July 14. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
283 
exhibitions. Notwithstanding we have had lately boun¬ 
tiful showers of rain, the 20th was quite a fine day, 
and, being the last exhibition of the season, the com¬ 
pany was quite as numerous as on former occasions. 
Like my friend, Mr. Beaton, at Chiswick, I was favoured 
with a privilege ticket, which gives a good opportunity 
of seeing the numerous objects exhibited quietly, and 
i of studying them to great advantage. This privilege 
j did more for me than for my friend, lor it gave me the 
j opportunity of seeing my gracious Sovereign the Queen, 
her Royal Husband, and their suite. Her Majesty 
looked remarkably well, and appeared highly to enjoy 
the sight of the beautiful flowers and fruits. It is well 
known the Royal family visit the exhibition before the 
ordinary visitors arc admitted, and thus have a better 
opportunity of examining, without hurry or confusion, 
the various productions put upon the tables. 
The exhibition was above the average. There were 
plenty of plants in good condition. The cut Roses 
were very fine indeed, and the fruit excellent. 
New Plants were scarce. The very pretty PhUesia 
buxifolia, which so pleased Mr. Beaton, at Chiswick, was 
here also, with seven or eight of its large crimson 
flowers upon it. Close beside it was a little pigmy 
plant of it, not more than four inches high, with one 
line flower upon it. I was told it was brought to show 
how freely it blooms, even on the tiniest plants. Messrs. 
Veitch also exhibited a new hardy Rhododendron, named 
Dug de Brabant, with several large heads of flowers; 
ground colour pale flesh, with numerous spots of brown¬ 
ish-crimson ; large size, and well formed. As this is 
quite hardy, and flowers so late, it is a good addition to 
this showy class of hardy evergreen flowering shrubs. 
The same firm sent a good new Ixora, named Lobbii, 
of a dwarf habit, with a large open cyme of orange- 
scarlet blossoms, very showy, and quite distinct from 
any other species. The nearest to it is I. Grifiithii, 
but it is more dwarf than that fine species, and of 
brighter colour. The leaves are fully six inches long, 
and of a rich dark green. Messrs. Henderson had a 
neat specimen of Stylidium scandens, grown as a low 
bush ; the flowers are produced in heads at the ends of 
the shoots, and are of a pleasing purplish-lilac colour. 
1 think it the prettiest of its race. There was also a 
new species, or perhaps a variety only, of Blandfordia, 
a genus of showy greenhouse evergreen perennials, 
from New Holland. It had several spikes of bell- 
shaped flowers of a beautiful sulphur colour, and is 
certainly very elegant. It came from Mr. Hume, 
gardener to R. Hanbury, Esq., of The Boles, near 
Ware. 
In the class, Plants or Economical Interest, there 
was the Lagetta lintearia (the Lace Bark Tree), from 
\ Jamaica; and also a plant of the species that produces 
i the wholesome Arrow-root, Maranta arundinacea. These 
came from Sion House, Isleworth, and were very in- 
| teresting. 
New Florists’ Flowers were numerous, and some 
of first-rate quality. In Pelargoniums, there was one 
that obtained a medal of merit; it is named Cloth of 
Gold, and was raised by Mr. Foster. The lower petals 
glowing crimson; upper petals nearly black, with a 
clear margin of carmine; form excellent; truss large, 
and a free bloomer. Lucy: lower petal blush-rose; 
upper, dark blotch, edged with rose; large white eye; 
form and habit good. King of Hanover: remarkable 
for the lower petals being striped with crimson. Nil 
desperandum: a good variety in the way of optimum, but 
a shade or two lighter. Conqueror: dark scarlet, with 
maroon blotch; good form and babit. In Fancy Pelar¬ 
goniums was Cloth of Silver. This is a great improve- 
I ment upon the light varieties. The flowers are large; 
j lower petals pure white, upper petals the same, with 
; a distinct circle of rosy-lilac; form good; a beautiful, 
good, and distinct variety. Crystal Beauty, one of the 
best-formed flowers of its class ; colours well defined. 
