214 THE FLORIST. 
with the pretty,posies in their hands; and the gorgeous kingfisher shot __ 
down the brooklet, like a meteor, at. the sound of their merry voices ; 
and the swift trout darted to his hole, as they plucked the campions from, ; 
the bank; and the landrail craked in the mowing-grass, complaining . 
I infer from his. harsh tones, that, being long-toed and. formed for the. 
swamps, as a great Naturalist tells us (Varwin on Species, page 186), . 
he should be thus uncomfortably located in the meadows ; and far in _. 
the distance ‘‘ the cuckoo told his name to all the hills,’ some of them , 
distinctly repeating it, as though Mr. Cuckoo were going upstairs to a. 
party ; and we wandered and wondered, until the dews wept for that 
gentle day; and the two floral armies fought the battle of the bouquets, 
and victory was adjudged; and victors and vanquished supped, “as 
only boyhood can,” upon the Curate’s bread and cheese and beer ; and 
we all went thankfully home, and ‘‘ bedward sbi Pe oe 
EXHIBITION OF AMERICAN PLANTS IN THE REGENT’S — 
PARK. ! 
Mr. JoHN WATERER’S (of Bagshot) exhibition of this popular class of 
plants in the grounds of the Royal. Botanic Society has this year heen 
very attractive. The shrubs are arranged under canvas, in irregular 
shaped masses, with Grass borders and gravel walks between, so as to 
allow the visitors to see them with ease; and the coup d’eil, when 
first entering the tent, is very striking and one well worth making a 
special journey to see, to those who, like ourselves, consider them as . 
the most valuable class of hardy plants. 
The favourable nature of the soil for Americans at Bagshot and its 
vicinity has made it the centre of a number of nurseries, where Rhodo- 
dendrons, Azaleas, &c., are very largely grown, and many valuable 
seedlings have been originated both by Mr. Waterer and Mr. Standish.. 
The experiments in hybridisation, by which the many fine varieties. 
raised by the latter gentleman were originated, have heen made known 
to our readers by himself. ¥ 
The present exhibition contains both old and new varieties, as it is 
requisite the greater part of the plants exhibited should be large enough 
to make a bold display. Of the most striking dark crimson varieties, 
John Waterer, Prince Albert, Faust, Genseric, Nereus, General Canro- 
bert, Lefevreanum, Johnsonianum, Sherwoodianum, Bronzino, Blatteum, 
Raphael, the Grand Arab, Tamerlane, Bassano, Auneas, we marked as 
those which pleased us the most ; some of them are well-known kinds. 
Of lighter shades of crimson and scarlet, Raphael, Mrs. John Waterer, 
Gozzoli, Guercino, Bouquet de Flore, Duke of Norfolk, Erectum, lago, 
Sir Charles Napier, Salvator Rosa, Tintoretto, and Sun of Austerlitz. 
The most striking light and rose-coloured varieties which we noticed 
were Delicatissimum, Madame van de Weyer, Concessum, Lady 
Fleanor Cathcart, Geranioides, Congestum roseum, Bylsianum, Etoile 
de Flandre, Fleur de Marie, Gulnare, Lady Easthope, Limbatum, 
Zenobia, the Gem, Rubens, Reginum, Duchess of Sutherland, Brough- 
