THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
scrutiny of its throat would reveal any other color. In 
form and size of its flowers, and in their arrangement on 
the spike, it resembles Meyerbeer, which is a form vastly 
superior to “ Innocence,” as figured in Vick's Magazine. 
Because the grower is not ready to send this variety 
out does not prove that such a flower does not exist. Be¬ 
sides, a great many persons have seen and admired it, and 
many more will probably do so the coming summer. 
* 
* * 
A New Begonia.— Begonia Lubbersi, a new variety, 
having olive-green leaves with white blotches, flowers 
creamy white, with rich yellow centres, has been accident¬ 
ally introduced to the State Garden of Brussels from 
Brazil, in 1880, by M. Pedro Binot, of Petropolis. The 
excellent head gardener of that establishment, M. Louis 
Lubbers, noticed a little twig entangled in the stipules .of 
a tree fern (an Alsophila eiegans). He planted it, and by 
skillful treatment induced it to live and develop some 
leaves, succeeding in flowering it in October, 1881. This 
begonia is certainly unknown in commerce, and probably 
new to science. To this beautiful species has been 
given the name of M. Lubbers, who has rendered such 
great service to horticulture in his double capacity of chief 
of the Botanic Gardens of Brussels and secretary of the 
Royal Floral Society. This dedication will no doubt be 
received with favor. 
Begonia Lubbersi shows a certain affinity with Begonia 
7 naculata , but it differs principally in its bare stem. The 
form of the upper lobe of the leaf, the persistent stipules, 
the disposition of the veins and spots, and the form and 
size of the flowers. 
The general aspect of the plant, the sombre colors of 
the foliage, which show out the pearl-like spots, offer 
many beauties, so that Begonia Lubbersi will occupy a 
foremost place in collections of ornamental-leaved plants. 
The flowers are more remarkable for their size than for 
extreme beauty (see illustration page 119.) It is a plant 
of the future, and will be of great use to the horticul¬ 
turist. It is vigorous, and its culture offers no difficulties. 
* * * 
New York Horticultural Society.—The April exhibition 
was a general surprise ; first, because of a limited display; 
second, because of a lack of interest on the part of members 
and friends ; third, because of the rare quality of the flow¬ 
ers exhibited. We have often seen double the amount of 
flowers on exhibition, but seldom so many rare and beau¬ 
tiful ones. Orchids were in splendid array. Among 
them was a well-grown plant of Cattleya triamz superba, 
with nine perfect-flowers ; C. Harrisonice, with six flowers 
of a beautiful rose-color, with a slight tinge of yellow on 
the lip; a magnificent plant of Dendrobium thyrsi- 
florum, with eleven racemes of golden and white flowers ; 
D. Farmerii, a beautiful compact evergreen species from 
India, well furnished with its beautiful pink flowers, with 
a lip of rich yellow in the centre; three fine specimens of 
phalasnopsis in variety; odontoglossums Rossi, Majlis, 
Glonosum, Alexandrea, Pescatorea and Cirrhosum ; 
Vanda suavis —all remarkably fine plants. These, to¬ 
gether with four plants of Cymbidium eburneum, were 
from William Barr’s collection, Orange, N. J.; the latter 
species is one of the best for an amateur collection. 
141 
A novel feature of the exhibition was a rare collection 
of orchids from Sanders & Co., of London, which arrived 
in full flower and in the best possible condition on the 
steamer “ Umbria ” on the morning of the exhibition. The 
collection consisted of those peculiar masdevallias, Har¬ 
ry ana and Shuttleworthii, a new dendrobium of the Nobile 
type, and some fine pieces of rare odontoglossums. 
W. H. Clements exhibited a “ new plant,” the Anthu- 
rium Rothschildianum, very distinct and curious, white 
ground speckled all over the spathe with bright scarlet 
irregular dots—the spadix being scarlet. This is claimed 
to be a hybrid from Scherzerianum , which it resembles in 
leafage and shape of flowers. 
A certificate of merit was awarded to what is known as 
Banyard’s Pink, a hybrid from the. white Scotch pink and 
carnation Peter Henderson. The flower has the true 
clove fragrance, is pure white, of smooth outline, and of 
good shape. This, we think, will prove a very valuable 
plant. A certificate of merit was also awarded to car¬ 
nation James Y. Murkland , a perfectly shaped, large 
flower of the most brilliant scarlet; this is without doubt 
a very great strike. Another seedling, Columbia, of dis¬ 
tinct characteristics, salmon-buff ground flaked with ver¬ 
milion, was greatly admired. 
William Barr’s exhibit of, cinerarias, grown from offsets, 
was very fine, showing good cultivation. The cultivation 
of cinerarias from offsets is not much practised in this 
country, the fascinating uncertainty of getting extra choice 
and new strains from seeds seems to be the more popular 
method. 
As every one knows the rose, and but few relatively 
have much knowledge of other and more rare flowers, it 
claimed the largest share of attention, and the hybrid per¬ 
petual varieties merited all they received. Such examples 
of Magna Charta, Marquise de Castellane, Paul Neyron, 
Merveille de Lyon, and Baroness Rothschild, perhaps have 
never been seen before. The show of tender roses was 
not as large as usual; there were, however, fine La France, 
Niphetos and Cooks. R. B. Parsons & Co., of Flushing, 
showed, in good order, fifty varieties of camellias, and it 
was indeed a treat to see this grand old flower have the 
position on the exhibition tables that its excellence de¬ 
serves. 
In miscellaneous cut-flowers there were many objects 
of interest, conspicuous among which were Nymphcea 
ccerulea, Lapageria rosea, Imatophyllum mineatum, 
many old and curious orchids, mignonette of marvelous 
size, and many other objects that we cannot mention. 
In vegetables there was a creditable display of beans 
spinach, cauliflowers, tomatoes and cucumbers. A re¬ 
markably fine specimen of cauliflower from Florida was 
entitled to special mention; it was nearly fifteen inches in 
diameter, perfectly solid and pure white, and was, in fact, 
one of the finest specimens we have ever seen on an exhi¬ 
bition table, without regard to season or the locality in 
which it was grown. 
* 
* * 
Seed and Bulb Premiums.—Our seed and bulb pre¬ 
miums cannot be supplied after May 15, as the season 
will be too far advanced for their successful growth. 