Seedling Fuchsia, Magnifica, a large flower, wcll- 
reflexed; petals light scarlet; corolla blight purple; a 
noble flower. 
Verbena, Elegantissima. —This is quite a gem ; colour 
a rich deep purple, well contrasted with a large, pure 
white eye It must bo an universal favourite. 
Pinks. —New good varieties were Cardinal, ground 
pure white; dark heavy lacing; form excellent; full 
size. Napoleon, ground pure white; lacing nearly 
black ; a good flower, but rather thin. Purple Perfec¬ 
tion, ground white; lacing very broad, of a rich purple 
colour; form good. 
There was also a seedling Calceolaria for bedding 
purposes, of good quality, and of a rich crimson colour, 
and yellow hood, very numerously bloomed ; 
Also, one named Crimson King, much deeper in colour 
than Sultan. 
Collections. — Pelargoniums were in excellent bloom; 
the dark weather, no doubt, having assisted greatly in 
keeping them so fresh. The following I noted as being 
good varieties, in addition to those noted on a former 
occasion : 
Dark. — Dobsonii (very fine), Diadem, Pacha, Mar- 
ginata, Flying Dutchman. 
Light. — Electra, Exhibitor, Maul of Perth, Gany¬ 
mede, Elise. 
Purple. — Lord Gough. 
Rose. — Ariadne, Enchantress, Vulcan. 
White. — Mount Blanc. This colour needs improv¬ 
ing ; the Virgin Queen is as yet the best. 
Fancy, or smaller varieties : 
Dark. — John Bull, Defiance, Hillianum, Vandyke, 
Lady Alice Peel. 
Light. — Delicatum (good), Purity, Emma. 
Rose. — Alboni, Erubescens, Fairy Queen, Bellinzona, 
Barbette, and Perfection. 
Fuchsias. —There was only one collection exhibited, 
and it wanted variety, though the plants were well 
grown and finely bloomed; Don Giovanni, especially, a 
dark crimson flower, with purple corolla. The rest 
were light varieties, namely, Speeiosa, Princess Eliza¬ 
beth, Madame Sontag, and Pearl of England. 
Cut Flowers. —In this department the Roses took 
the lead, and were both numerous and in fine condition; 
though I cannot think that mode of exhibiting this 
beautiful flower by any means so effective as in pots, 
growing, as it were, naturally out of the earth, and 
showing branches, leaves, and blossoms, in their greatest 
beauty; whereas, exhibited as cut flowers, three in a 
bunch, they look like a large collection of bouquets for 
sale. My ideas on this subject may be, perhaps, consi¬ 
dered high treason; but I cannot help that. One advan¬ 
tage there certainly is in this mode of exhibiting the i 
Rose—it enables the visitors to see a greater number 
of varieties, and thus gives an opportunity of noting 
the best. I picked out a goodly number different to 
any 1 noted previously, and I give their names, with 
the assurance, that, to the best of my judgment, they are 
all worth growing where there is space enough for them. 
Dark Roses. —Le Lion des Combats, a new and rich 
dark crimson Rose, superior to the far-famed Geant des | 
Batailles; General Castellane, Triomphe de Jaussans, j 
Triomphe de Paris, Paul Ricaut, Kean, Paul Joseph, i 
Duke of Richmond, new and fine; Hippocrates, Boule I 
do Nanteul, Vivid, Souchet, Deuil de Due d’Orleans. 
Deep Rose. —General Brea, Marquis Bocella, Jacques 1 
Lafitte, La Ville Bruxelles, Cule, Las Casas, Mrs. Elliott, ! 
La Syleure, Prince of Wales, Robin Hood, Comte Bou- ! 
bert, General Cavaignac, Coup d’Amour, Louis Buona- j 
parte. 
Light Rose. —Caroline Sausal, Blairii, Anarella, Lady 
Hamilton, Amardine la Calusienne, Caroline Walmer, 
