THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
355 
the bud with the finger, and with scissors remove the 
anthers, and then introduce pollen from other flowers. 
It goes without saying, that many of these details 
presuppose an unexhaustible fund of patience on the 
part of those likely to heed them, and they are there¬ 
fore addressed only, to such zealous votaries of Flora 
who may happily be endowed with zeal and ardor abso¬ 
lutely without limit; lukewarm amateurs are supposed 
to regard such puerile details with lofty indifference, 
as being quite out of the beaten track of scientific 
floriculture. 
Interesting results might also be obtained by attempt¬ 
ing hybridizing experiments between the finer varieties 
of Gandavensis and Lemoines new hardy sorts, the 
latter having been obtained by crossing Purpureo 
Auratus with the Gladiolus Gandavensis. 
Lovers of the Gladiolus who have means or opportu¬ 
nity should not fail to make a pilgrimage to Long Island 
in August or September. In the vicinity of Queens, 
and Garden City, vast fields are devoted to its culture. 
At the latter place the grounds of Messrs. C. L. Allen 
& Son, present a spectacle unique in gorgeous beauty. 
Just fancy something like a million and a half of seed¬ 
ling Gladioli in bloom ! forming a glorious prismatic 
sea of intermingled colors, each stately spikes, showing 
when examined individually a perfection of form, and 
exquisite blending of color, which render them the 
successful rivals of the finest named varieties. 
In gazing on the bewildering display, my collection 
of 400 seemed fitted to form but a drop in this vast sea 
of vivid tints, though I do not by any means admit 
that his resources, vast though they were, rendered the 
proprietor a whit more happiness than was conferred 
upon the humble amateur by his modest collection of 
400. 
The senior member of the firm is a standard 
authority on the Gladiolus, having made this flower his 
special study for many years, and the result of his 
painstaking labors, as shown in the beautiful named 
sorts already presented to the public, and the numerous, 
equally meritorious specimens, not yet brought forward, 
forms a sum total of rare loveliness, in which even a 
less modest man might justly take a legitimate pride. 
F. Lance. 
RECENT FLORAL EXHIBITS. 
New York Horticultural Society. The October 
meeting gave evidence of an increase in interest. Ex¬ 
hibitors seemed to have become awakened and there 
were many valuable productions on the table. A beau¬ 
tiful specimen of Cattleya Dowiana, variety Aurea, 
with rich chrome sepals and petals, the labellum of 
deep amaranth lined with gold, was alone worthy of 
the meeting, and was from the gardens of C. E. Pratt, 
Esq., Brooklyn, N. Y. The Orchids from Mrs. Morgan 
were perhaps as fine plants as she has ever shown, Mr. 
W. Clements having brought them out in very good con¬ 
dition. There were four fine varieties of Dendrobium; 
three Oncidiums and the balance representing other 
species. Mr. Seibrecht, a new exhibitor, had a gr< >up of 
fine plants such as the new Anthurium Andreaneum, 
with one flower five inches long, and three in diameter 
of the richest coral vermilion ; the peculiar undulations 
of the surface in this flower gives it remarkable bril¬ 
liancy and effect; some fine Dracaenas as Bausei, this is 
the finest of all hybrids, rich metallic brown leaves 
lined on the margins with deep wine-red, Cazenovia 
Jiybrida, splendens, and amabillis were also fine speci¬ 
mens ; some beautiful Ferns and other foliage plants m ade 
this one of the most charming groups we have ever seen. 
The cut-flower department was quite full. Dahlias, 
as they should at this season, made the most display. A 
fine collection of single Dahlias was the centre of at¬ 
traction and justly admired; it was arranged in open 
bunches of twelve flowers in each. The double Dahlias, 
the Pompons, and the Cactus flower were largely shown 
and very creditable. Gladioli were poor; the dry 
weather having affected the color and size. 
A very good display of Roses for the season was much 
admired, and if there were not any new varieties, some 
of the very best were there. The fruit display was not 
extensive. Foreign Grapes of good quality and natives 
made a table for easy comparison which interested fruit 
lovers. A few Tomatoes and one collection of vegetables 
about completed the exhibits, such exhibitions as this 
one would enable all concerned to take a greater inter¬ 
est in the New York Horticultural Society. Cannot it 
be done? The Chrysanthemum show to be held 
November 5th and 6th is expected to eclipse all previous 
exhibitions. 
Queens County, N. Y., Agricultural Society. In 
plants, fruits and flowers, the recent exhibition of this 
Society was the finest it has ever made, and far better 
than any we have seen at the State Faffs. The interest 
centred in cut-flowers, and as liberal premiums had been 
offered to amateurs as well as professionals, some of the 
designs shown by amateurs exhibited remarkable taste. 
A vase standing against a screen of Ivy was very hand¬ 
some. and would have done credit, both for design and 
workmanship, to any professional florist. This was the 
work of Miss Carrie Albertson, of Roslyn, N. Y.; it took 
the first premium, and we are pleased to say the same 
lady was the recipient of nearly fifty dollars in justly 
awarded premiums. A crescent made of Golden rod 
was placed on a back-ground of green moss, the crescent 
being about two inches deep, and the frame of the yel¬ 
low-leaved Japanese Honeysuckle. These alone were 
worth the efforts of the balance. In this department 
were some fine vases of flowers and well arranged hand 
' bouquets ; also several collections of mixed cut-flowers. 
The house plants in this class were also very creditable. 
In the professional classes the display generally would 
make societies of even larger pretensions blush, the 
cut-flower department being full of fine Dahlias, Roses, 
Gladioli, Phlox, and other seasonable flowers. The 
plants were nicely grouped, in good condition, and the 
selection well made. Some Palms, Eulalias and Phor- 
miums were conspicuous, as standing above the general 
level ot the other plants, which was a tasteful arrange¬ 
ment. Of new plants and flowers there were not many, 
but a fine plant of Impatiens Sultana, three feet across, 
