JANUARY. 25 
FLORAL COMMITTEE OF THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
SOME time since we called attention to the formation of this Com- 
mittee in connexion with the Horticultural Society, and find from expe- 
rience that it has filled the void then felt by raisers and importers of new 
plants. The meetings being continuous and regular throughout the 
year, few plants can bloom without the opportunity of placing them 
before the public, through the Committee, and their value as new and 
decorative plants is decided on by competent persons. This enhances 
the value of a good thing, and is at the same time a protection to the 
public. As asummary of the proceedings of the Committee up to the 
present time, we have classified the subjects, giving Hollyhocks and 
Dahlias in the present number, only enumerating those successful. 
Two classes of awards are given, first class certificates and kinds com- 
mended. Yet many meritorious productions have to be passed, from 
the fact of their being not sufficiently dissimilar, or not produced in 
sufficiently good condition for the members of the Committee to be 
certain of their merits, for which purpose it is desired to see them again 
under more favourable circumstances. 
As soon as the days of meeting for 1860 are fixed we shall announce 
them to our readers. 
The Hollyhocks that received First Class Certificates were— 
Leonora (Chater), a bold well-filled flower, with fine guard petals, mottled rose 
shaded with fawn colour 
Brunette (Paul), a large full bold variety, dark crimson, remarkable for the 
smoothness of its petals 
The following were Commended: 
Perfection (Paul), mottled pale lilac, rather small but very globular, the guard 
petals small ae : 
Harriet (Chater), a soft lilac with a mauve tint, rather thin in texture, guard 
petals moderately developed 
Warrior (Chater), bright vivid crimson, fine guard petals, and a well formed 
full flower 
Joshua Clarke (Chater), crimson, large and very full. The cut flowers of this 
were so very fine that it was thought it might have received a first class 
award if a spike of bloom had been shown 
Exhibitor (Chater), bright rose, large and full 
Novelty (Chater), one of the mottled class, the ground being dull purple 
crimson, and the light parts mottled and edged with blush 
Countess Dowager Jane Somers (Chater), canary yellow 
Alfred (Chater), full size, with good average guard petals and high centre, pale 
urple i 
ee ecieatan (Shenton), a white of average quality 
Dahlias which received First Class Certificates were— 
Miss Sarah Boyd (Rawlings), white, finely tipped with purple, medium size, 
neatly cupped, and of good outline ; 
Lady Douglass Pennant (Keynes), large, deep, finely moulded, and even, prim- 
rose yellow eae 
William Dodds (Keynes), large, deep, and well built, with a close high centre, 
deep golden yellow 
Flower if the lag (Turner), a high built and evenly formed full flower of 
excellent properties, pure white, much resembling Mrs. Wellesley Pigott, 
but a purer white 
