CURRENT NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
The exhibition at the February meeting of the New York 
Horticultural Society was certainly a surprise to all pres¬ 
ent, no less to the visitor than to the exhibitor. Because 
of the disagreeable weather, the former did not suppose 
there would be an exhibit worthy of mention, and each 
exhibitor supposed, of course, his exhibit would be the 
best; and well he might, for there was never a collection 
with so large a proportion of it faultless as was this. 
Hence the surprise of each grower to see that others had 
flowers, equal if not superior to his. This was one of 
the few exhibitions where the judges were completely 
puzzled in awarding honors; and well they might be, 
for here were Catharine Mermet Roses, or rather Rose¬ 
buds, three-and-a- half inches in diameter, and that in 
bunches of a dozen, and from several different growers. 
Not only was their size marvellous, but their color was 
quite as extraordinary. Instead of the sickly counte¬ 
nance this Rose too often presents, nearly all of these 
had every indication of health and vigor—a deep flesh 
color, with a silvery lustre. We do not know to whom 
was awarded the first premium; we should have given 
it to John Taylor’s 12, although several others were 
nearly as good. 
Cornelia Cook never appeared to better advan¬ 
tage at any florist’s reception. There were several 
entries of this, all good, one or two really superb. Who 
had the best is not known, even to this day; each ex¬ 
hibitor made an honest claim for the first, and the 
judges were about equally divided in opinion as to 
the merits of the several entries. The visitors had de¬ 
cidedly the easiest task, for all they had to do was to 
admire. And their admiration was unbounded, for 
here was the loveliest White Tea Rose in existence, 
absolutely perfect. Not a bud less than two and one- 
half inches in diameter, and some of them nearly four. 
This, for a bird, is something wonderful. In addition to 
their size, the buds were remarkable for their purity of 
color—none of the green centres that this grand Rose 
is apt to present were visible. 
Madame Cusin, a new aspirant for Rose honors, was 
shown in its integrity, and it is certainly one of the 
most beautiful we have ever seen. A good Tea, color 
violet-rose, tinged with yellow; a strange combination, 
and decidedly attractive. 
The Magna Charta, as exhibited, proves it to be one 
of the best hardy Roses for forcing. The flowers were 
fully four inches in diameter, pink, suffused with car¬ 
mine, globular form and very fragrant. Captain Christy, 
La France, Paul Neyron, Countess of Oxford and many 
others, all in their greatest perfection, were noticeable 
in this, the collection of Ernest Asmus. 
The Duke of Connaught, as shown by John Hender¬ 
son, Esq., could not have been surpassed, not only for 
its remarkable color, deep velvety crimson, with a 
fiery flush, but for its size, usually beneath that 
of the Jacqueminot, but in this instance much larger. 
One bud we measured three-and-a-half inches in 
diameter. 
The Souvenir de la Malmaison, was seen in Mr. 
John Henderson’s collection in all the beauty this Rose 
can attain, although it has generally been considered 
unfit for forcing; but Mr. Henderson has it at all times 
of the year, growing it in his hottest houses—in fact he 
treats it like a stove plant. 
Much as we admire Roses we must pass on to other 
noticeable features of the exhibition, prominent among 
which were the several collections of Orchids. In this 
class the collections were more numerous, and the 
varieties exceedingly fine. 
The Phalcenopsis Schilleriana, as shown by Thos. 
Emerson, gardener toWm Dinsmore, Esq., was a grand 
specimen of one of the finest Orchids in cultivation. 
This flower-spike was nearly four feet in length, much 
branched, and contained more than one hundred perfect 
flowers. The individual blossoms measured more than 
two-and-a-lialf inches across, sepals and petals beautiful 
light-mauve color edged with white; lip of the same 
color. The same exhibitor showed some fine Bletias, 
Cattleyas, Oncidiums, etc., etc. 
The Cattleya Amethystoglossa in Wm, H. Clements 
collection was greatly admired, and deservedly so. Its 
several flowers. were from four to five inches in 
diameter, light rose spotted with rich purple, with a 
deep-purple lip. No less beautiful were the several 
other species in his collection that we have not time to 
enumerate. 
“ These are the flowers that used to be grown when I 
was a girl ” was the feeling remark made by an elderly 
lady while inspecting the exhibit of C. E. Parnell, Esq. 
The gardens from w hence these flowers came are of 
the “olden time,” and no plant of merit is discarded 
here simply because others are more fashionable. 
Cinerarias were never exhibited in New York in 
greater perfection. David Clark & Sons’ exhibit of 
twelve specimens was all that could be desired. The 
plants were perfect as regards size, form, health and 
profusion of bloom. Some of the trusses were more 
than one foot in diameter, and regular in outline, while 
their exceedingly bright and cheerful colors were in 
marked contrast to such specimens as are usually seen 
on exhibition. As conservatory plants we have never 
seen any more beautiful and attractive. 
Tulips and Lily of the Valley, as shown by W. C. 
Wilson, Esq., show to what perfection forcing of these 
plants has reached. Here we saw twelve perfect Tulips 
in a six-inch pot, and in a variety of color, all as perfect 
as could have been grown in the open border. The 
varieties were chiefly Pottebakker white, scarlet and 
yellow, and the several varieties of Due Von Thol. 
Good taste, as well as good sense, was shown in forcing 
these Tulips by not mixing colors in the same pot; by 
keeping each separate, they all (in the same pot) come 
into flower at the same time, which greatly increases 
their value for exhibition or decorative purposes. 
Early Vegetables were shown by E. J. Wild, gardener 
to J. T. Swift, Esq. The collection consisted of Cauli¬ 
flowers, Cucumbers, Tomatoes and Radishes, all of 
which were fairly good. 
Mushrooms of the finest quality were on exhibition, 
the grower’s name we did not learn. 
