NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
Pond Lilies (Nymphaa odor at a). —We watch with no 
little interest the coming of the first pond lily, as it evi¬ 
dences that summer has come to stay. Last year the 
first flower was picked on the - first of June; this year we 
had the first flower on the last day of May, showing quite 
plainly this lovely aquatic is not affected by the back¬ 
wardness of the season. The yellow pond lily (. Nuphar 
advena) we found on the same day, although it is with us 
usually several days earlier. This is a much despised 
flower. Why, we cannot understand, as a close inspec¬ 
tion of it shows a beauty of arrangement of parts rarely 
seen. * 
* * 
New York Horticultural Society. —The following no¬ 
tice from the secretary tells its own story, which we an¬ 
ticipated in our last number: “We regret that we are 
unable to announce the usual June Rose and Strawberry 
Exhibition, unavoidable circumstances preventing, and as 
no meetings are held in July and August, the next exhi¬ 
bition of this society will be duly announced in July.” 
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Glossy-Leaved Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium Iceviga- 
tum). (See illustration, page 176.) The Gardeners 
Magazine, London, says of this orchid: “It is one of 
the loveliest of the genus, and one that has obtained 
considerable attention from cultivators, although, as yet, 
it can scarcely be described as popular. In general char¬ 
acter it comes near to C. Stonei, which also has glossy 
leaves, but differs in the form of the labellum, which is 
smaller than in C. Stonei, and also in the color, the last- 
named being pink, and this one a dull yellow. Another 
distinguishing character is the great length and peculiar 
twisting of its petals. The late Mr. J. G. Veitch found 
this orchid established as a parasite on the roots of 
Vanda Batemanni, to obtain which was one of the 
main objects of his voyage to the Philippine Islands.” 
This cypripedium is said to be a good grower, and to 
flower freely. * 
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American Institute. —The Farmers’ Club, a branch 
of this old and useful institution, held its annual rose and 
strawberry exhibition at their rooms, Clinton Hall, New 
York, June 18 and 19. In common with most other ex¬ 
hibitions this season, the display was relatively a failure. 
The strawberry is a week late in its coming, as is the 
rose, consequently what was exhibited would not, in ordi¬ 
nary seasons, have claimed passing notice, and not a plate 
of fruit shown would have come within speaking distance 
of a premium. And the display of hardy roses grown in 
the open air was still worse. A heavy rain followed by 
intense heat had scalded the flowers, so that, to a rose 
fancier, they made a sickening appearance. The orchids 
from Mr. Morgan’s rare collection, though few in number, 
were exceedingly fine and attracted much attention. J. R. 
Pitcher, Esq., of Short Hills, N. J., exhibited a fine col¬ 
lection of paeonies, numbering more than sixty varieties. 
The charming Lilium tenuifolium was shown in its 
integrity by Messrs. Hallock & Thorpe, as was German 
iris. While, owing to the season, the display of fruit and 
flowers was a failure, we are pleased to say that in the 
president of the club, Dr. F. M. Hexamer, there was no 
failure, and that his intelligence and hearty love of hor¬ 
ticulture in all its branches, combined with his untiring 
industry, cannot but make the Farmers’ Club of the 
American Institute a living and useful body, in contrast 
with other societies that could not even make a poor 
exhibit. ^ 
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New Pansy. —Among the novelties of the season we 
notice the new show pansy, “ Trimardeii,” a strain which 
we have not tested, but from what we have seen of it are 
inclined to think it a valuable acquisition. It is a vigor¬ 
ous grower, bearing its beautiful flowers on erect stems, 
which gives a striking effect. Its flowers are of immense 
size, some of them measuring more than five inches in 
diameter, and are of various colors. The foliage is bright 
green, and very vigorous. If half that is claimed for this 
new strain is realized, it will entirely supplant the old. 
* 
* * 
Double White Violet.— In Bacon’s “Essays,” pub¬ 
lished in 1625, Essay 46, of Gardens, occurs the following 
sentence : “ That which of all others yields the sweetest 
smell in the air is the violet, especially the white double 
violet, which comes twice a year—about the middle of 
April and about Bartholomew-tide.” 
Gerarde, in his quaint old herbal, in describing the vio¬ 
lets, after speaking of the single white, says of the double 
March violet, Viola Marchia jlori multiplici: “ There 
is no difference between this violet and the former in any 
other thing than in the doubleness of the flowers, which 
have so many leaves set and thrust together that they are 
like unto hard buttons. There is of this double kind both 
white and purple, as in the single; but the white sort is 
seldom so thick and double as the purple ; but of the red 
colors to be double I never heard.” Reference to these 
old herbals sometimes makes us think there is nothing 
new under the sun. * 
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Society of American Florists. —The first annual meet¬ 
ing of this society will be heid at Music Hall, Cincinnati, 
Ohio, August 12 to 14, inclusive. From the programme 
received we can safely say the meeting will be one of un¬ 
usual interest, not only to the trade, but to all who desire 
to see a magnificent display of all that is rare and beauti- 
tul in the way of flowers and plants that are in perfection 
at that time. There are many novel features in this pro¬ 
gramme. From the prospectus we quote: 
“ The list of very excellent papers to be read and dis¬ 
cussed forms one of the most important features in the 
annals of floriculture, coming as they do from men who 
are acknowledged masters of the subjects presented. 
These alone are sufficient to warrant the attendance of 
