowers, 
out of forty-five which are eligible to be shown, it will 
answer their purpose. The objection made in floral 
circles is, that the party who has half-a-score new 
flowers eligible pays no more than the man who has 
but one. It is, however, the only way to force new 
flowers upon the world, and will ^be adopted on a larger 
scale. Of the forty-five new flowers let out by the sub¬ 
scribers there are few so good as those we already 
possess. 
There is a talk at some of the floral societies of striking 
at the root of that evil which every florist feels, the sale of 
worthless novelties, by excluding new flowers from stands, 
and only allowing them to he shown in class by themselves. 
It would improve the quality of the stands, and retain many 
flowers which are too often thrown aside for worse novelties. 
What new Dahlia will beat The Marchioness of Cornwallis, 
Princess Badzeville, Duke of Wellington, Sir F. Bathurst, 
Standard of Perfection, Scarlet Gem, Yellow Standard, Queen 
of the East, and such like? Constancy of bloom carries 
everything, because a flower can always be cut, but we gain 
nothing in quality. Sir F. Bathurst, of last year, was the 
only real advance; others there were which came up tolerably 
well, but nothing like a model of our best present ones. 
